5th Infantry Regiment (Lithuania)

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5th Infantry Regiment (Lithuania)

The 5th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Grand Duke Kęstutis regiment, was a Lithuanian Army infantry unit that served during the interwar period (1919–1940).

Origins and early development
- Founded on March 2, 1919, in Kaunas as the Separate Battalion (Atskiras batalionas). It was organized by Kazys Škirpa under the order of the Minister of National Defence.
- Its core consisted of the 5th and 6th Infantry Companies and the 2nd Hussar Squadron, later joined by volunteers. By late March 1919 the unit had about 20 officers and 700 soldiers.
- In 1919 the battalion fought against Soviet Russia and later the Polish Army. Its armament included 8 machine guns, 686 rifles, 120 pistols/revolvers, and roughly 104,000 rounds.

Vilnius Battalion and renaming
- On June 20, 1919, the unit was named the Vilnius Battalion (Vilniaus batalionas) and in July joined the 1st Infantry Brigade.
- It fought Bolsheviks at Pajautiškės, Stašiūnai, Zarasai, and Imbradas.
- By November 1919 the battalion was reinforced and on November 10 was renamed the 5th Infantry Regiment. Battalions I and II were formed from existing companies and one Kommandantur company from Seinai.

1920: growth, campaigns, and demarcation duties
- Battalion III was formed in January 1920 from Pasvalys Kommandantur and recruits from Telšiai County.
- In February 1920 the regiment was part of the 2nd Brigade; on February 7 it received the name Grand Duke of Lithuania Kęstutis.
- In mid-1920 it moved to Kaišiadorys and fought the Polish Army near Seinai, Augustavas, and Beržininkai, suffering casualties (about 1 officer and 53 soldiers killed; around 100 wounded).
- From December 1920, the regiment guarded the Lithuanian–Polish demarcation line in the Giedraičiai–Labanoras–Salakas area. At the end of 1920 the regiment boasted 47 officers, 2,410 soldiers, 6 war officials, 3 doctors, and 1 chaplain, with 34 machine guns, 1,780 rifles, 133 carbines, 64 pistols/revolvers, 133 bayonets, and 149 horses, plus other equipment.

Interwar period
- From 1922 the regiment’s garrison was moved to Panemunė, Kaunas, and it became part of the 2nd Infantry Division.
- In the early 1920s Battalions I and II were formed from existing companies and additional personnel from Seinai; the regiment conducted operations in the broader interwar security environment, including tensions with Poland.

Soviet occupation and disbandment
- Following Lithuania’s occupation by the Soviet Union in July 1940, the unit was renamed the 5th Infantry Regiment (dropping the Grand Duke Kęstutis title) on July 25, 1940.
- The regiment was disbanded on October 27, 1940.

Regiment commanders
- 1919: Kazys Škirpa
- 1920: Captain Antanas Zubrys
- 1920: Lieutenant Colonel Mykolas Velykis
- 1921: Lieutenant Colonel Pranas Kaunas
- 1922: Colonel Juozas Vidugiris
- 1925–1927: General Staff Colonel Stasys Pundzevičius
- 1933: General Staff Colonel Stasys Raštikis
- 1936–1940: General Staff Colonel Albinas Čepas
- 1940: Lieutenant Colonel Juozas Listopadskis

Motto and symbols
- Patron: Lithuanian Grand Duke Kęstutis
- Motto: Krauju ir mirtimi tėvynę nelaimėje vaduosim (With blood and death we will free the homeland in distress)
- Type: Infantry regiment of the Lithuanian Army
- Country: Lithuania

Note: This simplified overview covers the regiment’s key origins, major campaigns, reorganizations, and dissolution, as well as the leaders who commanded it during its existence.