Silvestras Žukauskas
| Silvestras Žukauskas | |
|---|---|
General Slvestras Žukauskas in Lithuanian uniform
|
|
| Born |
31 December 1860 Poškiečiai-Dovainiškiai, Kovno Governorate |
| Died | 26 November 1937 (aged 76) Kaunas |
| Allegiance |
 Russian Empire (1881–1917) Lithuania (1918–1928)
|
| Service/branch |
Imperial Russian Army Lithuanian Armed Forces |
| Years of service | 1881–1928 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars |
Russo-Japanese War First World War Lithuanian–Soviet War Polish–Lithuanian War |
| Awards | Great Cross of the Order of the Cross of Vytis (1919) |
Silvestras Žukauskas (Silvester Konstantinovich Zhukovsky, Russian: Сильвестр Константинович Жуковский; 31 December 1860 – 26 November 1937) was a general in the Russian army, and later in his native Lithuania, after it regained its independence in 1918.
After graduating from the secondary school in Marijampolė, Žukauskas studied at the military academy in Vilnius. In 1881, he enlisted in a cavalry unit of the Russian Empire. In 1898 he married German Josephine Hasdorf and converted to Lutheranism, because this helped him pursuing his career. Žukauskas participated in the Russo-Japanese War and advanced through the ranks. In 1912 he was promoted to Colonel. He held a command in World War I, and for the defense of Šiauliai, was awarded the golden sabre. In 1916 he attained the rank of Major-General.
Upon Lithuania regaining its independence in 1918, Žukauskas returned home to Lithuania and began creating and organizing the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Between April 26, 1919 and May 27, 1919 Žukauskas served as the Chief of General Staff. During that time he also organized a defense against the Bolsheviks. On May 7, 1919 he was appointed the Supreme Commander of the Lithuanian army (serving until September 24), at the time also acting as Chief of the General Staff. Under Žukauskas' direct command the Kurkliai–Panevėžys operation was planned. During its implementation, Ukmergė and Panevėžys were liberated from Bolshevik control. After this operation Žukauskas established the military Order Už tėvynę (For the Homeland), later renamed the Vytis cross on February 3, 1920 and the Order of the Cross of Vytis on September 1, 1930. At first it was awarded as a ribbon, without a medal.
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