The 1st Division () is the main military unit of the Land Forces of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The division is planned to reach full operational capacity by 2030.
As of January 2025, the division consists of a command headquarters, three infantry brigades, engineering and artillery regiments, as well as a reconnaissance battalion. Units of other military branches are also used to support the division.
History
The 1st Division continues the traditions of the Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army's 1st Lithuanian Division.
1775–1795 Officially, the Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army's 1st and 2nd Divisions were established on April 11–12, 1775, after the Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth approved the framework. However, the actual formation through the transformation of the old units into a new structure began in 1777. The divisions were equivalent to a modern military district.
The first commander of the 1st Lithuanian Division was Lieutenant General Józef Judycki, the Grand Guard of Lithuania (1776–1789), the elder of Strzalków and Bohiń.
Divisional commanders
Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski (nominal commander, patron, colonel-in-chief); Józef Judycki
1920–1940 In 1918, after the restoration of Lithuanian statehood, the Lithuanian army and its regiments were reborn, which were combined into brigades in 1919. On 10 February 1920, the 1st Division was re-formed based on the 1st Brigade, which had fought extensively in the Lithuanian Wars of Independence, as the three infantry brigades of the Lithuanian Army were reorganised into divisions. The 1st Division had three infantry regiments and three independent battalions.
World War II With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the 1st Division was mobilized to defend the borders of Lithuania and ensure the security of Vilnius and elsewhere in Lithuania.
As of 1940, the 1st Infantry Division comprised headquarters, 3 infantry regiments and 2 artillery regiments. In addition, it included Military Commandant's Offices () for the city of Vilnius and the districts of Biržai, Kėdainiai, Panevėžys, Raseiniai, Rokiškis, Švenčionėliai, Trakai, Ukmergė, Utena and Zarasai.
Lithuanian resistance After the government's surrender to the Soviet ultimatum to Lithuania in 1940 and the subsequent Soviet occupation, the Lithuanian Army was disbanded, but the 1st Division's soldiers went on to fight for Lithuania against the occupation as partisans.
21st century At the 2022 Madrid Summit, the main military tactical unit was upscaled from a brigade to a division in NATO's military plans. In May 2023, the Lithuanian State Defence Council approved the future formation of a division. In order to establish a Lithuanian Infantry Division with a tank battalion, on 11 July 2024 the Seimas approved changes to the basic structure of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, which entered into force on 18 July 2024.
Structure
The 1st Division was re-established on 28 January 2025 in Rukla. and received the brigades Iron Wolf, Žemaitija and Aukštaitija, as well as supporting units. The division will be fully operational by 2030. As of 2026 the division consists of the following units:
1st Division, in Rukla
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Rukla Signals Company Reconnaissance Company Logistics Company Rocket Artillery Battery , in Rukla (Initial Command Element) Colonel Juozas Vitkus , in Kaunas Brigade "Iron Wolf", in Rukla Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Rukla Reconnaissance Company, in Rukla Anti-tank Company, in Rukla Signals Company, in Rukla Tank Battalion, in Rukla (Initial Command Element) King Mindaugas Hussar Battalion, in Panevėžys Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion, in Alytus Grand Duke Algirdas Infantry Battalion, in Rukla Duke Vaidotas Infantry Battalion, in Rokantiškės General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion, in Rukla Lieutenant general Jokūbas Jasinskis Logistics battalion, in Rukla Brigade "Žemaitija", in Klaipėda Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Klaipėda Reconnaissance Company Anti-tank Company, in Klaipėda Signals Company Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Battalion, in Klaipėda Grand Duke Kęstutis Infantry Battalion, in Tauragė Prince Margiris Infantry Battalion, in Šiauliai Brigadier General Artillery Battalion, in Pajūris Logistics Battalion, in Kairiai Brigade "Aukštaitija", in Pajuostis (Initial Command Element)
Commanders Division commanders Brigadier General Aurelijus Alasauskas (2025 — )
References
Sources
Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia
External links
https://kariuomene.lt/sausumos-pajegos/padaliniai/i-divizija/26317