Kaunas garrison mutiny () or Panemunė rebellion () was a failed mutiny of Lithuanian soldiers stationed in Kaunas on 22–23 February 1920.
The Lithuanian Army was established in December 1918 and successfully pushed out the Bolsheviks (see the Lithuanian–Soviet War) and the Bermontians (see the Lithuanian–Bermontian War) by the end of 1919. As action at the frontlines ceased, soldiers stationed in Kaunas, the temporary capital of Lithuania, complained of poor living conditions and food provisions. There was also political dissatisfaction, particularly because soldiers were not allowed to vote in the upcoming elections to the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania.
In the morning of 22 February (Sunday), soldiers peacefully marched towards the Church of St. Michael the Archangel. They were met by Pranas Liatukas, supreme commander of the army. Liatukas promised to address soldiers' complaints and the soldiers returned to their stations. However, soldiers stationed in Panemunė (about 300 men from mainly the 2nd Reserve Battalion and the Artillery Regiment) were stopped and not allowed to attend the rally at the church. They returned to the barracks, detained their officers, and elected a nine-member revolutionary committee. When Liatukas arrived to Panemunė, he was detained. Assistant defence minister Antanas Merkys ordered units loyal to the government (mainly the 8th and 6th Infantry Regiments that saw action at the frontlines in 1919) to attack the mutineers. The assault, commanded by Kazys Ladiga, was delayed until the morning of 23 February. The mutiny was quickly suppressed. The unrest briefly spread to other units, including the aviation unit in Aleksotas where an American volunteer was killed.
After the mutiny, Liatukas resigned from the command of the army. About 150 mutineers were tried. Four of them were executed on 12 March 1920. Others received various sentences, but were released after the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania announced a broad amnesty to political prisoners. The Lithuanian government worked to address soldiers' demands and complaints. Soldiers were granted voting rights and their living conditions were improved.
Background Lithuania declared independence in February 1918 but due to continued occupation by German forces was unable to start organizing its armed forces until December 1918 when the Lithuanian Wars of Independence broke out. Initially, the soldiers were volunteers but general mobilization was announced in March 1919. Lithuanians defended and successfully pushed out the Bolsheviks (see the Lithuanian–Soviet War) and the Bermontians (see the Lithuanian–Bermontian War) by the end of 1919. Therefore, there was a lull in the hostilities (the Polish–Lithuanian War broke out in July 1920).
Soldiers complained of lack of provisions, including food, as well as lack of hygiene and poor living conditions. There was also lack of discipline among soldiers and officers. Due to a budget crisis, soldier wages were paid late. According to memoirs of colonel Jonas Petraitis, it was a cold winter and soldiers froze both outside due to poor clothing and inside due to poor heating of barracks that needed repairs.
In days leading to the mutiny, several different proclamations were distributed among the soldiers. Soldiers also complained that they were not allowed to vote in the upcoming elections to the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania. Electoral law enacted in October 1919, allowed them to run in the election but not to vote. The only other group denied voting rights were criminals. Senior military leaders believed that granting voting rights to soldiers would encourage political polarization and would destroy unit's cohesion.
Kaunas garrison In February 1920, there were about 5,000 soldiers stationed in and near Kaunas. The units included: City kommandatura 1st Cavalry Regiment (3rd and 4th squadrons) Kaunas War School Military field police Aviation unit 8th Infantry Regiment 6th Infantry Regiment (1st battalion, electrotechnical and auto battalions)
Further units were stationed in Panemunė, suburb of Kaunas: 2nd Reserve Battalion Artillery Regiment (1st, 7th, and 8th batteries) 1st Separate Howitzer Battery
The 8th and 6th Infantry Regiments were earlier deployed in battles. Other units were stationed in Kaunas and did not see action. The regiments were located in Šančiai across the Nemunas from Panemunė.
Mutiny Preparations The mutiny started spontaneously. Communist authors claimed that the mutiny was sparked by news of a strike by political prisoners held at Kaunas Prison and a communist proclamation printed on 16 February 1920 (Lithuania's Independence Day). On 20 February, soldiers of the city kommandatura went on strike. The following day, soldiers of the 2nd Reserve Battalion took control of the armory and armed themselves. About 200 soldiers from various units held a meeting which decided to gather near the Church of St. Michael the Archangel on Laisvės alėja. The soldiers planned to detain officers unless they supported the gathering, carry weapons and dress in combat uniforms, and to present demands to the government and the chief commander of the army Pranas Liatukas. However, the mutiny was more spontaneous, without clear leadership or well-defined demands.
The same day, on 21 February, city kommandant reported to the General Staff that soldiers planned an armed mutiny. Notably, military intelligence failed to detect the unrest and learned about the planned mutiny from the kommandant. At 5 p.m., Liatukas called a meeting of all unit commanders. Officers agreed that a mutiny was possible, except commanders of the 2nd Reserve Battalion and the Artillery Regiment denied any signs of unrest. Liatukas ordered to closely monitor soldiers moods and keep the General Staff informed.
Liatukas assigned an officer to monitor soldiers in Panemunė and to take all necessary actions to prevent them from marching to Kaunas (i.e. secure the ). That night, the bridge was secured by men from the 8th Infantry Regiment. Liatukas also ordered to ready four armored vehicles that were used by the Kaunas War School. There was a brief shootout in Šančiai between mutineers and soldiers attempting to deliver gasoline for the armored vehicles. Students from the Kaunas War School were issued weapons and sent to guard strategic objects (residence of the president, post and telegraph, Kaunas Prison, power plant, state bank).
Kaunas In the morning of 22 February (Sunday), soldiers from the city kommandatura and the 1st Cavalry Regiment marched towards the Church of St. Michael the Archangel. Liatukas met them at 10 a.m. and received a 13-point demand list. The main demands were: citing Vincas Mickevičius-Kapsukas. See also Grant soldiers voting rights in the upcoming elections to the Constituent Assembly Release political prisoners who did not fight against Lithuania Dismiss officers who did not speak Lithuanian Improve soldiers' rations and living conditions, pay wages timely
Liatukas spoke with the soldiers for about an hour and promised to address their concerns. Appeased, the soldiers returned to their stations.
Panemunė Mutiny spreads Soldiers in Panemunė were not as easily appeased. At about 8 a.m. on 22 February, about 300 armed soldiers from the 2nd Reserve Battalion gathered to march towards Kaunas. They easily dispersed the armed guards posted on the Panemunė Bridge. Their path led by the barracks of the 8th and 6th Infantry Regiments. Soldiers from Panemunė attempted to convince the two regiments to join them. However, the regiments followed orders to halt and push back the men from the 2nd Reserve Battalion. After a brief shootout, soldiers from the reserve battalion dispersed or returned to Panemunė.
At about 10 a.m., soldiers from the Artillery Regiment detained their officers. The mutineers numbered about 300 men. The mutineers organized a nine-member revolutionary committee to lead the mutiny. It included and Domininkas Vizgirdas. The revolutionary committee raised some political demands, including freeing political prisoners, concluding the peace treaty with the Soviets, recognizing soldiers' committees, granting voting rights to soldiers, nationalizing land owned by the nobility. Notably, there were no calls to overthrow the government or for a socialist revolution. Not all soldiers supported the committee or agreed to detain their officers.
Liatukas and his adjutant arrived to the barracks at noon of 22 February. He hoped to negotiate and arrive to a peaceful resolution like he had done at the Church of St. Michael the Archangel. However, Liatukas was detained. He then refused to negotiate explaining that he was no longer the chief commander of the army since his detention.
Government response After Liatukas detention, the 8th and 6th Infantry Regiments began taking defensive positions against a possible push by Panemunė soldiers towards Kaunas. Kaunas was placed under the state of siege (lifted the following day). At around 3 p.m., assistant defence minister Antanas Merkys and officer Konstantinas Kleščinskis arrived at the staff of the 8th Infantry Regiment. He called the rebels and demanded the release of Liatukas. When the rebels refused, Merkys ceased negotiations and ordered the 8th Infantry Regiment to take military action against the rebels.
The first shootout occurred at about 6 p.m. However, further confrontation was delayed until next morning. The mutineers attempted to use artillery, but the shots were very inaccurate as artillery officers were detained. Men loyal to the government had technical difficulties with the armored vehicles while crossing the frozen Nemunas without proper cover was too risky. Regardless, the armored vehicles had a psychological impact on the rebellious soldiers sowing further confusion and panic. It was the first time that the Lithuanian forces used armored vehicles in combat. Government forces called two companies from the 4th Infantry Regiment then located in Kaišiadorys.
Mutiny suppressed During the night, many soldiers from Panemunė escaped to nearby villages. Two soldiers from the 1st battery attempted to remove mortars from the base so that they could not be used by the mutineers, but were stopped. During the night, government forces were able to learn about the strength and attack plans of the mutineers. If they could not hold out in Panemunė, they planned to escape to Alytus and join forces with the 1st Infantry Regiment.
At around 6 a.m. on 23 February, government forces began their attack across Nemunas towards Panemunė. Men from the 4th Infantry Regiment were to cross Nemunas downstream and flank the rebels from Rokai while the soldiers from the 8th and 6th Infantry Regiments attacked directly. The attack was commanded by Kazys Ladiga. The mutineers did not put fierce resistance and by 11 a.m., loyal forces took control of Panemunė. Many rebellious soldiers escaped, surrendered, or went into hiding. Men from the 1st Cavalry Regiment and the 4th Infantry Regiment were sent to pursue soldiers who tried to escape towards Prienai.
Aleksotas and elsewhere In the evening of 22 February, soldiers from the aviation unit armed themselves in Aleksotas. Unit's commander Vincas Gavelis gathered loyal soldiers to suppress the mutiny on 23 February. He was reinforced by two armored vehicles sent by the government. One of these vehicles was driven by Joseph Esebuis Pereira, British RAF officer who worked as instructor of the Lithuanian Army. During the shootout, one rebel was killed and two were injured. On the government side, , an American volunteer, was killed. The mutiny was quickly suppressed; some mutineers attempted to escape towards Garliava.