WesWorld

June 27th, 1935

Russian President Chernov, and Foreign Minister Litvinov touched down in Kaunas -in his presidential plane Kerensky One - without incident, under the watchful eyes of Lithuanian Governmental forces.

He was ushered to the Old Presidential Palace under heavy guard by an escort of Lithuanian Life Guards, Security personel and selected Russian military officers from the Russian Embassy. The two presidents and foreign ministers appeared to be in a reasonable cheerful frame of mind dispite circumstance and greeted each other cordially at the main entrance to the Presidential Palace. Subsequently the four gentlemen were seen to go into closed conference.

What the topic of discussion is, is not generally known outside a select few members of both governments diplomatic officals. However, President Smetona indicated to the Lithuanian Press, that he would have something to say about the matter in a day or two.

June 27th, 1935:

In Northeastern Lithuania, the front remains quiet, neither the 6th Wilno Division, nor the II, IV, V and VIII Field Corps opposite it, are inclinded to make a move until they are logistically ready to do so. Both sides can hear the dull roar of artillery fire coming from Vilnius.

In Vilnius, the Guards Division holds fast to its often crumbling positions. The Lithuanian gun crews have fallen into a steady rthym, the minutes crawl by for both the Polish insurrectionists and the Lithuanian troops. Here and there small Governmental raiding parties sortie against one defensive position or another testing for weak points, capturing prisoners for interrogration, and inflicting losses in men and material the Guards Division can ill afford.

Marshal Letowska, after much painful deliberation, finally orders his staff's Plan 2A into effect. Discussion with the commanders of the Guards(Popek), 1st (Jasunski), 2nd (Kawecha), 3rd (Radowski) and 6th (Plontek) Divisions, as well as the commander of the Army of the North (Halwic) have convinced him of the merits of this plan of attack over Plans 1, 2B and 3. The 2nd and 3rd Division, begin a series of forced marches from their encampments to the southwest and south of Vilnius. A critical worry is whether the Lithuanians will attack the 6th Division, if they do, Plontek will have to hold until, the two divisions strike the Northwestern Front's VIII Field Corps in the flank. If the Lithuanians don't attack as expected, then the 6th Division will have to leave it's prepared positions and launch an assault on the field works of the V and VIII Field Corps - the two Lithuanian units immediately to it's front - to buy time for the other two divisions. Either way the prospects for the 6th Division look grim.

Marshal Letowska orders the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th divisions to make their attack on/or about the 28/29th of June, circumstances permitting. The Wilno Army Air Force will make attacks in the 6th Division's support with the 3 fighters and 4 recon/light bombers it has managed to crew. If Plan 2A doesn't work, the Guards's and 1st Division's fragile position in Vilnius may collapse. The loss of Vilnius will put the Wilno Republic's future in doubt.

General Sutkus stung by the affair at Vida, decides to mount an operation against the Insurrectionist elements in the area. He believes he is only facing a small brigade, so he authorises the X Field Corps which is composed largely of Security Auxiliary battalions, to retake Vida.

General Waclaw's Army of the South has dug a extensive line of rifle pits, as well as constructed timber and earth field works both in the village itself, and to either side of it. The 4th and 5th Wilno Divisions are strongly posted, with a rank of skirmishers in front of their battle line, artillery is in close support behind the front, and the cavalry squadrons place a bit further back to block any potential trouble spots. Waclaw and his soldiers are confident that they can win, the Second Battle of Vida, if the Lithuanians come.

The Lithuanian Ministery of National Defense, issues orders directing, the return of the 1st Cavalry Division "flying" detachments (into which the division has been broken up, to assist the Field Corps, which are under Interior Affairs control) to direct Army control. The 1st Cavalry Division is to return to Kaunas for assignment to one of the Army's newly formed corps.

June 29th, 1935:

Presidents Smetona and Chernov, and Foreign Ministers Urbsys and Litvinov, finished their conference to day. On the steps of the Presidential Palace they made this joint public statement to waiting Lithuanian and foreign press agents.

"Following private and close discussion of Russian and Lithuanian needs and political, economic and military considerations,the Republic of Lithuania and the Russian Federation have agreed to and signed this day a Mutual Assistance Pact. It will offer both our countries a measure of security in the years to come, and will mark a progressive step in our countries sometimes awkward past relationship."

President Chernov and Foreign Minister Litvinov are expected to wind up their state visit later today and leave for Russia sometime tomorrow.

The details of the Russian-Lithuanian agreement are as follows:

Treaty of Kaunas (Russian-Lithuanian Mutual Assistance Pact)

The Republic of Lithuania and the Russian Federation in view of recent diplomatic trends and developments, recognise the need to provide for the long term defensive needs of both countries in the Baltic region. To this end, both countries have agreed to the following articles.

Article I

Lithuania and Russian Federation will render military and other forms of aid to each other if one of the Contracting parties is subjected to military attack.

Article II

Contracting Parties shall negotiate a military staff agreement specifying forces to be employed and operations to be conducted under different contingencies.

Article III

Russia shall provide material and technical assistance to Lithuania for building land and coastal fortifications and othe required facilities.

For the Republic of Lithuania

/s/ President Antaras Smetona

/s/ Foreign Minister Juozas Urbsys

For the Russian Federation

/s/ President Viktor Chernov

/s/ Foreign Minister Maksim Litvinov


Signed and Ratified, June 29th, 1935, in Lithuanian and Russian.

July 8th 1935- The Foreign Office announces today that to ensure the end the lost of life in the region and bring peace they are asking the Germans and Nordmak governments to mediate a ceasefire in place between the government and the freedom fighters in Lithuania.

"We consider the safety of the region before the hordes of foreign powers tramples the last liberties of the citizens of Lithuania. As such we ask the German and Nordmark foreign offices to please use their good graces to bring the parts to the table."

OOC: Poland is stupid but not that stupid. Lithuania now is a Russian puppet and pretty much Russia now have a legal right to intervene. No war people.

June 29th:

The Second Battle of Vida begins with the Lithuanian X Field Corps probing the 4th and 5th Wilno Divisions defense lines. Sutkus is shocked to discover the extent of the Insurrectionists defenses. Still mindful of his instructions from the Interior Affairs Ministry and the angry comments of his own officers and men, Sutkus orders the X Field Corps to make an attack. The men of the 11th, 12th, and 13th Security Auxiliary Battalions respond to the order with a violent assault against the village of Vida. For an hour they batter the village with supporting artillery and then make four sorties against it's ethnic Polish defenders. Heavy fire from The Army of the South, both in the village and enflilading positions drive the Lithuanian troops back each time. Waclaw is playing things cautiously he wants the Lithuanians to batter themselves senseless against his field works, minimizing his own losses while maximizing the Governmental troops. So far his plan seems to be working. Badly mauled the three battalions withdraw to reconsider things. The X Field Corps brings up it's second brigade - the 14th, 15th, 16th Security Auxiliaries - more field artillery is hauled up to pound the village of Vida.

Sutkus is becoming more and more agitated by the progress of the second battle, or rather the lack of it. He orders both the Xth's field brigades and supporting units to attack the village again while, the VI and IX Field Corps are brought up to engage, the rest of the Polish-Lithuanian defense line. The X Field Corps troops go in for their fifth attack, it is as costly and as much a failure as the first four. However the troops of the VI Field Corps have come up and begun to engage the 5th Wilno Division, drawing some of the fire hitting men of the Xth. The VI Field Corps's two brigades composed of six battalions of National Guardsmen and supporting elements nearly drive in the 5th Wilno Division's defense line on their first attack. Waclaw throws in his reserve cavalry squadrons and narrowly halts the Lithuanians attempted breakthrough.

By late afternoon, troops on both the Lithuanian and Polish-Lithuanian sides of the battlefield are hot, tired and fed-up with fighting over this particular piece of Lithuanian countryside. Waclaw has been in the saddle, leading, cajoling, bullying and terrorizing his troops for most of the day. He's exhausted as many of his troops, but confident of victory. Stutkus arrives from his headquarters behind the lines to view the battlefield. He doesn't like what he sees, an unbroken and defiant Army of the South. After a tense consultation with his field commanders, Sutkus orders the VI and X Field Corps to make one more attack, the battalion commander protest their units have been roughly handled, casaulties have been appalling, they want to give their men a break. Sutkus is unmoved he needs a victory to restore his waning reputation with the Seimas. Vida and the defeat of the Wilno Army of the South will provide it.

The IX Field Corps makes it's advance on the Army of the South Battle line. It's second brigade, made up of the 5th, 6th, and 7th Security Auxiliary Battalions hit the 4th Wilno Division dead on, a fierce struggle ensues as the Lithuanian volunteers attempt to gain a foothold in the field works. The Insurrectionist stubbornly resist, the combat is often down to brutal hand to hand in many places. Artillery on both sides fire indiscrimately into the confused mobs of fighting, brawling troops. The first brigade however drifts - making its way painfully through woods and built up farmland - in it's advance, missing the Insurrectionist battle line entirely, the surprised the Lithuanians find themselves staring at the exposed flank of the 4th Wilno Division. The three Lithuanian battalions wheel around into line and begin to attack the flank. The Wilno 13th Infantry Battalion is the first to feel the weight of the Lithuanians surprise attack. These troops busy hammering the Lithuanians to their front are astonished when they are raked by fire from their side and rear.

Waclaw busy directing the battle in Vida is alarmed when this development is reported to him. The 4th Division's line is begining to buckle, the 13th Infantry are falling back in panic striken flight. Uncovering the neighbouring 15th Infantry Battalion. Then word reachs Waclaw that the Lithuanian 7th Security Auxiliaries have broke the 4th's line between it's 14th and 16th Infantry battalions, the division is being split in two.

Sutkus has moved up to the contested front line to see how things are going. His staff protests, he shouldn't be endangering himself. Sutkus, ignores this, he moves further up - he intends to be in Vida with his troops by late afternoon, certainly before nightfall. Waclaw orders the 4th Division to fall back immediately before it's position completely falls apart.
All Lithuanian troops are being thrown into the attack, the Army of the South is in danger of being driven back from it's hold on Vida. Waclaw orders the troops holding Vida to begin falling back in good order. Similiar orders are dispatched to the units of the 5th Division. The Army of the South has done well this day, Waclaw has no intention of being defeated while he can breakoff the action.

Sutkus is very satisfied as he sees the Insurrectionist lines begining to thin and fall back, he believes has broken the enemy hold on Vida. He moves into the village, determined to take charge of it's capture personal. Waclaw realizes he must cover his troops withdrawl in the failing light, the Lithuanian troops are tiring and their assaults are becoming less and less effective as they try and halt and reorganize. Waclaw orders his last reserve, four squadrons of Wilno Ulans to make a mounted attack into Vida to surprise the Lithuanians. In the gathering dark, the Ulans arrival in the battered village is a shock to the Security Auxiliaries, many scatter before the charging horsemen, General Sutkus caught in an open street with his adjutant and a few escorts is sabered down, with two of his staff, the rest flee before the Insurrectionist cavalry.

June 28th, 1935 Edition

FORMATION OF THE LETOWSKA GUARDS

Marshal Letowska has authorized that selected volunteers of the Polish Legion, POW and regular forces be used to form the Letowska Guards, special platoon and company sized units which will be deployed as security and police troops throughout the Wilno Republic's territory for the maintaince of good law and public order. They are also charged with ferreting out pro-Lithuanian spies, sabetours and dealling positively with defeatist rumour mongers and the like, amoung Wilno Republican citizenry.

June 29th, 1935:

The Army of the South, using the cover of darkness makes a quick withdrawl deeper into the southern municipalities of the Republic of Wilno. Waclaw has no idea as of yet that General Sutkus has been reported to the Lithuanian Goverment as Missing in Action in the Battle of Vida. His primary concern is at the moment putting as much distance as he can between his two battered divisions and the three Lithuanian Field Corps as he can.

Waclaw, his army staff and his divisional commanders consider their options. All are agreed that another battle is not a worthwhile consideration, ammo supplies are perilously low, many units have lots nearly half their manpower. Losses in unit officers and NCOs are particularly bad. After some reflection, Waclaw orders his troops to make for a position near the Wilno-Polish border. If help for the Army of the South comes at all it will come from that quarter, or at least that is the, increasingly fragile, hope many in the army have.

In the north, Plan 2A has suffered a number of snags getting started. Ammo, food, fodder and fuel is scarce or late arriving for the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th Divisions. Shouting officers, backed up by cursing non-coms, drive exhausted and footsore Wilno Soldiery to march the route around the Lithuanian Northwestern Front's left flank. Stragglers are ruthlessly rounded up by the attached Letowska Guards, some are shot or hung by the roadsides as stern examples to the other troops. Morale in the Army of the North is not good.

Heavy rains only make things worse, turning many of the unmetalled roads the troops are using to sticky, gluttonous muddy quagmires. Marching battalions are slowly to a crawl in many places, for the largely horse-drawn artillery of the Wilno divisions it is even worse. Carriages and guns sink in the mud, men and horses slip and fall, pick themselves up, and then repeat the process every few feet. The tempers of men frustrated by their experiences flare, they are short of sleep and basic wants and needs, sporadic fights and disturbances breakout along the march lines, slowing things down even further. The 2nd and 3rd Divisions will reach there appointed stop off zone by late afternoon on the 31st. They will be a day late getting into position and everyone is worried that the surprise attack may have been discovered.

Marshal Letowska orders the Plontek to make an attack on the lines of the VIII Field Corps, on the 29th. Plontek demures at the idea and stalls making the attack. The units of his division aren't adequate for the task, Letowska decides to assign reserve units from the Guards Division - the 1st and 2nd Ulan Regiments and the Guards Rifles Battalion, to Plontek's command. Maj.General Popek isn't pleased by this development, he is expecting a Governmental attack on Vilnius at any time. Lithuanian planes and artillery are still hitting his positions, and he has reports from his front line observation posts of assault troops being brought up via trenches by the Lithuanians. Letowska while acknowledging Plontek's concerns orders the units transfered to Plontek anyway. A day has been wasted attacking the strangely quiet Northeastern Front, Letowska is begining to wonder if the Lithuanians suspect something, the 6th Division's attack is scheduled for the morning of the 31st.

June 31st, 1935:

President Smetona asks his ministers how much longer they require to finish surpressing the June Insurrection. The Ministries of National Defense and Interior Affairs after some deliberation respond that at least another two to three weeks will be required, certainly no longer, and that the forces currently raised and deployed in the field are adequate for the task. No further recruiting or volunteers are required, the ministeries point out they are having enough problems organizing, training and equiping what they have already. Arsenals all over the country have been practically emptied, stocks of uniforms and field equipment kits exhausted and national training installations overloaded.

The Lithuanian Government is surprised by the report coming from the Southwestern Front, informing them that the General Sutkus is MIA. The VI, IX and X Field Corps commanders request further instructions. Reluctantly, Smetona orders the troops to stay put until a new commander can be appointed. News of the Battle of Vida, makes the Government more wary of operations against the Army of the South. The decision is made to concentrate on the Army of the North around Vilnius, the revolt will be made or broken on that battlefield.

Plontek finds he can delay no longer, with Marshal Letowska present at his divisional headquarters, greatly worried about his troops, he orders the 6th Division forward against the VIII Field Corps. He places his four infantry battalions - 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th - in line abreast with his single rifle battalion - the 6th - and the Guards Rifle Battalion in support behind them, his cavalry - the 11th and 12th Ulan Regiments - moves to the division's flanks to screen it. The bulk of his artillery remains in it's fortified works, some of the field guns move up with the infantry as detached gun sections to provide close artillery support. Plontek holds the two Guards Ulan Regiments back to exploit any possible breaks in the Lithuanian defenses.

The 6th Wilno Division's progress, initial, goes surprisingly well. Plontek's infantry manage to make it through the first and second shallow lines of wire entanglements the Lithuanians have fronted their entrenchments and rifle pits with, before the Lithuanians open fire. The combination of a heavy morning mist, shock on the Lithuanians part that the Wilno Division is even attacking and the fact that Plontek decided not to give the Governmental troops any warning by not begining his attack with an artillery barrage have worked to give his troops a fighting chance.

The surprised Lithuanians of the VIII Field Corps pour a sporadic and disjointed fire into the advancing Polish-Lithuanians. The soldiers of the 6th become ensnared in the third wire line, a few dozen meters before the Lithuanian battle line. The 21st and 22nd Battalions halt, they can move no farther forward under the heavy fire that is being increasingly applied to them. Here and there men in ones and two begin to retreat without orders. Men curse them, others think that going back might not be such a bad idea all things considered. Letowska Guards see the retrograde moves and move forward to put a stop to any potential retreat.

The 23rd Battalion actually breaks the Lithuanian line, driving headlong almost to the Field Corps headquarters bunker. The National Guardsmen and Security Auxiliaries of the VIII Field Corps launch frantic counter-attacks to encircle the 23rd, and seal the hole in their lines. The 24th Battalion of the 6th, desperately tries to keep the break point open, but is pushed back into the second line of wire. Plontek seeing the confusion in his battle line, leaves his headquarters and tries to sort things out directly. He throws in his rifle battalion, followed a moment later by the guards rifle battalion. Both units straggle through the wire, force their way through the field works to try and join the struggling and increasingly isolated 23rd infantry battalion.

The two rifle battalions efforts fail, the closest they get to the 23rd is a hundred meters. Concentrated machinegun and artillery fire drive them back. Plontek begins to despair for both the lone battalion and his division. Losses are spiraling quickly and dangerously, morale is low and the Lithuanians are bring up more troops from the nearby V Field Corps to reinforce their line. Letowska who himself has ridden up to the bitterly contested front orders Plontek to make one last effort. Plontek throws in the Guards Ulans, the only reserve he has left uncommitted. The two horse regiments go in dismounted, their attack makes some progress, then faulters. The 21st itself under increasing pressure from arriving V Field Corps battalions, sees this, suddenly breaks and runs, even the Letowska Guards can't stop them. The surviving men, barrel over anything in their way to get back to the relative safety of their own entrenchments.

This rout, infects the other battalions of the 6th Wilno Division, except the 23rd, which is too surrounded to retire even if it wanted too. Marshal Letowska and Maj.General Plontek watch in astonishment as the soldiers of the division rush towards and past them. They are momentarily swept along with the fleeing soldiery.

June 31st, 1935:

While the 6th Wilno Division makes its sacrifical effort, the 2nd and 3rd Divisions finally trudge into position, their are behind schedule, and just getting into their final planned positions opposite the VIII Field Corps have put them even further behind. Generals Kawecka and Rakowski debate whether it is worth launching the attack at all today. Their combined 16,000 men are muddy, frustrated and nearly stupid from fatigue. Distant sounds of heavy gunfire tell them that the 6th Division is in action. Kawecka decides to make an effort. He orders his battalions to advance, they run into a irregular line of Lithuanian oberservation posts and mounted picket troops. Fighting breaks out as his infantry tries to push through this picket line. Rakowski after delaying nearly half an hour orders his own battalions forward to assist.

The Lithuanian VIII Field Corps, hardly much stronger then one of the divisions attacking it, realizes it's about to be flanked. The fight with the 6th, has forced the committment of the bulk of its troops and artillery. General Vimieris is notified of the developing situation, he's not at all pleased to hear about it. He was read to lauch his own attack on Vilnius, and doesn't need this distraction. Vimieris considers options, he has the IV, V and VIII Field Corps in line, with the II Field Corps in reserve. Vimieris decides he has no choice and orders the II Field Corps to advance to the aid of the VIII. In the meantime, the VIII will have to hold out on it's own.

The 2nd and 3rd Divisions disjointed attack lumbers forward, it is not the swift master stroke, Letowska and his staff envisioned. The VIII Field Corps cobbles together a new defense line with odds and ends, some unexpected but welcome rifle, artillery and machinegun platoons and companies come over from the V Field Corps, and manages to stall the Insurrectionist troops for several hours.

Radowski and Kawecka hurriedly confer at a farmer's hut. Both are certain the flank attack is a failure, and are concerned that they will be subject to a heavy counter-attack in the next few hours. Radowski decides to breakoff, he sees no profit in continuing this action, Kawecka disagrees. The vanguard of the II Field Corps launches an attack at this moment, forcing both generals to rapidly decamp the area. This decides Radowski, he orders his troops to begin withdrawing. Kawecka stubbornly continues to attack the II and VIII Field Corps for another hour before giving up and also ordering his division into a retreat.

The weather conspires to make the two Wilno divisions retreat as dispiriting and exhausting as their advance, heavy rains and thunderstorms lash the area. Lithuanian mounted units harry the marching columns of men and guns, causing more losses, and wasting more time, that can be ill afforded.

Marshal Letowska already mortified by the rout of the 6th Division, is infuriated when he learns of the retreat of the 2nd and 3rd Divisions on which such bright hopes rested. Letowska threatens to cashier all three divisional commanders for the failure of Plan 2A. His staff and the Council of Government barely talk him out of it. Letowska leaves the headquarters of the 6th Division an angry and diappointed man. The prospects for the Republic of Wilno, already faultering, are now looking decidedly grim. Depression within the Wilno Government deepens when news of the retreat of the Army of the South reachs them, dispite Lt.General Waclaw's claims of a victory.

Quoted

Originally posted by Agent148
June 29st, 1935:
Heavy rains only make things worse, turning many of the unmetalled roads the troops are using to sticky, gluttonous muddy quagmires.

Continuing to be a very fine read. Nice to see General Mud showing up Time to corduroy that road !