Бригадный генерал Винцас Жилис (1898–1972) – доброволец, инспектор артиллерии, узник cибирских лагерей

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Artilerijos inspektorius; Brigados generolas; Kalinys; Lietuvos kariuomenė; Lietuvos nepriklausomybės karai; Nepriklausomybės kovos; Savanoris; Sovietinė Lietuvos okupacija; Tarpukario Lietuvos kariuomenė; Vincas Žilys; Vincas Žilys; Brigadier General; Independence Wars; Independence fights; Inspector of artillery; Lithuanian army in interwar period; Lithuanian wars of Independence; Prisoner; Soviet occupation of Lithuania; Vincas Žilys; Vincas Žilys (1898–1972); Volunteer.

ENFebruary 2, 2008 marks the 100th birth anniversary of Brigadier General Vincas Žilys. He was one of the four generals who served this rank in the Lithuanian army from the private. Future Brigadier General came from peasant family that inspired in him love for his motherland and mother tongue. He joined the restored Army as a volunteer and sacrificed most of his youth to this noble cause. First he served as a private, later was among the first graduates from the Military School of Lithuania, then he completed the Higher level Officers’ courses of artillery of the Grand Duke of Vytautas and studied at the General Staff academy in Brussels, Belgium. Further he improved his knowledge at the Military Academy in Paris. In 1934 he was appointed artillery inspector of the Army inspection. He was the author and editor of Artillery Rules, introduced innovations and improved the training of officers and soldiers. The Brigadier General was always ready to learn and improve himself and encouraged his subordinates. According to the certifications of the Lithuanian army, he was considered as a bright, disciplined, curious, and modest officer, devoted to his family and country. When Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union in June 13, 1941 Brigadier General V. Žilys together with 13 Artillery officers of the Lithuanian Army was sent to F. Dzerzinskis Artillery Academy in Moscow to raise his qualifications. This period of “qualification-raising” was a 10 year period of concentration camps and exile. When he returned to Lithuania in 1955, he did some random work. Although he was vindicated, the Soviets disliked and ignored him. For merits Brigadier General Vincas Žilys was awarded the orders and medals of Lithuania and foreign countries. [From the publication]