Lietuvos kariuomenės karininkų rengimo ir jų kvalifikacijos kėlimo sistema, 1919-1940

LTMonografijoje, remiantis archyvine medžiaga, literatūriniais šaltiniais, taikant istorinį, chronologinį tyrimo metodus, tiriama ir įvertinama tarpukario (1919–1940 m.) Lietuvos kariuomenės karininkų rengimo ir jų kvalifikacijos kėlimo sistema (Pirmojo Lietuvos Prezidento karo mokykla, Karo aviacijos mokykla, Aspirantų tarnyba, Vytauto Didžiojo karininkų kursai, Aukštieji karo technikos karininkų kursai, Vytauto Didžiojo aukštoji karo mokykla, įvairūs ilgalaikiai ir trumpalaikiai kursai, Lietuvos kariuomenės karininkų studijos užsienyje ir kt.). Monografijoje ištirtą prieškarinę patirtį bus naudinga panaudoti organizuojant ir tobulinant šiuolaikinę karininkų rengimo ir jų kvalifikacijos kėlimo sistemą. Atliktas tyrimas gali būti mokslinių žinių šaltinis bakalauro, magistrantūros ir doktorantūros studijoms. Knyga turi mokslinę ir pažintinę vertę, yra reikalinga ir naudinga tyrinėjantiems Lietuvos kariuomenės istoriją bei plačiajai visuomenei kaip karybos, socialinių ir humanitarinių mokslų žinių šaltinis. [Anotacija knygoje]

ENUntil the World War I, Lithuanians served mostly as privates with only few officers in the Russian Army. Tsarist authorities did not trust Lithuanians, especially Catholics. They were neither admitted to the General Staff Academy nor allowed to serve in the regimental or higher level headquarters. Lithuanians were hindered from entering military schools for cadets and officers. After the revolution in 1905, the Tsarist policy softened and Lithuanians were allowed to enter military schools, however, military academies were still forbidden. The situation changed at the outbreak of the World War I when the Russian Army faced a remarkable lack of officers. Many nationally conscious Lithuanian youths obeyed a student call-up on 1 May 1916 and entered Russian military schools where in 4-5 months of training they received officer ranks. Many physicians, pharmacists and teachers voluntarily joined the Russian Army, thus increasing the number of Lithuanian officers. By the end of the war, there were nearly 500 Lithuanian officers, enough to form a division, however, very few senior officers. Later, this factor complicated the formation of national military units, first in Russia and later in Lithuania. When Lithuania declared its Independence on 16 February 1918, an urgent need arose to form the armed forces despite the shortage of funds, arms and other equipment, for deterring the enemies approaching from all directions. The Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania, Chief of Defence and General Headquarters were responsible for military and specialized training. The Lithuanian Armed Forces experienced a serious shortage of officers, especially the senior ones, because not all of them had returned from the Russian Army at that time. To solve the problem, the mobilization of officers, non-commissioned officers and military servants was announced on 15 January 1919. Merely 400 officers joined the armed forces.The newcomers had very different educational backgrounds. In addition to the officers from the Imperial Russian Army, the Lithuanian Armed Forces were supported by German, Swedish, American, British, French and Latvian officers. Foreign officers, who served in the difficult period of 1919–1920, had an important role in strengthening the forces, helping to solve different organizational issues and providing a very necessary moral support to the Lithuanian servicemen by directly demonstrating the support of the great powers. As the armed forces experienced a critical shortage of well trained and educated patriotic officers, the Interim Government and the Ministry of National Defence moved from Vilnius to Kaunas and started administrative arrangements for the establishment of military school. The fights with Bolsheviks for Independence accelerated the establishment of the military school in Kaunas. The Lithuanian government officially announced the decision on 15 January 1919 together with the admission requirements. The official announcement stated that due to difficult circumstances the training course was reduced to 3 months. The applicants (males only) were required to be healthy and at least 17 years of age. Those who had finished four classes at a gymnasium or equivalent school were exempt from entrance exams. The purpose of the military school was to train officers of all services and develop them as commanders and specialists capable of raising national spirit in the military. [...]. [From the publication]