Jonas Semaška
Jonas Semaška, nom de guerre Liepa, Rikis, Gaučas (24 November 1907 – 21 January 1947) – Lithuanian officer and a leader of Lithuanian partisans, who fought for Lithuanian independence.[1]
Jonas Semaška | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Liepa, Rikis, Gaučas |
| Born | 24 November 1907 Ramygala, Kaunas Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | 21 January 1947 (aged 39) Vilnius, Soviet Union |
| Allegiance |  Lithuania (1930–1940)
Lithuania (1945-1947) |
| Years of service | 1930-1947 |
| Commands held |
|
| Alma mater | War School of Kaunas |
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Early life
Jonas Semaška was born on 24 November 1907 in Naujakiemis village, Ramygala county, Panevėžys district. He was one of ten children. He graduated from the gymnasium of Panevėžys.[2] In 1936, Jonas Semaška married Elena Dambrauskaitė, daughter of another Lithuanian officer.[2]
Lithuanian army
Jonas Semaška graduated from the War School of Kaunas in 1930, serving as junior lieutenant in the 1st Infantry Regiment directly after graduation.[2] He was promoted to captain in 1937.
First Soviet Occupation
When USSR occupied Lithuania in 1940, the Lithuanian army was liquidated. Jonas Semaška was the commander of a company in the 234th regiment of the 179th Rifle Division, which was in turn part of the 29th Rifle Corps. After returning from his holidays, he was tipped off about the coming arrest, so he went into hiding since 1941 May.[2]
Service in Schutzmannschaft
Since 1941 August, he served as commander of platoon in Schutzmannschaft Battalion 7, commanding a company after 1942 April.[2]
1943
Since 1943, the Schutzmannschaft Battalion 7 fought on the Eastern Front. From 1943 January 13 to January 17, the battalion was embroiled in the defense of Ostrogozhsk, as the Soviets launched the Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh Offensive. In conjunction with the few nearby Hungarian and German units, the 13th Light Division and 168th Infantry Division respectively,[3] the Lithuanian Battalion succeeded in breaking through three defensive rings in the Alexeyevsk district. Due to the success of the operation, Jonas Semaška was promoted to major from captain.[2]
While the 7th Battalion rested, he was assigned as commander to the Schutzmannschaft Battalion 13 and fought in the Pskov Oblast.[2]
1945
In the spring of 1945, Jonas Semaška was in the Courland pocket.
Among Lithuanian Partisans
1945
When Germany capitulated, Jonas Semaška with his adjutant Captain S. Januškevičius and two other liaison officers (Lithuanian: ryšininkai) got away to Lithuania, specifically forests near Plungė and joined the Samogitian partisans.[2] From 1945 August, Jonas Semaška commanded the Šatrija territorial unit and since October - Žemaičiai military district.
1946
In 1946 March, he accepted General Storm's proposal to command the future Šiauliai military district of the Lithuanian Liberation Army. In April 1946, he was arrested in Telšiai. By the order of the Central Committee of the LSSR VKP(b) in the show trial held in Telšiai on 13th October 1946 he was sentenced to death by the Military Tribunal of MVD Vilnius garison. On 21 January 1947, Jonas Semaška was excuted in Vilnius.[4]
Burial
In 1994, the remains of Jonas Semaška were identified in the mass grave in Tuskulėnai Manor.[2] In 2001, he was reburried in the Petrašiūnai Cemetery of Kaunas.[1]
External links
Bibliography
- (in Lithuanian) Janina Semaškaitė. Priesaika: Jonas Semaška-Liepa ir bendražygiai / Oath: Jonas Semaška-Liepa and his brothers in arms, Vilnius: Lietuvos gyventojų genocido ir rezistencijos tyrimo centras, 2000, ISBN 9986757401.
References
- Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija. XXI. Vilnius: Science and encyclopedias publishing institute.
- BARKAUSKAS, Edmundas (7 February 2007). "Karininko tragedija" [Tragedy of an officer]. XXI amžius (in Lithuanian).
- Niehorster, Leo W.G. (2010). The Royal Hungarian Army 1920 - 1945. I. p. 90.
- "Jonas Semaška 1907 – 1947". kariuomeneskurejai.lt (in Lithuanian).