Vladas Mieželis (November 27, 1894 – June 4, 1986) was a Lithuanian brigadier general, lawyer, military judge of the Supreme Tribunal of Lithuania, and Chairman of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Court.[1][2][3]
Vladas Mieželis | |
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 Mieželis photographed with uniform of the Lithuanian Army and state awards | |
| Born | November 27, 1894 Jakštai, Daugailiai County, Russian Empire |
| Died | June 4, 1986 (aged 91) Sun City, Arizona, United States |
| Allegiance |
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| Years of service | 1916–1941 |
| Rank |
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| Awards |
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| Alma mater | Moscow University (1916), Moscow War School of Alexander II (1917), University of Lithuania (1926) |
| Other work | Military judge of the Supreme Tribunal of Lithuania, Chairman of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Court |
Early years edit
Mieželis was born on November 27, 1894, in Jakštai, Daugailiai County, Russian Empire.[1] His parents were farmers.[4] He graduated from A. Lebedev's Private Gymnasium in Moscow.[5]
In 1916 Mieželis began studying at Moscow University, but was mobilized into the Imperial Russian Army.[1][5] In 1917 after graduating from Alexander II's War School in Moscow, he fought on the front.[1][5] In 1918 he was demobilized and lived in Kyiv.[1][5]
In 1919 he was mobilized as an officer into the Red Army.[1] He served on the Southern and Caucasus fronts and in the Reserve Army.[1] In 1921 he was an inspector of the Eleventh Army, Assistant Commander of the Territorial Brigade of the Azerbaijani Red Army.[1] On June 6, 1921, he became ill with cholera.[1]
Interwar Lithuania edit
In November 1921 Mieželis illegally returned to Lithuania, and was mobilized into the Lithuanian Armed Forces in 1922.[1] In 1922–23 he was Assistant Clerk of the Military Court, in 1923–26 – Clerk.[1] In 1926 he graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lithuania.[1] In 1926–38 he worked in the Lithuanian Armed Forces Court.[1]
In 1928–34 he lectured at the military school, in 1932–1936 – at the Higher Military School.[1] In 1933–1938 he also was a military judge of the Supreme Tribunal of Lithuania (1933–36 – temporarily).[1] In 1938 he was awarded the military rank of brigadier general.[1] In 1938–1940 he was Chairman of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Court.[1]
Mieželis contributed to the preparation of the military justice project.[1] Moreover, he collaborated with journals Kardas, Mūsų žinynas, Teisė, and Lithuanian Encyclopedia.[1]
Occupations and World War II edit
Following the Soviet occupation of Lithuania in June 1940, Mieželis was released into the reserve on June 6, 1940.[1] He went into hiding to avoid political repressions.[1]
In 1941 Mieželis was a participant of the June Uprising in Lithuania (worked at headquarters).[1] During the German Nazis occupation of Lithuania in 1941, he was the representative of the Lithuanian Red Cross to assist the victims of the war, and in 1941–44 he was a judge of the Court of Appeal.[1] He was engaged in the anti-Nazi resistance.[1]
Emigration edit
In 1944 he emigrated to Germany.[1] In 1949 he moved to the United States and actively participated in the activities of the Lithuanian community in the United States.[1]
Legacy edit
In 1994 a memorial chapel for Mieželis was erected in Jakštai and a permanent exposition was set up in the Zarasai Regional Museum.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab Tamašauskas, Kazimieras. "Vladas Mieželis". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "Lietuvos kariuomenės teismo pirmininkas, generolas Vladas Mieželis". Antaliepte.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ Stoliarovas, Andriejus (2014). "Lietuvos Respublikos kariuomenės generalitetas 1918–1940 m.: nežinomi istoriniai fragmentai". Karo archyvas (in Lithuanian). 29: 383. ISSN 1392-6489. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "Dirva: iliustruotas tautinės minties lietuvių laikraštis" (PDF). Dirva (in Lithuanian). 34: 1. 30 April 1969. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Mieželis Vladas - Lietuvos kariuomenės generolas". Daugailiai.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 5 February 2022.