In WWI, Gruzdžiai (Gruzdzi, Grusdi, Grusen), a township ca. 20 km north of Šiauliai (Schaulen), was involved in the swift German advance resulting in the taking of Šiauliai on April 30, 1915, then their retreat and their repeated taking of Šiauliai on July 21. Around Gruzdžiai, the troops active on both sides were mostly cavalry, [...]

In WWI, Linkuva (Linkovo, Linkowo) was passed through by German cavalry of the Kavallerie-Korps Schmettow, on ca. July 23, 1915 after German troops had taken Šiauliai (Schaulen) on July 21. This was part of a general strategy with a double aim: to strengthen a front line against the Russian fortress of Daugavpils (Dvinsk, Dünaburg ) [...]

In WWI Taujėnai (Tovjany, Towiani), a township in Aukštaitija, was taken by German troops during their flanking movement towards Vilnius after the week-long battle battle of Kupiškis. It was passed through by cavalrymen of 3. Kavallerie-Division on August 20, 1915. In czarist times, a post office in Taujėnai, as Tovjany, had been opened in 1895, [...]

In WWI, Virbalis (Verzhbolovo, Wirballen), being very close to the Rusian – German border, at the beginning of the hostilities immediately found itself in the middle of battles. At first, the German 8th Army was pushed back deep into East Prussia, but after two Russian military disasters, by February 1915 the Russians were totally evicted [...]

In WWI, Jeznas, presently Jieznas, (Jezno, Ezno) was passed through by German troops late in August 1915, when after the fall of the Kaunas fortress on August 18, their 21st Infantry Corps (XXI. Armeekorps) led by Gen. Ltn. von Hutier crossed  the river Nemunas (Njemen) south of Kaunas and pressed east to carry out a [...]

Šakiai (Shaki, Schaki) was briefly entered by German troops in 1914 at an early stage of the war with Russia, then in February 1915 by reco troups of Ersatz-Brigade Esebeck, then finally and more permanently during the German preparations to storm the formidable Kaunas fortress which fell on August 18, 1915.
 Though Šakiai had had a [...]

In WWI, after the Germans had taken the Kaunas fortress on August 18,1915 and were anxious to take the communications centre Vilnius by outflanking, the river Nemunas (Njemen) had to be negotiated at several other points as well. At Prienai (Preny), the river was crosssed on August 22 by 31. Infanterie-Division, led by Gen.Ltn. von [...]

In WWI, Vilkija (Vilki, Wilki) was taken by German troops during their preparations in the summer of 1915 to storm Kaunas (Kovna, Kovno, Kowno) whose formidable fortress endangered the German advance further east. At Vilkija, a bridge across the river Nemunas (Njemen) was built in late July to facilitate the movement of troops. The fortress [...]

In WWI, being on the border and thus in a kind of no man’s land, the town of Kretinga (Kretingen, Krottingen) was immediately passed through by German troops when the push into Žemaitija and Courland started on April 27, 1915. By 2.30 a.m. that morning cavalrymen of 6. Kavallerie-Division rushed through Kretinga in the direction [...]

In WWI, Rietavas (Retovo, Retowo) after a brief fire-fight was passed through by German infantry units of the 12th res. brig. (6. Reserve-Division) at about midday on April 28, 1915 , that is, the day after the Germans embarked on a push into Žemaitija and Courland. Though Rietavas already had had a post office during [...]