The Post Office in Gruzdžiai 1919

By Vytautas Doniela

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, with German 3. Kavallerie-Division to start with. When the German army retreated from Russia at the end of 1918, units of the Red Army appeared in Gruzdžiai in January 1919. During the German Grenzschutz drive on Riga they were pushed out on March 10, 1919 by cavalry units of Detachement Schlenther. A number of local Lithuanian self-government bodies were formed in the area, though in the second half of 1919 tensions developed with the “bermontininkai” who foraged the countryside for daily necessities. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Linkuva 1919

By Vytautas Doniela

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 ) and to advance further east to flank Vilnius. Linkuva had had a post office in czarist times (Linkovo) but no such facility was opened within the civilian Postgebiet Ob.-Ost structure. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Taujėnai 1919

By Vytautas Doniela

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, but there was none there during the German occupation. When the German army’s retreat from Russia at the end of 1918 was followed by the advancing Red Army, Taujėnai was entered in January 1919. According to a Soviet document dated February 15, 1919, a post office was set up at that time with I. A Koleda in charge. However, there is no surviving tangible evidence of its activity. During the Wars of Independence, Taujėnai was in Lithuanian hands in ca. April 1919. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Virbalis 1919

By Vytautas Doniela

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 from German territory and, in turn, German forces were moving into the western part of Lithuania, the Suvalkija. Virbalis was taken after bitter and destructive house-by-house night fighting in the early hours of February 11, 1915 by troops of German 78. Reserve-Division. As there was a post office on the German side of the border at nearby Eydtkuhnen, no post office was set up at Virbalis or its twin township, Kybartai (Kibarty) during German occupation. But the Virbalis – Kybartai area was serviced by a stationary facility Deutsche Feldpost 70 between February and November 1918. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Jeznas (also Jieznas) 1919

By Vytautas Doniela

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 flanking movement towards Vilnius from the south. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Šakiai 1919

By Vytautas Doniela

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 post office in czarist times as Shaki, it was not taken into the Postgebiet Ob.-Ost system. During the German army’s retreat from Russia at the end of 1918, Šakiai and its neighbourhood were patrolled by German volunteer border guards (Grenzschutz), and their regional command centre, Bezirkskommandantur, continued its military and administrative duties at nearby Vilkaviškis. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Prienai 1919

By Vytautas Doniela

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 Berrer. While each German division was accompanied by its mobile Feldpost, no stationary Feldpost was later set up at Prienai. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Vilkija 1919-1920

By Vytautas Doniela

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 of Kaunas was finally taken on August 18, 1915. Though Vilkija had had a post office in czarist times, no such facility was established during the German occupation, also no stationary Feldpost. When the German army retreated from Russia at the end of 1918, Vilkija for a while was militarily deserted, though later German voluntary border guards (Grenzschutz) set up a post supervising the river transport on the Nemunas between Kaunas and the Memelland. For their postal needs the guards used Frw. Feldpost 728 stationed in Kaunas. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Kretinga 1919

By Vytautas Doniela

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 of Kartena (Korciany) where they met the first serious Russian resistance. During the German occupation Kretinga was provided with a branch of the Ob.-Ost postal system, named Russisch Krottingen. It was opened on July 1, 1916 and closed on December 26, 1918. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Rietavas 1919

By Vytautas Doniela

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 czarist times, no such facility was opened during the German occupation. No stationary Feldpost was established here either. [continue reading...]

The Vilnius Area in the Summer of 1920

By Vytautas Doniela

One of the least known episodes in early Lithuanian postal history is the endeavour of the Lithuanian Pašto Valdyba to open, in the summer of 1920, Lithuanian post offices in in some localities in the Vilnius area which since April 1919 had been under Polish rule. After the end of WWI, as a result of unresolved political and territorial tensions, hostilities flared up between the recently re-established Poland and the reconstructed Soviet Russia. Polish troops advanced into Byelorussia, marching into its capital Minsk on August 8, 1919 (renaming it Minsk-Litewski) and also penetrated deeply into the Ukraine, taking its capital Kiev on May 7, 1920. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Utena 1919-1920

By Vytautas Doniela

In WWI, Utena (Uciany, Uzjany) was taken on September 11, 1915 by units of Kavallerie-Korps Garnier and Division Beckmann during the German flanking advance on Vilnius. As the front line against the Russian fortress of Daugavpils (Dünaburg, Dvinsk) hardened, to Utena came the HQs of Armeeabteilung von Scholtz, renamed in January 1917 Armeeabteilung D. There was also a sizeable military air base there. Because of its significance Utena received a stationary Feldpoststation 222, operative from November 1915 untill November 1918. At a very late stage Utena as Uzjany came to be included in the civilian Postgebiet Ob.-Ost structure. It was opened on November 11, 1918 and closed on December 17, 1918. Due to its unusually brief activity mail from Uzjany is very rare. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Tytuvėnai 1919-1920

By Vytautas Doniela

In WWI, Tytuvėnai (Tytavėnai, Cytowiany, Citovjany) was passed through by Bavarian cavalry the following day after the German push into Žemaitija began on April 27, 1915. The cavalrymen were from the reco Abteilung Gonnermann of the Bayerische Kavallerie-Division which was speeding to flank Šiauliai from the south. During the German occupation Tytuvėnai acquired some importance when a strategic railway line was built in 1915 – 1916 from Tilsit (East Prussia) via Tauragė to Šiauliai. Though Tytuvėnai already had a post office Citovjany in czarist times, no such facility was set up during the German occupation, the nearest Postgebiet Ob.-Ost branch being at Kielmy / Skaudwile. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Pasvalys 1919-1920

By Vytautas Doniela

In WWI, after repeated and final capture of the important communications hub Šiauliai (Schaulen) on July 21, 1915, the German forces in northern Lithuania (Njemen-Armee) were given a double task: to secure the left flank against Daugavpils (Dunaburg, Dvinsk) and to provide a base for a major flanking offensive against Vilnius. Pasvalys (Poswol, Posvol) was caught up in a zigzagging war of movement and was taken by German cavalry on or about July 25, soon reinforced by Brigade Homeyer. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Luokė 1919-1920

By Vytautas Doniela

In WWI, when the German push into Žemaitija and Courland started on April 27, 1915, the township of Luokė (Lukniki) was passed through by reco troops of 12th res. brig. (6. Reserve-Division) on April 29. In czarist times Luokė received a post office (Lukniki) ca. 1900, but no such facility was established during the German occupation, the nearest civilian Ob.-Ost post office being at Telšiai (Telsze). [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Gargždai 1919-1920

By Vytautas Doniela

In WWI, when the German push into Žemaitija and Courland started soon after midnight into April 27, 1915, Gargždai (Garždai, Gorsdy, Gorzhdy) being right on the border was in no-man’s land and was passed through by reco units. A little further south, units of 12th cav. brig. (6.Kavallerie-Division) were on their way to Andrejavas and Rietavas. Though a post office at Gargždai (Gorzhdy) had been opened in czarist times after 1900, no such facility was available during the German occupation in WWI and local mail had to collected from the Ob.-Ost civilian post office at Kretinga (Russisch Krottingen). [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Telšiai 1919

By Vytautas Doniela

In WWI, when a German drive into Žemaitija and Courland started on April 27, 1915, Telšiai was soon, at 6 a.m. April 29, passed through by 33rd cav. brig. (6.Kavallerie-Division) and advance troops of 11th res. brig. (6. Reseve-Infantery-Division). During the German occupation a civilian post office within the Postgebiet Ob.-Ost system, named Telsze, was opened on July 1, 1916 and closed on December 20, 1918. For a while, Aug. 1916 – Oct.16, Feldpoststation 223 had also come to Telšiai. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Panemunis 1919-1920

By Vytautas Doniela

Panemunis (Ponemun) in northern Aukštaitija north-west of Rokiškis, is not to be confused with Panemunėlis (Ponemunok) south-west of Rokiškis. During WWI the area was on the outskirts of a battle zone when the German advance towards Daugavpils (Dünaburg, Dvinsk) was for a while stalled by strong Russian resistance and the so-called Kupiškis battle (die Schlacht bei Kupischki) developed July 30 – August 7, 1915. Panemunis was passed through by units of the German 45th Cav. Brig. (6.Kavallerie-Division) on August 7, 1915. No post office was set up there during the German occupation. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Marijampolė 1919-1920

By Vytautas Doniela

During the German occupation in WWI, Marijampolė (sometimes spelt Mariampolė without “j”), had a civilian post office within the Postgebiet Ob.-Ost system, named Mariampol. It was opened on April 20, 1916 and closed on December 29, 1918. Mariampolė was among the earliest post offices to be taken over from the German system. The first postmaster (įgaliotinis) with a mandate to take over the German facility after its closure was Juozas Gulbinas. He was selected by “Pašto Valdyba” in advance as early as December 18, 1918, but it is not certain when the Lithuanian post office did actually open. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Tryškiai 1919-1920

By Vytautas Doniela

Tryškiai (Trischki, Trishki) is a small town in Žemaitija, in 1923 pop.1400, which acquired a post office in the czarist period, some time after 1900. In WWI, when the German army undertook a swift offensive into Žemaitija and Courland on the morning of April 27, 1915, Tryškiai was vacated by Russian troops at 1 pm on April 29, and was entered a little later by units of German 33rd Cavalry Brigade (6. Kavallerie-Division). There was no post office at Tryškiai during the German occupation. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Tirkšliai

By Vytautas Doniela

Tirkšliai is a township in Žemaitija (Samogitia) which seems to have had no post office before WWI. In WWI it was occupied during the German push into Žemaitija and Courland which started on April 27, 1915. While the township was visited by German reco cavalry troops soon after that date, it was passed through in greater force by units of 6. Kavallerie-Division on May 11, 1915. During the German occupation there was no post office on Tirkšliai. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Salantai 1919-1920

By Vytautas Doniela

The township Salantai (Salanty), in 1940 pop. ca. 2200, in Žemaitija or Samogitia acquired its first post office in czarist times, sometime before WWI. During WWI it was occupied by German troops soon after the swift German push into Žemaitija and Courland (present-day Latvia) starting at 2 a.m. on April 27, 1915. Before nightfall Salantai was passed through by units of 6. Kavallerie-Division. This was reinforced on May 5 by cavalry unit Abteilung Schulenberg (3. Kavallerie-Brigade, 6. Kavallerie-Division, commander Gen.Ltn. Graf Egon von Schmettow )which was rushing from Klaipėda (Memel) area through Skuodas in the direction of the strategic Russian port and naval base of Liepaja (Libau, Libava). [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Viekšniai 1919

By Vytautas Doniela

The township Viekšniai (Wekschni, Viekshni, Viekshnia) lies on the major railway route Liepaja (Libau, Libava) to Vilnius with a further link to Romni in the Ukraine, which was constructed in czarist times for large-scale transportation of agricultural and industrial products from the Ukraine to a Baltic Sea port. [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Pakruojis in 1919

By Vytautas Doniela

In czarist times, the post-and-telegraph office of Pakruojis (Pokroi) was opened some time before 1900. In WWI, the township Pakruojis (Pokroi) was taken by units of the German 5th Cavalry Brigade (2. Kavallerie-Division) at 4 p.m. in heavy rain on July 21, 1915. A fierce Russian cavalry counterattack followed the next day embracing the ancient Pokroi Manor further east, but eventually did not stop the German advance. During the German occupation Pakruojis had no post office of its own, and probably obtained its mail via the Postgebiet Ob.-Ost civilian post office at Panevėžys (Poniewiez). [continue reading...]

The Post Office in Plungė in 1919

By Vytautas Doniela

In Lithuania’s postal history, Plungė (Plungiany) makes its first appearance as a horse relay facility in the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. A post-and-telegraph station was opened in czarist times, in 1876. During the German occupation in WWI Plungė had no post office of its own and received its mail via the neighbouring Postgebiet Ob.-Ost post office at Telšiai (Telsze). [continue reading...]

First Postage Stamps of Lithuania

By Audrius Brazdeikis

The first Lithuanian postage stamps were issued in December 1918. The first set of 10 and 15 skatikas stamps of “Lietuvos pašta” within a rectangle. The first edition was limited to 5000 sets (Mi 1-2). [continue reading...]