Kazys Tallat-Kelpša (28 October 1893 – 22 February 1968) was a Lithuanian brigadier general, lecturer of the War School of Kaunas and Higher Officers' Courses, Chief of Cavalry of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.[1][2]
Kazys Tallat-Kelpša | |
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 Kelpša photographed with uniform of the Brigadier General of the Lithuanian Army and state awards | |
| Born | 28 October 1893 Padievytis Manor, Laukuva County, Russian Empire |
| Died | 22 February 1968 (aged 74) Cleveland, United States |
| Buried | Cleveland's All Saints Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
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| Years of service | 1914–1940 |
| Rank |
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| Awards |
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| Alma mater | Kaunas School of Commerce (1914), Royal Military Academy of Belgium (1926) |
| Other work | Lecturer of the War School of Kaunas and Higher Officers' Courses |
Personal life
editKelpša had sister Ona Tallat–Kelpšaitė Jurskienė, who married with lieutenant colonel Alfonsas Jurskis.[3]
Kelpša married Janina Daugulytė, who gave birth to his only son Algis.[4] His son graduated from the higher school in Cleveland and was Reserve Captain of the United States Army.[4]
Early life
editIn 1914, Kelpša graduated from the Kaunas School of Commerce.[1] Following the start of the World War I, he joined the Imperial Russian Army as a volunteer in 1914.[1]
In 1918, in the wake of the February Revolution in Russia, its army was demobilized.[4] Consequently, lieutenant Kelpša was released into the reserve.[4]
Interwar Lithuania
edit
In October 1918, Kelpša reached Vilnius.[4] In Vilnius, in the Council of Lithuania, he registered in the lists of the officers, and was released home before being summoned.[4] Then he returned to his mother in Padievytis.[4] After resting for a couple of weeks and without receiving any summons, he went to Vilnius again and registered once again, this time in the newly established Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania.[4] Following it, he has been ordered to go to his homeland and gather volunteers for the recovering Lithuanian Armed Forces.[4] It was stated that in the next couple days the headquarters of the National Defense District would be established in Tauragė, to which he had to introduce himself.[4]
As the time passed and the Soviet Russia invaded the depths of Lithuania, occupied Šiauliai – the connection with Vilnius was lost.[4] The volunteers in groups went towards Vilnius.[4] Finally, in the beginning of January 1919, the said military headquarters arrived to Tauragė and Kelpša introduced himself there.[4]
As the core of the Lithuanian cavalry was organized in Kaunas, Kelpša was sent to Kaunas.[4] After reaching Kaunas and presenting himself to the military leadership, he was assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Squadron attached to the Separate Battalion, which later became the 5th Infantry Regiment.[4]
On 20 March 1919, Kelpša was transferred to the Headquarters of the Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania and was soon sent to France as a member of the Lithuanian Military Mission to the Paris Peace Conference.[4]
On 27 January 1920, Kelpša was appointed a military representative in Latvia and Estonia.[1][4][5] On 19 September 1920, he returned to Kaunas and was assigned to the 2nd Uhlan Regiment.[4]
On 1 November 1923, Kelpša was sent to Belgium where in 1926 he graduated from the Royal Military Academy of Belgium.[1][4] In 1927, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the First Military District.[1]
In 1931, Kelpša was lecturer of the Higher Officers' Courses, in 1933 he was transferred to the War School of Kaunas.[1]
Since 25 October 1934, Kelpša was Chief of Cavalry of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.[1][4]
In 1936, Kelpša was awarded the military rank of brigadier general.[1]
Occupations and World War II
editFollowing the Soviet occupation of Lithuania in June 1940, Kelpša was fired from the Lithuanian Armed Forces on 25 June 1940.[1]
Emigration
editIn 1944, Kelpša with his family departed to Germany, and from 1949 onward lived in Cleveland, United States.[1][4] He worked in the sphere of railroads until 16 July 1961, when he retired.[4]
In 1950, Kelpša established a branch of the Lithuanian Soldiers Veterans Union Ramovė in Cleveland and headed it.[1][4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Zabielskas, Vytautas. "Kazys Tallat Kelpša". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Tallat-Kelpša, Kazys". Generals.dk. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Karužiškėse bus paminėtas O. Tallat–Kelpšaitės Jurskienės ir V. Mačernio atminimas". Alkas.lt (in Lithuanian). 27 July 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Žvirkalnis, L. "Generolo Kazio Tallat-Kelpšos jubiliejus". Partizanai.org (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ Lietuvos Respublikos karinė diplomatija 1919–1940 m.: kariniai atstovai ir karo atašė (PDF) (in Lithuanian). Kaunas: Vytautas the Great War Museum. p. 9. ISBN 978-609-412-088-6. Retrieved 9 February 2022.