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Antanas Ričardas Druvė

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Antanas Ričardas Druvė
Druvė (left) alongside fellow student Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim in Nicholas Cavalry College, St. Petersburg, late 1880s.[1]
Born(1865-01-01)1 January 1865
Pavirvytys estate, Tryškiai Parish
Died17 February 1919(1919-02-17) (aged 54)
Allegiance
Service/branchGeneral Staff
RankColonel
Battles/wars

Antanas Ričardas Druvė (Russian: Антон-Ричард Иосифович Друве, romanized: Anton-Richard Iosifovich Druve; 1 January 1865 – 17 February 1919) was a Lithuanian military officer and a colonel in the Imperial Russian Stavka.[1] Druvė was born in the Manor of Pavirvytis [lt] (now Lithuania), which belonged to the Lithuanian noble Šemeta family.[2]

Background[edit]

During the French invasion of Russia, the sick French lieutenant Pierre Drouvet stayed in the manor.[2] He was nursed by Morta, the landowner's only daughter; and they fell in love.[2] Pierre Drouvet and Morta married; and together with the Grande Armée, having experienced various adventures on the way, went to the French region of Burgundy.[2] After two decades, following her parents' request, Morta and Drouvet returned to Pavirvytis.[2] Antanas Druvė was this couple's grandson.[2]

Military career[edit]

Druvė received his general education at the 3rd Gymnasium of Warsaw [pl].[3] He entered the Imperial Russian Army on 11 September 1887 at age 22.[3] From 1887 to 1889, Druvė studied at the Nicholas Cavalry School [ru].[1] While there, he became a friend of Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, the future president of Finland.[1] Druvė later finished his military education at the General Staff Academy.[1]

Druvė became a cornet in 1888, a lieutenant in 1892, a Stabs-kapitan in 1898 and a captain in 1900.[3] He commanded a squadron for 7 years.[3] Druvė was part of the 32nd Dragoon Regiment.[3] During the Russo-Japanese War of 1905, Druvė was seriously wounded.[1] The 32nd Dragoons were renamed as the 11th Uhlan Regiment in 1907.[3] Druvė was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 11th Uhlan Regiment in 1912 for his distinction in imperial service.[3]

World War I[edit]

During World War I, in the autumn of 1915, Druvė led a cavalry unit where he was distinguished for his fighting against the Imperial German Army near the Daugava River.[1] According to the vle.lt, it was the 43rd Cavalry Regiment.[1] However, according to the ria1914.info, Druvė served only in the 32nd Dragoon, later renamed to the 11th Uhlan Regiment.[3] On 28 December 1915, he was promoted to colonel of the 11th Uhlan Regiment.[3]

From 14 July 1916, Druvė served in the reserve of ranks at the headquarters of the Kiev Military District.[3] He also served as an officer in the Northwestern Front's Headquarters section for operations.[1]

Lithuanian Wars of Independence[edit]

Encouraged by Povilas Plechavičius, Druve secretly returned to Lithuania in January 1919.[1] He helped Plechavičius organize anti-Communist Lithuanian partisans in the towns of Eigirdžiai, Raudėnai [lt], Tryškiai and Ubiškė.[1] While visiting his home estate, Druvė was caught and killed by the Red Army on 17 February 1919.[1]

Awards[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Michalauskas 2004, p. 163.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Pavirvyčio dvaro sodyba". www.zemai.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Друве Антон Иосифович — Офицеры русской императорской армии". www.ria1914.info (in Russian). Retrieved 5 September 2023.

Sources[edit]

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