8th Infantry Regiment (Lithuania)

On 12 May 1919, officer Jurgis Kubilius began organizing a volunteer unit in Ukmergė, which was soon renamed to the Ukmergė Battalion.[2] From July, the battalion fought against the Bolsheviks near Salakas, later in the Zarasai region, near Turmantas. From October 14, the battalion was led by officer Julius Čaplikas. On December 10, the battalion was reorganized into the 8th Regiment. On 16 February 1920, The regiment was given the name of Vaidotas, the Duke of Kaunas. Soon thereafter, on February 21–23, the regiment quelled the Mutiny of the Kaunas garrison.[2]

After the battles against the Bolsheviks, the regiment was deployed in Kaunas, later guarding the demarcation line at Kaišiadorys. In July, the regiment was moved to Vilnius and Trakai, and was later sent to the front to fight against the Polish army in the Augustavas area. After the defeats on the Polish front, the regiment was transferred to Ukmergė to defend themselves at the Širvintos-Giedraičiai section. The regiment fought in the Battle of Giedraičiai as a component of the 1st Infantry Division.

In 1921, after the battles against the Poles ceased, the regiment was stationed in Šėta, and then moved to the permanent dislocation in Šiauliai.[2] In 1923, the regiment's soldiers partook in the Klaipėda Revolt. The company, led by Lieutenant Viktoras Burokevičius, broke through the entire city to the French Commissioner's prefecture, where the company commander was killed. However, the prefecture was occupied and the French surrendered.

On 29 July 1929, the regiment was given the flag with the inscription of "Drąsa, ištvermė ir Tėvynės meilė tevadovauja mums" (May Bravery, Endurance and Love of the Fatherland lead us).[2] The regiment was part of the 3rd Infantry Division. The regiment had two battalions, totalling about 1,100 soldiers. The regiment's commander was also the commander of the Šiauliai garrison.

• 1919 – officer Julius Čaplikas
• 1921 – Colonel Petras Jurgaitis
• 1921 – Colonel Albertas Liutermoza
• 1924 – Colonel Aleksandras Šumskis
• 1926 – Colonel Jurgis Bobelis
• 1927 – Colonel Pranas Tvaronas
• 1934–1940 – Colonel Andrius Butkūnas-Butkevičius

• Ruzgas, V., ed. (1932). Visa Lietuva (in Lithuanian). Kaunas: Spaudos Fondas.
• Bliudnikas, E.; Nazaras, Petras (1934). 8-tas pėstininkų Kauno kunigaikščio Vaidoto pulkas : pulko penkiolikos gyvavimo metų sukakčiai paminėti, 1919-1934 (in Lithuanian). Šiauliai: Viltis.