Kaunas garrison mutiny

Kaunas garrison mutiny (Lithuanian: Kauno įgulos maištas) or Panemunė rebellion (Lithuanian: Panemunės sukilimas) was a failed mutiny of Lithuanian soldiers stationed in Kaunas on 22–23 February 1920.

The Lithuanian Army was established in December 1918 and successfully pushed out the Bolsheviks (see the Lithuanian–Soviet War) and the Bermontians (see the Lithuanian–Bermontian War) by the end of 1919. As action at the frontlines ceased, soldiers stationed in Kaunas, the temporary capital of Lithuania, complained of poor living conditions and food provisions. There was also political dissatisfaction, particularly because soldiers were not allowed to vote in the upcoming elections to the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania.

In the morning of 22 February (Sunday), soldiers peacefully marched towards the Church of St. Michael the Archangel. They were met by Pranas Liatukas, supreme commander of the army. Liatukas promised to address soldiers' complaints and the soldiers returned to their stations. However, soldiers stationed in Panemunė (about 300 men from mainly the 2nd Reserve Battalion and the Artillery Regiment) were stopped and not allowed to attend the rally at the church. They returned to the barracks, detained their officers, and elected a nine-member revolutionary committee. When Liatukas arrived to Panemunė, he was detained. Assistant defence minister Antanas Merkys ordered units loyal to the government (mainly the 8th and 6th Infantry Regiments that saw action at the frontlines in 1919) to attack the mutineers. The assault, commanded by Kazys Ladiga, was delayed until the morning of 23 February. The mutiny was quickly suppressed. The unrest briefly spread to other units, including the aviation unit in Aleksotas where an American volunteer Samuel J. Harris was killed.

After the mutiny, Liatukas resigned from the command of the army. About 150 mutineers were tried. Four of them were executed on 12 March 1920. Others received various sentences, but were released after the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania announced a broad amnesty to political prisoners. The Lithuanian government worked to address soldiers' demands and complaints. Soldiers were granted voting rights and their living conditions were improved.