Priešlėktuvinės Kauno gynybos planai 1926–1928 m.

Abstract

After the World War I, the relationships of Lithuania with its neighbors were tense. Since the main state institutions, the military command, the biggest artillery warehouses and important bridges were located in Kaunas, in 1926–1928 the creation of anti-aircraft defense plans was started. In 1926 Lithuanian army did not have any flak cannons that are most suitable for anti-aircraft defense. Therefore it was decided to use aviation, field artillery and heavy machine-guns instead. In 1926–1928 the most comprehensive plans for anti-aircraft defense of Kaunas city were presented by the Artillery commander and the commander of the 2nd Military district. The plans contained the positions of field artillery, heavy machine-guns, and observatories. However, the implementation of the plan was complicated because of the lack of anti-aircraft projectiles, bipods, and tracing and aiming equipment. While the anti-aircraft defense plans were being prepared, Lithuanian aviation was the only force able to defend Kaunas city from enemy aviation raids. A better defense of Lithuanian cities became feasible only in 1935 when anti-aircraft defense corps was formed.