Maksimas Katche
Encyclopedia
Maksimas Katche ( - 10 June 1933), was a Russian
and Lithuania
n military officer, Knight of St. George
.
Of Baltic German
descent, he was born in Joniškis
, Lithuania (then Kovno Governorate
of the Russian Empire
).
In 1899 he graduated from the Military Academy of St. Petersburg and served in the Russian Army
. He fought in the Russo-Japanese War
and in World War I
, attaining the rank of colonel
and decorated with the Cross of the Order of St. George
4th degree on .
In April 1919 he joined the Lithuanian Army and fought successfully against Bolsheviks and Bermontians in the Lithuanian Wars of Independence, as a tactician planned Zarasai liberation operation. Among other Lithuanian soldiers he received the Latvian Military Order of Lāčplēsis
3rd class. Katche chaired the Lithuanian delegation negotiating and signing the Suwałki Agreement on October 7, 1920 between Lithuania and Poland, and he was appointed chief of the General Staff of the Lithuanian Army, decorated with the Cross of Vytis 5th and 4th classes; he also reached the rank of a Lieutenant General
. In 1921 April he organized Higher courses for officers, and was the first chief of them. For reasons of health he retired from active duty in 1922. He died in Biržai
.
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
and Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n military officer, Knight of St. George
Knights of St. George
Knights of St. George may refer to:* Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, a Roman Catholic order legendarily founded by Constantine the Great...
.
Of Baltic German
Baltic German
The Baltic Germans were mostly ethnically German inhabitants of the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, which today form the countries of Estonia and Latvia. The Baltic German population never made up more than 10% of the total. They formed the social, commercial, political and cultural élite in...
descent, he was born in Joniškis
Joniškis
Joniškis is a city in northern Lithuania with a population of about 11,150. It is located 40 kilometers north of Šiauliai and 14 kilometers south of the Lithuania–Latvia border...
, Lithuania (then Kovno Governorate
Kovno Governorate
The Kovno Governorate or Government of Kovno was a governorate of the Russian Empire. Its capital was Kovno . It was formed on 18 December 1842 by tsar Nicholas I from the western part of the Vilna Governorate, and the order was carried out on 1 July 1843. It used to be a part of Northwestern Krai...
of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
).
In 1899 he graduated from the Military Academy of St. Petersburg and served in the Russian Army
Military history of Imperial Russia
The Military history of the Russian Empire encompasses the history of armed conflict in which the Empire participated. This history stretches from its creation in 1721 by Peter the Great, until the Russian Revolution , which led to the establishment of the Soviet Union...
. He fought in the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
and in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, attaining the rank of colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and decorated with the Cross of the Order of St. George
Order of St. George
The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George (also known as Order of St. George the Triumphant, Russian: Военный орден Св...
4th degree on .
In April 1919 he joined the Lithuanian Army and fought successfully against Bolsheviks and Bermontians in the Lithuanian Wars of Independence, as a tactician planned Zarasai liberation operation. Among other Lithuanian soldiers he received the Latvian Military Order of Lāčplēsis
Order of Lacplesis
The Order of Lāčplēsis, the first and the highest Latvian military award, was established in 1919 on the initiative of the Commander of Latvian Army, during the Latvian War of Independence, Jānis Balodis. The Lāčplēsis Order is awarded in the first, second and third class. Initially, a holder of...
3rd class. Katche chaired the Lithuanian delegation negotiating and signing the Suwałki Agreement on October 7, 1920 between Lithuania and Poland, and he was appointed chief of the General Staff of the Lithuanian Army, decorated with the Cross of Vytis 5th and 4th classes; he also reached the rank of a Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
. In 1921 April he organized Higher courses for officers, and was the first chief of them. For reasons of health he retired from active duty in 1922. He died in Biržai
Biržai
Biržai is a city in northern Lithuania. Biržai is famous for its reconstructed Biržai Castle manor, and the whole region is renowned for its many traditional-recipe beer breweries.-Names:...
.
External links
- Кавалеры ордена Святого Георгия IV класса К:ru:Кавалеры ордена Святого Георгия IV класса К
- Русская армия в Великой войне: Картотека проекта http://www.grwar.ru/persons/persons.html?id=2840
- L.k.o.k. Lačplēša kara ordena kavalieri http://www.lkok.com/detail1.asp?ID=2054