The Klaipėda Region (Lithuanian: Klaipėdos kraštas) or Memel Territory (German: Memelland or Memelgebiet; French: Territoire de Memel) was defined by the Treaty of Versailles in 1920 when it was put under the administration of the Council of Ambassadors. Lithuanian ( lietuvių kalba) is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognised as one of the official languages of the European Union. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. Council of Ambassadors was an intergovernmental agency founded in 1919 by decision of the states of the Entente. The Memel Territory together with Saar and Danzig were put under the control of the League of Nations and the people of these regions would be allowed to vote to stay in Germany or not in a future referendum. The Territory of the Saar Basin (in French: Le Territoire du Bassin de la Sarre, in German: Saarbeckengebiet) also referred as the Saar The Free City of Danzig ( German: Freie Stadt Danzig; Polish: Wolne Miasto Gdańsk) was an autonomous Baltic Sea port and The League of Nations was an International organization founded as a result of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919–1920
The original Scalovian and Curonian territory was conquered around 1252 by the Teutonic Knights, who constructed Memelburg ("Memel Castle") and the city of Memel (now Klaipėda). The Scalovians (Schalauer Skalviai also known as the Skalvians, was a Baltic tribe related to Prussians. The Kursenieki are also known as Curonians The Curonians ( Curonian: Kursi; Kuren Kurši Kuršiai Kuralased were The Teutonic Order is a German Roman Catholic religious order. Klaipėda ( ˈklaɪpɛdə Memel is a City in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Curonian Lagoon where it flows into the Baltic Sea In 1422, a border was drawn up between Prussia and Lithuania under the Treaty of Melno, and this border existed up to 1918. The Treaty of Melno (Melno taika Pokój melneński or Treaty of Lake Melno (Friede von Melnosee was a Peace treaty ending the Gollub War.
The then predominantly ethnic German (other ethnic groups, Prussian Lithuanians and Memellanders constituted the other ethnic groups) Memel Territory, situated between the river and the town of that name, was occupied by Lithuania in the "Klaipėda Revolt" of 1923, annexed by Nazi Germany in 1939, annexed by Soviet Union in 1946 and made a part of the Lithuanian SSR in 1948. This article is about the German diaspora See Germans for the German ethnicity in general The term Prussian Lithuanians, Lietuwininkai (singular Lietuwininkas) Lietuvininkai refers to a Western Lithuanian ethnic group which did not form Memellanders (Memelländer Memelenderiai or Klaipėdiškiai are the native people of the former Memel territory. Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the The Klaipėda Revolt took place during January 1923 in the Memel territory that had been detached from Germany after World War I. Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (Lietuvos Tarybų Socialistinė Respublika Литовская Советская Социалистическая Республика Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, it has been part of the Republic of Lithuania and contained within Klaipėda and Tauragė Counties. Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the Klaipėda County (Klaipėdos apskritis is one of ten counties in Lithuania. Tauragė County (Lithuanian Tauragės apskritis) is one of ten counties in Lithuania. The border, that was established by the Treaty of Versailles along the river, remains in effect as the current boundary between Lithuania and the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia. The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. Kaliningrad Oblast (Калинингра́дская о́бласть Kaliningradskaya oblast; informally called Yantarny kray (ru Янта́рный край meaning
Contents |
Timeline
| Timeline with changes of control over the territory | |
| pre–1252 | Curonian and Scalovian tribes |
| 1252–1525 | Livonian Order and Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights |
| 1525–1657 | Duchy of Prussia, a fief of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth |
| 1657–1701 | Duchy of Prussia, part of the Brandenburg-Prussia |
| 1701–1871 | Kingdom of Prussia |
| 1871–1918 | Kingdom of Prussia, part of the German Empire |
| 1918–1920 | Weimar Republic |
| 1920–1923 | Council of Ambassadors |
| 1923–1939 | Republic of Lithuania |
| 1939–1945 | Nazi Germany |
| 1946–1948 | Russian SFSR, part of the Soviet Union |
| 1948–1991 | Lithuanian SSR, part of the Soviet Union |
| 1991–present | Republic of Lithuania |
Treaty of Versailles
The eastern boundaries of Prussia (from 1871, part of the German Empire), having remained unchanged since the Treaty of Melno in 1422, became a matter of discussion following World War I, as the newly independent states of Poland and Lithuania emerged. The Kursenieki are also known as Curonians The Curonians ( Curonian: Kursi; Kuren Kurši Kuršiai Kuralased were The Scalovians (Schalauer Skalviai also known as the Skalvians, was a Baltic tribe related to Prussians. The Livonian Order was autonomous Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order and a member of the Livonian Confederation from 1418&ndash1561 The monastic state of the Teutonic Knights (Deutschordensland sometimes known in English by the German term Ordensstaat (ˈɔːdn̩ˌʃtɑːt or "Order-State" The Duchy of Prussia or Ducal Prussia (Herzogtum Preußen Prūsijos kunigaikštystė Prusy Książęce was a Duchy in the eastern part of Prussia from The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, officially the Commonwealth of the Crown of the Polish Kingdom and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania also known as the Most Serene Republic The Duchy of Prussia or Ducal Prussia (Herzogtum Preußen Prūsijos kunigaikštystė Prusy Książęce was a Duchy in the eastern part of Prussia from Brandenburg-Prussia (Brandenburg-Preußen was a German Monarchy established by the Personal union between the Duchy of Prussia and the Year 1871 ( MDCCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Kingdom of Prussia (Königreich Preußen was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918 and from 1871 was the leading state of the German Empire, comprising Year 1871 ( MDCCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Kingdom of Prussia (Königreich Preußen was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918 and from 1871 was the leading state of the German Empire, comprising The German Empire is the name commonly used in English to describe Germany from 1871 to 1918 when it was a semi- Constitutional monarchy: beginning with the Unification Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar The term Weimar Republic ( ˈvaɪmarɐ repuˈbliːk is used by historians to signify the democratic and Republican period of Germany from 1919 to 1933 Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Council of Ambassadors was an intergovernmental agency founded in 1919 by decision of the states of the Entente. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (Lietuvos Tarybų Socialistinė Respublika Литовская Советская Социалистическая Республика The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the A banknote (often known as a bill, paper money or simply a note) is a kind of Negotiable instrument, a Promissory note made by a Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state The German Empire is the name commonly used in English to describe Germany from 1871 to 1918 when it was a semi- Constitutional monarchy: beginning with the Unification The Treaty of Melno (Melno taika Pokój melneński or Treaty of Lake Melno (Friede von Melnosee was a Peace treaty ending the Gollub War. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the The separatist Act of Tilsit was signed by few pro-Lithuanian oriented Prussian Lithuanians in 1918, demanding the unification of Prussian Lithuania with Lithuania proper. The Act of Tilsit (Tilžės aktas was an act signed in Tilsit by 24 members of Prussian Lithuania National Council on November 30 The term Prussian Lithuanians, Lietuwininkai (singular Lietuwininkas) Lietuvininkai refers to a Western Lithuanian ethnic group which did not form Lithuania Minor (Mažoji Lietuva Kleinlitauen Litwa Mniejsza Máлая Литвá or Prussian Lithuania (Prūsų Lietuva Preußisch-Litauen Litwa Pruska is a historical Lithuania proper (Lithuania propria Lietuva siaurąją prasme tikroji Lietuva, literally "Lithuania in a narrow sense" "Genuine Lithuania " It is traditionally viewed by Lithuanians as expressing the desire of Lithuania Minor to unite with Lithuania. The majority of Prussian Lithuanians did not want to join with Lithuania[1] and the Prussian Lithuanians did not make up a majority of the population.
The division of Prussia was also promoted by Poland's Roman Dmowski[2] in Versailles who acted by orders of Józef Piłsudski: the purpose was to give the lower part of Neman River and its delta, which was located in Germany and called the Memel River, to Lithuania as this would provide her access to the Baltic Sea, while Lithuania itself should be part of Poland. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Roman Dmowski ( August 9, 1864, Warsaw – January 2, 1939, Drozdowo, Poland) was a Polish The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. "Nieman" and "Niemen" redirects here For other uses see Neman and Nieman (disambiguation. The Curonian Lagoon (or Bay, Gulf; Kuršių MariosKuršu Joma Zalew Kuroński Kurisches Haff Kуршский залив is separated from the Baltic These ideas were supported by the French prime minister Georges Clemenceau. Georges Benjamin Clemenceau ( Mouilleron-en-Pareds ( Vendée) 28 September 1841 24 November 1929 was a French statesman physician and Journalist [3]
In 1920, according to the Treaty of Versailles, the German area north of Memel river was given the status of Territoire de Memel under the administration of the Council of Ambassadors, and French troops were sent for protection. The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. "Nieman" and "Niemen" redirects here For other uses see Neman and Nieman (disambiguation. Council of Ambassadors was an intergovernmental agency founded in 1919 by decision of the states of the Entente. During the period of French administration, the idea of an independent State of Memelland grew in popularity among local inhabitants. The organisation "Deutsch-Litauischer Heimatbund" (German-Lithuanian homeland federation) promoted the idea of an Freistaat Memelland, which later should return back to Germany. It had 30,000 members, both ethnic German and/or Lithuanian, about 21% of the total population.
"Revolt"
On 9 January 1923, three years after the Versailles Treaty had become effective, Lithuania occupied the territory during the so called Klaipėda Revolt,[4] mainly by militia that had entered from Lithuania. The Klaipėda Revolt took place during January 1923 in the Memel territory that had been detached from Germany after World War I. Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Klaipėda Revolt took place during January 1923 in the Memel territory that had been detached from Germany after World War I. Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the France at the same time had started the Occupation of the Ruhr in Germany, and the French administration in Memel did not take any significant counteractive measures against the rebels. The Occupation of the Rhineland gave the French and Belgian armies the springboard from which it was easy to undertake the occupation of the Ruhr. The inhabitants of the Memel Territory wanted to have a status similar to that of the Free City of Danzig, not to join with Lithuania. The Free City of Danzig ( German: Freie Stadt Danzig; Polish: Wolne Miasto Gdańsk) was an autonomous Baltic Sea port and [1] Subsequently, on 19 January, the territory was annexed by Lithuania, and the fait accompli was eventually confirmed by the Council of Ambassadors in 1924. Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. Council of Ambassadors was an intergovernmental agency founded in 1919 by decision of the states of the Entente. This was regarded as another humiliation for the Weimar Republic. The term Weimar Republic ( ˈvaɪmarɐ repuˈbliːk is used by historians to signify the democratic and Republican period of Germany from 1919 to 1933
Autonomous region within Lithuania
The area was subsequently annexed by Lithuania. In the Memel Convention, signed between Council of Ambassadors and Lithuania, the area was granted a separate parliament, two official languages, capacity to raise its own taxes, charge custom duties, manage its cultural and religious affairs, allowed a separate judicial system, separate citizenship, internal control of agriculture and forestry, as well as a separate social security system. The Council of Ambassadors accepted the resulting arrangement and confirmed the autonomy of the region within the Republic of Lithuania. On 8 May 1924 a further Convention on the Klaipėda region confirmed the annexation, and a resulting autonomy agreement was signed in Paris. Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Memel Territory was recognized as an integral part of the Republic of Lithuania also by Germany on 29 January 1928, where the two countries signed the Lithuanian-German Border Treaty. Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the The term Weimar Republic ( ˈvaɪmarɐ repuˈbliːk is used by historians to signify the democratic and Republican period of Germany from 1919 to 1933 Events 904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Antipope Christopher. Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Importantly, the annexation gave Lithuania control of a year-round ice-free Baltic port. Lithuania made full use of Klaipėda port, modernizing and adapting it, largely for its agricultural exports. Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the The port reconstruction was certainly one of the larger long-term investment projects enacted by the government of Lithuania in the interwar period.
The inhabitants of the area were not given a choice on the ballot whether they wanted to be part of the Lithuanian state or part of Germany. Since the pro-German political parties had an overall majority of more than 80% in all elections to the local parliament (see election statistics below) in the interwar period, there can be little doubt that such a referendum would have been in favour of Germany. In fact, the area had been united since the monastic state of the 13th century, and even many Lithuanian-speakers, regarding themselves as East Prussians, declared themselves as "Memellanders/Klaipėdiškiai" in the official census (see below for demographic information) and did not want to belong to a Lithuanian national state. The monastic state of the Teutonic Knights (Deutschordensland sometimes known in English by the German term Ordensstaat (ˈɔːdn̩ˌʃtɑːt or "Order-State" East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part According to the Lithuanian point of view, Memellanders were viewed as Germanised Lithuanians who should be re-Lithuanised. [5] There was also a strong confessional difference since about 95% of the inhabitants of Lithuania Minor were Lutherans while more than 90% of Greater Lithuanians were Catholics. Lithuania Minor (Mažoji Lietuva Kleinlitauen Litwa Mniejsza Máлая Литвá or Prussian Lithuania (Prūsų Lietuva Preußisch-Litauen Litwa Pruska is a historical Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". And thus the government of Lithuania faced considerable opposition from the region's autonomous institutions. As years passed, claims were becoming more and more vocal about a re-integration into a resurgent Germany. It was only during the latter period that Lithuania then instituted a policy of "Lithuanization". This was met by even more opposition, as religious and regional differences slowly became insurmountable.
After the December 1926 coup d’etat, Antanas Smetona came to power. The 1926 Lithuanian coup d'état (Lithuanian 1926-ųjų perversmas) was a military Coup d'etat in Lithuania that resulted in the replacement of the Antanas Smetona ( August 10 1874 January 9 1944) was one of the most important Lithuanian political figures between World As the status of the Memel Territory was regulated by international treaties, the Memel Territory became an oasis of democracyin Lithuania. Lithuanian intelligentsia often held marriages in Memel/Klaipėda, since Memel Territory was the only place in Lithuania where civil union was in use, in the rest of Lithuania only church marriages were legitimized. A civil union is a legally recognized union similar to Marriage. NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** Thus, Lithuanian opposition to Smetona's regime was also based in Memel Territory.
At the start of the 1930s, certain leaders of pro-Nazi organizations in the region were put on trial by Lithuania. The 1934–5 proceedings of Neumann and Sass in Kaunas can be presented as the first anti-Nazi trial in Europe. A significant difference however, was that its leaders were not indicted for their pro-Nazi ideology, but rather for their undesirable relations with Nazi Germany. Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers On account of later political and economical pressure from Germany, most of these leaders were released.
Election results for the local parliament
The local parliament had 29 seats, one for every 5,000 inhabitants. Men and women from age 23 had the right to vote. [2] [3]
See also the results [4] of the January 1919 elections to the Nationalversammlung. Nationalversammlung ( National Assembly) may refer to Deutsche Nationalversammlung von 1848-1849 in Frankfurt am Main, see Frankfurt
| Year | Memelländische Landwirtschaftspartei ("Agricultural Party") |
Memelländische Volkspartei ("People's Party") |
Sozialdemokratische Partei ("Social Democratic Party") |
Arbeiterpartei (Worker's Party) |
Communist Party |
Others | Lithuanian People's Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | 38. Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 1%: 11 seats | 36. 9%: 11 seats | 16. 0%: 5 seats | Others 9. 0%: 2 seats | |||
| 1927 | 33. Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 6%: 10 seats | 32. 7%: 10 seats | 10. 1%: 3 seats | 7. 2%: 2 seats | 13. 6%: 4 seats | ||
| 1930 | 31. Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 8%: 10 seats | 27. 6%: 8 seats | 13. 8%: 4 seats | 4. 2%: 2 seats | 22. 7%: 5 seats | ||
| 1932 | 37. Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. 1%: 11 seats | 27. 2%: 8 seats | 7. 8%: 2 seats | 8. 2%: 3 seats | 19. 7%: 5 seats | ||
| Unified German Election List | Greater Lithuania Parties | ||||||
| 1935 | 81. Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 2%: 24 seats | 18,8%: 5 seats | |||||
| 1938 | 87. Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 2%: 25 seats | 12,8%: 4 seats | |||||
Demographic data
In the Memelland census [5] of 1925 [6], over 41% of the population declared themselves German, less than 27% Lithuanian, and over 24% Memellandish.
| Population | German | Memellandish | Lithuanian | other | Religion | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 141,645 | 41. 9% | 27. 1% | 26. 6% | 4. 4% | 95% Evangelical Christians | [7] |
| 141,645 (1930) | 45. 2% | 24. 2% (1925) | 26. 5% | - | Evangelical Lutheran 95%, Roman Catholic (1925) | [8] |
Overall, Prussian Lithuanians were more rural than Germans; the part of Lithuanian speakers in the city of Klaipėda itself increased over time due to urbanization and migration from villages into cities and later also from remaining Lithuania (in the city of Klaipėda, Lithuanian-speaking people made up 21. 5% in 1912, 32. 6% in 1925 and 38. 7% in 1932*). Foreign citizens might include some Germans, who opted for German citizenship instead of Lithuanian (although at the time the German government pressured local Germans to take Lithuanian citizenship, so that German presence would remain). There were more Lithuanian speakers in the north of region (Klaipėdos apskritis and Šilutės apskritis) than in south (Pagėgių apskritis). Other locals included people of other nationalities who had citizenship of Lithuania, such as Jews. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************
In the 1930s, a novel by local author Ieva Simonaitytė[6] based on family history illustrated the centuries-old German–Lithuanian relations in the region.
The authoritarian regime of A. Smetona enforced a policy of discrimination and Lithuanisation: it sent administrators from Lithuania, and German teachers, officials and priests were fired from jobs. Local inhabitants -- both Germans and Prussian Lithuanians -- were not accepted for state service in Memel Territory. People were sent from Kaunas instead. Kaunas ( ˈkoʊnəs is the second largest City in Lithuania and a former temporary capital.
Until 1938, no Governor was appointed from local Prussian Lithuanians. This policy led Prussian Lithuanian intelligentsia and some local Germans to organise a society in 1934 to oppose Lithuanian rule. This group was soom dismantled. [7]
Election results in Memel Territory were irritating for the authoritarian Smetona regime, and it attempted to "colonise" Memel Territory with Lithuanians. The Lithuanian settlements Jakai and Smeltė were built. The number of newcomers increased: in 1926 was 5,000, in 1939 - 30,000 newcomers.
Lithuania introduced a hard-line lithuanisation campaign that led to even deeper antagonism between local Prussian Lithuanians, Memellanders, Germans and newcomers. [8]
Heim ins Reich
By late 1938, Lithuania had lost control over the situation in the Territory. 1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania was an oral Ultimatum presented to Juozas Urbšys, Foreign Minister of Lithuania, by Joachim von Ribbentrop Antanas Smetona ( August 10 1874 January 9 1944) was one of the most important Lithuanian political figures between World Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately In the early hours of 23 March 1939, after an oral ultimatum had made a Lithuanian delegation travel to Berlin, the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Juozas Urbšys and his German counterpart Joachim von Ribbentrop signed the Treaty of the Cession of the Memel Territory to Germany in exchange for a Lithuanian Free Zone for 99 years in the port of Memel, using the facilities erected in previous years. Events 1174 - Jocelin, Abbot of Melrose, is elected Bishop of Glasgow. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Juozas Urbšys ( February 29 1896 in Šeteniai – April 30 1991 Kaunas) was a prominent Interwar Lithuanian Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop (30 April 1893 – 16 October 1946 was Foreign Minister of Germany from 1938 until 1945
Hitler had anticipated this aboard a Kriegsmarine naval ship, and at dawn[9] sailed into Memel to celebrate the return heim ins Reich of the Memelland. The Kriegsmarine (English "War navy" was the name of the German Navy between 1935 and 1945 during the Nazi regime superseding the This proved to be the last of a series of bloodless annexations of territories separated from the German or Austrian Empire by the Treaty of Versailles which had been perceived by the German-speaking peoples as humiliations. The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. The Allies and neighboring countries had granted no concessions to the democratic German governments which had struggled for over a decade in the Weimar Republic; but when the hardliner Hitler took charge, these countries undertook a policy of appeasement of Nazi Germany. The term Weimar Republic ( ˈvaɪmarɐ repuˈbliːk is used by historians to signify the democratic and Republican period of Germany from 1919 to 1933 Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers
German forces seized the territory even before the official Lithuanian ratification. The United Kingdom and France, as after the revolt of 1923, did not actively protect the autonomy of the territory. It was under these conditions that the Seimas was forced to approve the treaty, hoping that Germany would not press any other territorial demands upon Lithuania. The Seimas is the Lithuanian Parliament. It has 141 members that are elected for a four-year term
The reunion with Germany was welcomed by the majority of the population, both by Germans and by Memellanders. [5]
According to the treaty, the citizens of Memel Territory were allowed to choose citizenship: either German, or Lithuanian. 303 people (counting family members, 585) asked for Lithuanian citizenship and only 20 requests were granted. [10] Another item stated that persons who settled in Memel Territory during the occupation period from 1923 to 1939 should emigrate. About 8,900 Lithuanians did so. In the same time, Nazis expelled about 1,300 (local Memel and Lithuanian) Jews and only about 40 Prussian Lithuanians. Nazism, which was a short name for National Socialism (Nationalsozialismus refers primarily to the Ideology and practices of the National Socialist German
Transfer of Memel Territory from Lithuania to Germany in 1939 was confirmed by Lithuania itself, United Kingdom, France and other countries except United States.
World War II and after
When the area was returned to German control in 1939 under Nazi Germany, many Lithuanians and their organizations began leaving Memel and the surrounding area. Memel was quickly turned into a fortified naval base by the Germans. After the failure of the German invasion of the USSR (Operation Barbarossa), the fate of East Prussia and Memel was sealed. Operation Barbarossa ( Unternehmen Barbarossa) was the Codename for Nazi Germany 's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part By 1944 October the inhabitants of the area, without ethnic distinction, had to make a decision whether to stay or leave. Nearly all of the population was evacuated from the approaching Red Army, but the city itelf was defended by the German army during the Battle of Memel until January 28, 1945. The Red Army ( Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия R aboche- K rest'yanskaya K rasnaya A rmiya The Battle of Memel or the Siege of Memel took place when the Soviets launched their Memel Offensive Operation (Мемельская наступательная Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar After its capture only six persons were found in the city.
The resulting decisions of the Potsdam Conference decreed that East Prussia and Memel Territory as part of it should be placed under administration of the Soviet Union. The Potsdam Conference was held at Cecilienhof, the home of Crown Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollern, in Potsdam, Germany, from July 16, On 7 April 1946, the Königsberg Oblast (later renamed Kaliningrad Oblast) was founded that included the Memel Territory and becomes a new subject of the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic. Events 529 - First draft of Corpus Juris Civilis (a fundamental work in Jurisprudence) is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Kaliningrad Oblast (Калинингра́дская о́бласть Kaliningradskaya oblast; informally called Yantarny kray (ru Янта́рный край meaning [11] On 7 April 1948, the Soviet Union transferred the Memel/Klaipeda District from Kaliningrad Oblast to the Lithuanian SSR and the area was divided between several rayons of the Lithuanian SSR. Events 529 - First draft of Corpus Juris Civilis (a fundamental work in Jurisprudence) is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Kaliningrad Oblast (Калинингра́дская о́бласть Kaliningradskaya oblast; informally called Yantarny kray (ru Янта́рный край meaning For the manufactured regenerated fiber see Rayon A raion (or rayon) (райо́н ra'jon rayon раён რაიონი
At the end of the war, the majority of the inhabitants had fled to the West to settle in Germany. Still in 1945–46 there were around 35,000[12] local inhabitants, both Prussian Lithuanians and Germans. The government of the Lithuanian SSR sent agitators in to the displaced persons camps to make promises to former inhabitants that they could return and their property would be restored, yet the promises were never fulfilled. A displaced persons camp is in principle any temporary facility for Displaced persons In recent times Displaced Persons Camps have existed in many parts of the world for many In the period of 1945–50 about 8,000 persons were repatriated. Bilingual Lithuanian-German returners were viewed as Germans.
The few remaining ethnic Germans were then forcibly expelled, with most opting to flee to what would become West Germany. The expulsion of Germans after World War II was the Forced migration and Ethnic cleansing of German nationals ( Reichsdeutsche) and ethnic West Germany ( Inf German: Westdeutschland or West-Deutschland) was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany ( Autochthonous people who remained in the former Memel territory were dismissed from their jobs. Families of notable local Lithuanians, who had opposed German parties before the war, were deported to Siberia. Siberia (Сиби́рь Sibir) is the name given to the vast region constituting almost all of Northern Asia and for the most part currently serving In 1951 Lithuanian SSR expelled 3,500 people from former Memel Territory to East Germany. The German Democratic Republic ( GDR; Deutsche Demokratische Republik DDR; commonly known in English as East Germany) was a Socialist state In 1958, when emigration was allowed, the majority of the surviving population, both Germans and Prussian Lithuanians, emigrated to West Germany; this event was called a repatriation of Germans by the Lithuanian SSR. Today these formerly Lutheran territories are mostly inhabited by Lithuanians who are Catholic and by Orthodox Russians. The term Orthodox Christianity may refer to The Eastern Orthodox Church: the Eastern Christian churches of Byzantine However, the minority Prussian Lithuanian Protestants historically were concentrated in these regions, and some remain to this day. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Only a few thousand[12] autochthons are left. Their continued emigration is facilitated by the fact they are considered German citizens by the Federal Republic of Germany. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. No property restoration was performed by Republic of Lithuania for owners prior to 1945. Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the [12]
While maintaining that Memel Territory in 1939 was annexed by Germany, and Lithuania itself was occupied in 1940 by the Soviets, Lithuania after regaining independence in March 11, 1990 neither restored autonomy to Memel Territory nor returned citizenship and property to former inhabitants, even to those who had opted for Lithuanian citizenship in 1939. Events 1425 BC - Thutmose III, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies (according to the Low Chronology of the 18th Dynasty Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar)
The former Memel Territory is of continuing vital importance to Lithuania, acting as an important harbour, as well as an industrial and agrarian region.
Notes and references
- ^ a b Arnašius, Helmut (2002). "Vokiečiai Klaipėdoje" (in Lithuanian). Mokslas ir Gyvenimas 7-8. “Apie norą susijungti su nuskurdusia Lietuva daugumai lietuvininkų negalėjo būti nė kalbos.
Tr. : The majority of Prussian Lithuanians did not even want to talk about unification with poor Lithuania. ” - ^ "Lemtinga situacija susidarė 1919 m. Versalio taikos konferencijoje. Lenkijos atstovas R. Dmovskis ten pareiškė, kad Lietuva nepribrendo valstybingumui, ir reikalavo ją prijungti prie Lenkijos. Dmovskis su prancūzų atstovu Klemanso iškėlė Rytprūsių pasidalijimo klausimą. Jie siūlė Gumbinę su Įsrutimi prijungti prie Lenkijos, Karaliaučių paskelbti laisvu miestu, o likusią dalį atiduoti būsimai marionetinei, nuo Lenkijos priklausomai Lietuvai. " Translation: "A fatal situation appeared in 1919 at the Versailles peace conference. The Polish representative Dmowski expressed that Lithuania is not ready for independence, and insisted on attaching Lithuania to Poland. Dmowski and French representative Clemenceau promoted the idea of a partition of East Prussia. They proposed to attach Gumbinnen and Insterburg to Poland, Königsberg should be declared a free city, and the remaining part should be attached to Lithuania which would be controlled by Poland. Gusev (Гу́сев Gumbinnen Gumbinė Głąbin/Gąbin is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia. Chernyakhovsk (Черняхо́вск; Įsrūtis Wystruć is a town in the centre of Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, at the confluence of the rivers " (Lithuanian) Nuotrupos iš Mažosios Lietuvos istorijos Retrieved 2007, 12-59; excerpted from Šilas, V. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. , Sambora H. (1990). Mažosios Lietuvos kultūros pėdsakai. Vilnius: Mintis, p. 24. ISBN 5-417-00367-0.
- ^ "dem Entschluß, das Memelgebiet von Deutschland abzutrennen, trug die antideutsche Einstellung des französischen Premiers, Georges Clemenceau, bei, der „die armen versklavten Litauer in Ostpreußen aus dem deutschen Joch“ befreien wollte. Litauische Politiker haben diese antideutsche Haltung Clemenceaus später erfolgreich ausgenutzt und Forderungen, die für Litauen günstig waren, gestellt. " Translation: "The resolution to separate the Memel Territory from Germany, the anti-German attitude of the French Prime Minister, Georges Clemenceau, who wanted to „free the poor enslaved Lithuanians in East Prussia from the German yoke“. Anti-German sentiment (or Germanophobia) is defined as a fear or hatred of Germany, its people, and the German language. Lithuanian politicians later successfully took advantage of Clemenceau's anti-German attitude and made claims that were favorable for Lithuania. " Vygantas Vareikis Retrieved 2007, 19-52
- ^ Occupation is admitted by modern lithuanian historians: "Neue Untersuchungen machen es heute möglich, die tatsächliche Verteilung der Rollen auf die Schützen, die litauische Regierung und die Armee bei der Besetzung des Memelgebietes offenzulegen. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King " tr. : "New investigations allow it today to reveal the actual distribution of the roles of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union, the Lithuanian Government and the Lithuanian Army in the case of the occupation of the Memel territory. Lithuanian Riflemen's Union or Union of Lithuanian Riflemen (Lietuvos Šaulių Sąjunga also referred to as šauliai (šaulys for rifleman) a Nationalistic The Lithuanian Armed Forces consist of 17000 personnel in uniform and are supported by 309200 reserve force " [1] Retrieved 2007, 13-04
- ^ a b Vareikis, V. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. (2001). "Memellander/Klaipėdiškiai Identity and German-Lithuanian Relations in Lithuania Minor in the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries". Sociologija. Mintis ir veiksmas. 1-2: 54-65. ISSN 1392-3358. An International Standard Serial Number ( ISSN) is a unique eight-digit number used to identify a print or electronic Periodical publication. According to the pre-war Lithuanian view, the Memellanders were Germanised Lithuanians who should be re-Lithuanised
- ^ Ieva Simonaityte Memorial Museum
- ^ Ko neįstengė suprasti Lietuvos valdžia ir klaipėdiškiai 1923-1939 metais? (Lithuanian)
- ^ Pocytė, S. (2003). "Didlietuviai: an example of committee of Lithuanian organizations activities (1934–1939)". Lietuvos istorijos metraštis 2. “The strong lithuanization policy from Lithuanian State gave the inverse effect, reflected by anti-Lithuanian dispositions among Germans and local Lietuvininkai people. The forms of Lithuanization policy were not acceptable for Klaipeda region local Lietuvininkai people. Having no other alternatives, they started to nestle themselves with much more known for them German national identity”
- ^ Memel - Klaipeda
- ^ Nesėkmės Klaipėdos krašte. Retrieved on 2007-02-24. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 303 - Galerius, Roman Emperor, publishes his edict that begins the persecution of Christians in his portion of the
- ^ Wellmann, Christian. Recognising Borders: Coping with Historically Contested Territory. Retrieved on 2007-03-01. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant
- ^ a b c Trys knygos apie lietuvininkų tragediją. Retrieved on 2007-03-31. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor (Lithuanian)
External links
- (German) Joachim Tauber: Das Memelgebiet (1919-1944) in der deutschen und litauischen Historiographie nach 1945 [9]
- Local heritage book Memelland
- (French) STATUT DU TERRITOIRE DE MEMEL
- (German) Map of languages in East Prussia, as of 1900 (larger)
- (German) German translation of the Commission Report to the Council of Ambassadors [10]
- (German) German translation of Vygantas Vareikis' thesis Die Rolle des Schützenbundes Litauens bei der Besetzung des Memelgebietes 1923
- Hitler in Klaipeda at YouTube
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic