Lithuania Minor (Lithuanian: Mažoji Lietuva; German: Kleinlitauen; Polish: Litwa Mniejsza; Russian: Máлая Литвá) or Prussian Lithuania (Lithuanian: Prūsų Lietuva; German: Preußisch-Litauen, Polish: Litwa Pruska) is a historical ethnographic region of Prussia, later East Prussia in Germany, where Prussian Lithuanians or Lietuvininkai lived. 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. Polish ( język polski, polszczyzna) is the Official language of Poland. Russian ( transliteration:,) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages 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. Polish ( język polski, polszczyzna) is the Official language of Poland. Ethnography ( Greek ethnos = people and graphein = writing is a genre of writing that uses Fieldwork to provide a descriptive Prussia is a historical region in Central Europe extending from the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea to the Masurian Lake District. East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The term Prussian Lithuanians, Lietuwininkai (singular Lietuwininkas) Lietuvininkai refers to a Western Lithuanian ethnic group which did not form The term Prussian Lithuanians, Lietuwininkai (singular Lietuwininkas) Lietuvininkai refers to a Western Lithuanian ethnic group which did not form Lithuania Minor enclosed the northern part of this province and got its name due to the territory's substantial Lithuanian-speaking population. Lithuanian ( lietuvių kalba) is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognised as one of the official languages of the European Union. Prior to the invasion of the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century, the main part of the territory later known as Lithuania Minor was inhabited by the tribes of Skalvians and Nadruvians and had been a dependency of Kingdom of Lithuania in the late 13th century. The Northern Crusades or Baltic Crusades were Crusades undertaken by the Catholic kings of Denmark and Sweden, the German Livonian The Scalovians (Schalauer Skalviai also known as the Skalvians, was a Baltic tribe related to Prussians. The Nadruvians were one of the now-extinct Prussian clans. They lived in Nadruvia (alternative spellings include Nadruva, Nadrowite, The history of Lithuania between 1219 and 1295 deals with the establishment and early history of the first Lithuanian state the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The land became depopulated to some extent during the warfare between Lithuania and the Order. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė old literary Lithuanian Didi Kunigiste Letuvos, Ruthenian: Wialikaje Kniastwa Litowskaje The monastic state of the Teutonic Knights (Deutschordensland sometimes known in English by the German term Ordensstaat (ˈɔːdn̩ˌʃtɑːt or "Order-State" The war ended with the Treaty of Melno and the land was resettled by Lithuanian newcomers, returning refugees, and the remaining indigenous Baltic peoples; the term Lithuania Minor appeared for the first time between 1517 and 1526. The Treaty of Melno (Melno taika Pokój melneński or Treaty of Lake Melno (Friede von Melnosee was a Peace treaty ending the Gollub War. With the exception of the Klaipėda Region, which became a mandated territory of the League of Nations in 1920 by the Treaty of Versailles and was annexed to Lithuania in 1923, the area was part of Prussia until 1945. The Klaipėda Region (Klaipėdos kraštas or Memel Territory (Memelland or Memelgebiet Territoire de Memel was defined by the Treaty of Versailles The League of Nations was an International organization founded as a result of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919–1920 The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. The Klaipėda Revolt took place during January 1923 in the Memel territory that had been detached from Germany after World War I. Today a small portion of Lithuania Minor is within the borders of modern Lithuania and Poland while most of the territory is part of the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Kaliningrad Oblast (Калинингра́дская о́бласть Kaliningradskaya oblast; informally called Yantarny kray (ru Янта́рный край meaning Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending

Although hardly anything remains of the original culture due to the expulsion of the East Prussian population after World War II, Lithuania Minor has made an important contribution to Lithuanian culture as a whole. The expulsion of Germans after World War II was the Forced migration and Ethnic cleansing of German nationals ( Reichsdeutsche) and ethnic World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The written standard form of Prussian-Lithuanian provided the "skeleton" [2] of modern Lithuanian. It was the home of Kristijonas Donelaitis, pastor and poet and author of The Seasons, which mark the beginning of Lithuanian literature, and Vydūnas, a prominent writer and philosopher. Kristijonas Donelaitis, Latin: Christian Donalitius was a Lithuanian ref> or by others Lietuvnink or by The Seasons (Metai is the first Lithuanian Poem written by Kristijonas Donelaitis around 1765–1775 Vilius Storostas-Vydūnas ( March 22, 1868 &ndash February 20, 1953) mostly known as Vydūnas, was a Lietuvininkai

Contents 1 Terminology and the region 2 Geography 3 History 3.1 Before the concept Lithuania Minor has appeared 3.1.1 German-Lithuanian rivalry 3.2 After the concept Lithuania Minor has appeared 3.2.1 After World War I 3.2.2 After World War II (Soviet Union and modern-day) 4 Ethnic history 4.1 Descent of Lietuvininkai 4.1.1 Historiography 4.1.2 Background 4.1.3 Prussian Lithuanian population 4.2 Prussian Lithuanian living area of Prussia 4.2.1 Former administrative Lithuanian Province 4.2.2 Former factual Prussian Lithuanian living area 4.3 Ethnic composition 4.3.1 Lietuvininkai 4.3.1.1 Plague of 1709-11 and the aftermaths 4.3.1.2 Before 1914 and present day situation 4.3.2 Old Prussians 4.3.3 Germans 4.3.4 Poles 4.4 Germanization 5 Culture 6 Symbols 7 Lithuanian claims 8 References 9 See also 10 External links

Terminology and the region

The term "Lithuania Minor" (Kleinlitauen), applied to the northeastern part of the former province of East Prussia (about 31 500 km²), was first mentioned as Kleinlittaw in the Prussian Chronicle of Simon Grunau at the beginning of the 16th century (between 1517 and 1526) and was later repeated by another Prussian chronicler Lucas David. East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part The term Lithuania Minor was applied during the 19th century and used more widely during the 20th century, mostly among historians and ethnographers.

The northeastern limit of Lithuanian inhabited area of Prussia was a state border between Lithuania and Prussia, but the southwestern limit was not clear and Lithuania Minor has been understood differently therefore it could be:

• either the area limited in the south by M. Toeppen-A. Bezzengerger’s line (about 11 400 km²) what is roughly the area of the former administrative Lithuanian Province (about 10 thousands km². ), where the population was almost entirely Lithuanian until 1709-11,
• or the area of the former region with actual Lithuanian majority or of considerable percentage (about 17-18 thousands km². ).

The administrative terms Lithuanian province (Provinz Litthauen), Lithuanian districts (Littauischen Aembtern), Lithuanian county (Littauische Kreis) or simply Prussian Lithuania (Preuszisch Litauen), Lithuania (Litauen) were used to refer to the Lithuanian inhabited administrative units (Nadruvia and Scalovia) in the legal documentation of Prussian state since 1618. The Nadruvians were one of the now-extinct Prussian clans. They lived in Nadruvia (alternative spellings include Nadruva, Nadrowite, Scalovia (Schalauen was the area originally inhabited by the now extinct Baltic tribe of Skalvians or Scalovians (Schalauer which according to the Chronicon The Lithuanian Province was named Klein Litau, Klein Litauen, Preussisch Litthauen, Little Lithuania, Litvania in the maps of Prussia since 1738. The official use of the concepts Prussian Lithuania etc. decreased considerably from the administrative reform of 1815-18. ^[1]

Geography

The area of Lithuania Minor embraced the land between the lower reaches of the river Dangė (German: Dange) to the north and the major headstreams of the river Prieglius (German: Pregel, now Pregolya) to the south. The Pregolya or Pregola (Преголя Pregel Prieglius is a River in the Russian Kaliningrad Oblast exclave The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. The Pregolya or Pregola (Преголя Pregel Prieglius is a River in the Russian Kaliningrad Oblast exclave The southwestern line ran from the Curonian Lagoon (Lithuanian: Kuršių marės) along the Deimena river to its south, continued alongthe Pregolya river to the Alna (now Lava) river, up to the town of Alna and hence southward along the Ašvinė (Swine) river to Lake Ašvinis (Nordenburger See) and from there eastward to the border of Lithuania Major. The Curonian Lagoon (or Bay, Gulf; Kuršių MariosKuršu Joma Zalew Kuroński Kurisches Haff Kуршский залив is separated from the Baltic Lithuanian ( lietuvių kalba) is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognised as one of the official languages of the European Union. The Łyna (ˈwɨna in Polish) ( Alna Old Prussian: Alnā) or Lava (Лава is a River in northern Poland 's The region embraced about 11 400 km². The broader understanding of Lithuania Minor includes the area west from Alna and south form the lower reaches of Pregolya and Sambia peninsula, what was the area of about 17-18 thousands km². Lava is molten rock expelled by a Volcano during an eruption When first expelled from a volcanic vent it is a Liquid at Temperatures The Pregolya or Pregola (Преголя Pregel Prieglius is a River in the Russian Kaliningrad Oblast exclave Sambia (Земландский полуостров Zemlandsky poluostrov) or Samland ( is a Peninsula in the Kaliningrad Oblast of

The former ethnic region of Lithuania Minor belongs to the different states today. The part of Kaliningrad Oblast (excluding the city of Kaliningrad and its surroundings), a few territories in Poland's Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, as well as the following territories in modern-day Lithuania: the Klaipėda district municipality, the Šilutė district municipality, Klaipėda city, Pagėgiai municipality, and Neringa municipality had once ethnically, linguistically and culturally been the latter Lithuanian region. Kaliningrad Oblast (Калинингра́дская о́бласть Kaliningradskaya oblast; informally called Yantarny kray (ru Янта́рный край meaning Kaliningrad (Калининград is a Seaport and the administrative center of Kaliningrad Oblast, the Russian Exclave between Poland Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship (also known as Warmia-Masuria Province or by its Polish name województwo warmińsko-mazurskie or simply Warmińsko-Mazurskie Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the Klaipėda district municipality (Lithuanian Klaipėdos rajono savivaldybė) is one of 60 municipalities in Lithuania. Šilutė district municipality is one of 60 municipalities in Lithuania. Klaipėda ( ˈklaɪpɛdə Memel is a City in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Curonian Lagoon where it flows into the Baltic Sea Pagėgiai district municipality is one of 60 municipalities in Lithuania. Neringa municipality (Neringos savivaldybė is a Municipality in westernmost Lithuania, in the Curonian Spit. Although now divided among countries, Lithuania Minor had been intact formerly, all these areas were once part of Prussia and thus politically separated from the Lithuanian nation. Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state

Prior to 1918, all of Lithuania Minor was part of the Kingdom of Prussia's province of East Prussia, the core of medieval Prussia. 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 East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part Prussia is a historical region in Central Europe extending from the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea to the Masurian Lake District. It was a region outside of Lithuanian state, inhabited by a large population of Prussian Lithuanians. Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the The ethnic Lithuanian-Prussians were Protestants in contrast to the inhabitants of Lithuania proper, who were Roman Catholics. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Lithuania proper (Lithuania propria Lietuva siaurąją prasme tikroji Lietuva, literally "Lithuania in a narrow sense" "Genuine Lithuania "

Giving the Prussian Lithuanian name first and followed by the German name, the major cities in former Lithuania Minor were Klaipėda (Memel) and Tilžė (Tilsit). Klaipėda ( ˈklaɪpɛdə Memel is a City in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Curonian Lagoon where it flows into the Baltic Sea Sovetsk (Сове́тск prior to 1945 known by its German name Tilsit (Tilžė Tylża is a town now in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia Other towns include Ragainė (Ragnit), Šilokarčema (Heydekrug), renamed to Šilutė, Gumbinė (Gumbinnen), Įsrutis (Insterburg), Stalupėnai (Stallupönen). Neman (Неман formerly known as Ragnit Ragainė Ragneta is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located east of the town of Šilutė ( previously Šilokarčiama, Heydekrug is a City in the south of the Klaipėda County, Lithuania. 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 Nesterov (Не́стеров Stallupönen or Ebenrode; Stalupėnai Stołupiany is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia

History

Before the concept Lithuania Minor has appeared

The territory, which was given the denomination Lithuania Minor in the 16th century, was not alien to Lithuanians ethnically as well as politically in earlier times. It had once been partly subject to Mindaugas' Lithuania in the 13th century. The history of Lithuania between 1219 and 1295 deals with the establishment and early history of the first Lithuanian state the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. ^[2] Later, captured (1275-76) and ruled by the Teutonic Knights, the land was reckoned, what is recorded in the historical sources, to be their patrimony by Algirdas (officially said) and Vytautas (recorded to be said unofficially). The Teutonic Order is a German Roman Catholic religious order. Algirdas, (ɑlgərdɑːs known as Olgierd Альгерд Ольгерд b Vytautas the Great ( Lithuanian:; Vitaŭt; Latin: Alexander Vitoldus; Witold Ruthenian: Vitovt; c ^[3]

German-Lithuanian rivalry

Main article: Northern crusades

The territory of western Lithuania started to be threatened by Livonian order from the north and Teutonic Knights from the south in the 13th century. The Northern Crusades or Baltic Crusades were Crusades undertaken by the Catholic kings of Denmark and Sweden, the German Livonian The Northern Crusades or Baltic Crusades were Crusades undertaken by the Catholic kings of Denmark and Sweden, the German Livonian The Livonian Order was autonomous Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order and a member of the Livonian Confederation from 1418&ndash1561 The Teutonic Order is a German Roman Catholic religious order. The Orders were seizing the lands of Baltic tribes, one of which – Lithuanians – had its state and was also expanding its power among neighbouring Baltic and Ruthenian people. The Balts or Baltic peoples (People who live by the Baltic Sea) defined as speakers of one of the Baltic languages, a branch of the Indo-European The history of Lithuania between 1219 and 1295 deals with the establishment and early history of the first Lithuanian state the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Order was granted the right over the pagan lands by popes and emperors of Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in It was conqueror‘s right – awarded them as much lands as they would conquer. After the Battle of Saule Livonian order was crushed and incorporated to the Teutonic Order as part of it. The Battle of Saule (Schlacht von Schaulen Saules kauja Saulės mūšis or Šiaulių mūšis was fought on September 22 1236 between the Livonian The Livonian Order was autonomous Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order and a member of the Livonian Confederation from 1418&ndash1561 The Teutonic Order is a German Roman Catholic religious order. Mindaugas, in critical political circumstances for his rule, undertook to grant Samogitia to the Order in exchange for baptism and the crown from pope. Mindaugas (ˈmındoʊgʌs ca 1203 – 12 September 1263) was the first known Grand Duke of Lithuania, a title he gained ca After Mindaugas became a king, direct subject of pope, in 1253, the acts of grants of the lands for Livonian Order were written:

• 1253 July, the act granting Nadruvia and Karšuva to the Order was written in Lithuanian curia by Mindaugas. The Nadruvians were one of the now-extinct Prussian clans. They lived in Nadruvia (alternative spellings include Nadruva, Nadrowite,
• 1259 the act granting Dainava and Scalovia to the Order was written by Mindaugas. Dzūkija (dzuːkɪˈjʌ or Dainava is one of five Ethnographic Regions of Lithuania. Scalovia (Schalauen was the area originally inhabited by the now extinct Baltic tribe of Skalvians or Scalovians (Schalauer which according to the Chronicon In the historiography this act is considered to be falsified by the Order.

All Baltic tribes rose against the Order after the Battle of Durbe (1260). The Battle of Durbe (Durbes kauja Durbės mūšis was a medieval Battle fought near Durbe, 23 km east of Liepāja, in present-day Mindaugas officially canceled his relations with Livonian order in 1261 and the acts of grants became invalid. Mindaugas royal dynasty discontinued with his and two sons assassination in 1263. Lithuanian dukes did not join Prussians in their uprising due to inside instability of Lithuanian throne. "Prussians" redirects here "Prussians" may also refer to citizens of the former German state of Prussia. Nadruvia and Scalovia which comprised much of later Lithuania Minor, had been taken by the Teutonic Knights in 1275-76 after the Prussian uprising and they reached Neman from the south in 1282. The Nadruvians were one of the now-extinct Prussian clans. They lived in Nadruvia (alternative spellings include Nadruva, Nadrowite, Scalovia (Schalauen was the area originally inhabited by the now extinct Baltic tribe of Skalvians or Scalovians (Schalauer which according to the Chronicon The Prussian uprisings were two major and three smaller uprisings by the Prussians, one of the Baltic tribes, against the Teutonic Knights that took Lithuania also did not manage to retain Zemigalian castles lying north from Lithuania and Zemigalians fell under the Order finally during Gediminas rule. Zemgale, also known under Latinized names Semigalia or Semigallia (Zemgale Semgallen Žiemgala is an historical region of Latvia, sometimes also including Gediminas (ca 1275 – winter 1341 was the Monarch of medieval Grand Duchy of Lithuania with the title lt didysis kunigaikštis (вялікі князь Samogitians, whose land lain between the Livonian Order and the Teutonic Order, had been many times granted to the Order juridically by Lithuanian dukes, popes, emperors of Holy Roman Empire, but either Order did not managed to take it, or Lithuanian dukes departed from their treaty and grant. Samogitia ( Samogitian: Žemaitėjė, Žemaitija literally lowlands) is one of the five Ethnographic Regions of Lithuania. The Livonian Order was autonomous Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order and a member of the Livonian Confederation from 1418&ndash1561 The Teutonic Order is a German Roman Catholic religious order. The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in Klaipėda was passed to Teutonic Order from its Livonian branch in 1328.

The patrimony for Nadruvia and Scalovia was remembered by post-Mindaugas grand dukes of Lithuania: Algirdas, during the negotiation on Lithuania’s Christianization, postulated (1358) for the emperor of Holy Roman Empire, Charles IV, that he would accept Christianity when the Order was transferred to Russia’s border to fight Tatars and Lithuania would be given back the lands to Alna, Pregolya rivers and Baltic sea. The Nadruvians were one of the now-extinct Prussian clans. They lived in Nadruvia (alternative spellings include Nadruva, Nadrowite, Scalovia (Schalauen was the area originally inhabited by the now extinct Baltic tribe of Skalvians or Scalovians (Schalauer which according to the Chronicon Algirdas, (ɑlgərdɑːs known as Olgierd Альгерд Ольгерд b The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in Charles IV ( Czech: Karel IV, German: Karl IV, Hungarian: IV Károly; 14 May 1316 &ndash Tatars ( Tatar: Tatarlar/Татарлар sometimes spelled Tartars, are a Turkic -speaking ethnic group or multiple ethnic groups The Łyna (ˈwɨna in Polish) ( Alna Old Prussian: Alnā) or Lava (Лава is a River in northern Poland 's Lithuanian grand dukes probably considered the Order to be illegitimate state, propagandizing the mission of Christianization as the fundamental aim and factually seeking political authority at one time. Additionally, after the Order had become Protestant state, the conquered Baltic lands were not acknowledged as its possession by the popes.

After the Battle of Grunwald the dispute between Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Order on Samogitia started. The Battle of Grunwald (or 1st Battle of Tannenberg) took place on 15 July 1410 with the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led by The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė old literary Lithuanian Didi Kunigiste Letuvos, Ruthenian: Wialikaje Kniastwa Litowskaje Samogitia ( Samogitian: Žemaitėjė, Žemaitija literally lowlands) is one of the five Ethnographic Regions of Lithuania. Vytautas wanted the border was Neman river, while the Order wanted to have Veliuona and Klaipėda in the right side of the river. Veliuona is a small town on Nemunas River in Jurbarkas district municipality in Lithuania. Both sides agreed to accept the prospective solution of emperor Sigismund’s representative Benedict Makra. He decided that the right side of Nemunas (Veliuona, Klaipėda) had to be left for Lithuania (1413). Veliuona is a small town on Nemunas River in Jurbarkas district municipality in Lithuania. Klaipėda ( ˈklaɪpɛdə Memel is a City in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Curonian Lagoon where it flows into the Baltic Sea B. Makra said:

We find that the Memel castle is built in the land of Samogitians. Neither Master, nor the Order was able to prove anything opposing. The grand master (Hochmeister Magister generalis is the holder of the supreme office of the Teutonic Order.

The Order did not accept the solution. Later Vytautas agreed the solution to be made by emperor Sigismund. He acknowledged Samogitians for the Order (1420). Vytautas did not accept the solution. Polish and Lithuanian military, not capturing the castles, devastated Prussia then and the Treaty of Melno was made. The Treaty of Melno (Melno taika Pokój melneński or Treaty of Lake Melno (Friede von Melnosee was a Peace treaty ending the Gollub War. Klaipėda was left for the Order. Since the Melno treaty the land later become Lithuania Minor had been officially separated from Lithuania. It became part of the state of the Teutonic Order. The monastic state of the Teutonic Knights (Deutschordensland sometimes known in English by the German term Ordensstaat (ˈɔːdn̩ˌʃtɑːt or "Order-State"

After the concept Lithuania Minor has appeared

The state of the Teutonic Order became Prussia in 1525 and the concept Lithuania Minor has appeared around that time (1517-26). Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state Lithuania Minor was part of Prussia until 1701, the Kingdom of Prussia until 1871, the German Empire until 1918 and the German Reich until 1945. Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state 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 Deutsches Reich was the name for Germany from 1871 to 1945 in the German language. The political border set by the Treaty of Melno had been the same since the treaty to 1923, when the Klaipėda region (Memelland) was incorporated into Lithuania. 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 Klaipėda Region (Klaipėdos kraštas or Memel Territory (Memelland or Memelgebiet Territoire de Memel was defined by the Treaty of Versailles

After World War I

Lithuania declared its independence from Russia in 1918 during World War I. The Act of Tilsit (Tilžės aktas was an act signed in Tilsit by 24 members of Prussian Lithuania National Council on November 30 World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Some Prussian Lithuanian activists signed Act of Tilsit, demanding unification of Lithuania Minor and Lithuania major into a single Lithuanian state, thus detaching the areas of East Prussia from Germany which were inhabited by Prussian Lithuanians. The term Prussian Lithuanians, Lietuwininkai (singular Lietuwininkas) Lietuvininkai refers to a Western Lithuanian ethnic group which did not form The Act of Tilsit (Tilžės aktas was an act signed in Tilsit by 24 members of Prussian Lithuania National Council on November 30 This claim was supported by Lithuanian government. The part north of the Neman River up to Memel was separated from Germany by the Treaty of Versailles in 1920, and was called the Memel Territory. "Nieman" and "Niemen" redirects here For other uses see Neman and Nieman (disambiguation. Klaipėda ( ˈklaɪpɛdə Memel is a City in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Curonian Lagoon where it flows into the Baltic Sea The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. The Klaipėda Region (Klaipėdos kraštas or Memel Territory (Memelland or Memelgebiet Territoire de Memel was defined by the Treaty of Versailles It was made a protectorate of the Entente States, in order to guarantee port rights to Lithuania and Poland. In International law, a protectorate is a autonomous territory that is "protected" by a stronger state or entity hense the protector which engages to protect In general allies are people groups or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose In January 1923, the imitated Klaipėda Revolt took place and Klaipėda region was annexed to Lithuania in 1923 under violation^[4] of the Treaty of Versailles. The Klaipėda Revolt took place during January 1923 in the Memel territory that had been detached from Germany after World War I. The Klaipėda Region (Klaipėdos kraštas or Memel Territory (Memelland or Memelgebiet Territoire de Memel was defined by the Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. The subsequent incorporation of the territory allowed Lithuania to experience economic prosperity (with the region accounting for 30% of the country's economy). However, the region's economic significance declined after economic sanctions which were imposed by Nazi Germany in 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 Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop of delivered an ultimatum to the Lithuanian Foreign Minister on March 20, 1939, demanding the surrender of the Memel region to German control. Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop (30 April 1893 – 16 October 1946 was Foreign Minister of Germany from 1938 until 1945 1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania was an oral Ultimatum presented to Juozas Urbšys, Foreign Minister of Lithuania, by Joachim von Ribbentrop Events 1600 - The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. If it were not ceded to Germany peacefully, Ribbentrop vowed, Memel "will be taken by other means if necessary". ^[5] Lithuania ended up submitting to the ultimatum and, in exchange for the right to use the new harbour facilities as a Free Port, ceded the disputed region to Germany in the late evening of 22 March 1939. Events 238 - Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed Roman emperor. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Reunion of Memel Territory with Germany by majority of Prussian Lithuanians was met with joy. ^[6] It was Nazi Germany's last territorial gain prior to World War II. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The whole of Lithuania itself came under occupation by the Soviet Union, then briefly became independent again in 1941 before being occupied entirely by Nazi Germany. The occupation of the Baltic states refers to the occupation of the Baltic states ( Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) first by the The Lithuanian 1941 independence was a brief period in the history of Lithuania between the first Soviet occupation, and the chaos immediately following Nazi This article discusses the history of Lithuania and of the Lithuanians.

After World War II (Soviet Union and modern-day)

At the end of the war, the local German and Lithuanian population of the former East Prussia either fled or was expelled to the western parts of Germany. The evacuation of East Prussia refers to the evacuation of the German civilian population and military personnel in East Prussia and the Klaipėda region The Soviet Union recaptured Lithuania in 1944 and the Memel region was incorporated into the newly-formed Lithuanian SSR in 1945 while the remainder of East Prussia was divided between Poland (the southern two-thirds now forming the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship) and the Soviet Union (the remaining territory which was formed into the Kaliningrad Oblast). 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 Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship (also known as Warmia-Masuria Province or by its Polish name województwo warmińsko-mazurskie or simply Warmińsko-Mazurskie 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

After the death of Joseph Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev offered the Kaliningrad Oblast to the Lithuanian SSR. Joseph Stalin ( ნამდვილი გვარი ჯუღაშვილი|Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili; March 5 1953 was General Secretary of the Communist Party Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (April 17 1894 – September 11 1971 served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964 following Secretary Antanas Sniečkus refused this offer. Antanas Sniečkus ( January 22, 1974) was First Secretary of the Lithuanian Communist Party from August 1940 to January 22, 1974 He either was in fear of predictable difficult economic situation here, for which he was accountable to Stalin, or of being accused of nationalism. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Kaliningrad Oblast has become an exclave of Russia. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Lithuania, Germany, and Poland lay no claims to the region.

Ethnic history

Descent of Lietuvininkai

Historiography

Originally it was thought that Prussian Lithuanians were autochthones to East Prussia. The term Prussian Lithuanians, Lietuwininkai (singular Lietuwininkas) Lietuvininkai refers to a Western Lithuanian ethnic group which did not form The base for it was A. Bezzenberger’s line of Prussian-Lithuanian language limit. The theory proposed that Nadruvians and Scalovians were western Lithuanians and ancestors of Lietuvininks. It was prevalent until 1919.

The second theory proposed that the first Lithuanian population of the territory which later became Lithuania Minor appeared only after the war had ended. The theory was started by G. Mortensen in 1919. She stated, that Scalovians, Nadruvians and Sudovians were Prussians before the German invasion and Lithuanians were colonists of the 15-16th centuries from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania – Samogitia and Suvalkija. The Scalovians (Schalauer Skalviai also known as the Skalvians, was a Baltic tribe related to Prussians. The Nadruvians were one of the now-extinct Prussian clans. They lived in Nadruvia (alternative spellings include Nadruva, Nadrowite, Yotvingians or Sudovians (also called Suduvians, Jatvians, or Jatvingians in English (Jotvingiai Sūduviai Jatvingi Jaćwingowie Яцьвягі The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė old literary Lithuanian Didi Kunigiste Letuvos, Ruthenian: Wialikaje Kniastwa Litowskaje Samogitia ( Samogitian: Žemaitėjė, Žemaitija literally lowlands) is one of the five Ethnographic Regions of Lithuania. This article discusses the Lithuanian part of the region For the Polish one see Suwałki Region. G. Mortensen created a conception of the wilderness, according which the vicinities of the both sides of Neman up to Kaunas had become desolate in the 13-14th centuries. Wilderness is generally defined as a Natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by Human activity Kaunas ( ˈkoʊnəs is the second largest City in Lithuania and a former temporary capital. According G. Mortensen’s husband H. Mortensen Lithuanian resettlement began in the last quarter of the 15th century. ^[7] Lithuanian historian K. Jablonskis etc, arhceologist P. Kulikauskas etc denied the idea of desolate land, uninhabited forests (Old German wildnis, wiltnis) and mass Lithuanian migration. The idea of Lithuanian immigration was accepted by Antanas Salys, Zenonas Ivinskis. J. Jurginis had studied the descriptions of the war roads into Lithuania and found where the word wildnis was used in the political sense. He deduced that wildnis was that part of Lithuania which belonged to the Order juridically, by the grants of the popes and emperors of Holy Roman Empire, but was not subordinate to it due to the resistance of the residents. The theory of desolate land was also criticized by Z. Zinkevičius, who has thought that old Baltic toponymy could be only preserved by the remaining local people. Zigmas Zinkevičius ( January 4 1925 in Juodausiai Ukmergė district) is the leading Lithuanian linguist-historian a Professor at

H. Łowmiański thought that Nadruvian and Scalovian tribes had changed ethnically due to Lithuanian colonization as early as times of tribal social order. Henryk Łowmiański (August 22 1898 near Ukmergė - September 4 1984 in Poznań) – Polish medieval historian Linguist Z. Zinkevičius has presumed that Nadruvians and Skalovians were transitive tribes between Lithuanians and Prussians since much earlier times than German invasion had occurred.

Background

The German invasion and the war was the factor changing the former order of the Baltic area. While German Order was expanding its territory, the holding of Lithuanian grand dukes was withdrawn in some places. The political situation during the war was influenced by the following factors:

• The situation of the war technologies. The Teutonic Order built many stone fortresses in the Baltic lands thus gaining the control over the ethnically foreign lands. Nadruvia was full of German castles.
• The geographical situation. The Neman became a kind of a front line between the Order and Lithuania during the several decades of the war after the German invasion. There were German castles up to Kaunas by Neman in the 14th century. Kaunas ( ˈkoʊnəs is the second largest City in Lithuania and a former temporary capital. Germans built their castles by the Lithuanian and vice versa. The wide forest stretched in the land by the left side of the middle reaches of Neman, what was Sudovia or Suvalkija. It could originate as a wide border between Lithuanian and Sudovian tribes before pre-nation times of Lithuanians and also could expand due to the war. The land was sparse of German castles. The conquered Baltic lands were all called Prussia by the Teutonic Order but not all the lands with the German castles managed to build in them became occupied. The presence of Neman river, also possibly the forests in Sudovia, Karšuva afforded the most economical variant for the defensive fortifications.

The war probably changed the situation of populations of the area:

• The demographic situation. The population of the territory which lain between the chief lands of Lithuanian state and Nadruvia – what was in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the northern half of Sudovia or Suvalkija – was sparse. Nadruvia possibly also became more depopulated than those Lithuanian lands, which lain in the right side of Neman during the warfare between the Teutonic Order, the Old Prussians, and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. "Prussians" redirects here "Prussians" may also refer to citizens of the former German state of Prussia. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė old literary Lithuanian Didi Kunigiste Letuvos, Ruthenian: Wialikaje Kniastwa Litowskaje
• The ethnical situation. The German invasion and the war between the latter state and Lithuanian one reduced, was expelling the local population to some extent and impelled some migrations of Baltic tribes. In the abstract, Nadruvia, Scalovia and Sudovia had to be inhabited by Nadruvians, Scalovians and Sudovians. All these three tribes are considered to have once been western Baltic, but the Lithuanian impact, close relations and immigration, is likely to be occurred before the German invasion.

Prussian Lithuanian population

The main two lands later become Lithuania Minor, Nadruvia and Scalovia, had Prussian ethnic substratum. "Prussians" redirects here "Prussians" may also refer to citizens of the former German state of Prussia. Lithuanian elements prevailed in the toponymy of the territory, though. It is possible that Nadruvia and Skalovia had changed ethnically in the process of Lithuanian penetration to and consolidation of the Baltic lands in the pre-state times. The Balts or Baltic peoples (People who live by the Baltic Sea) defined as speakers of one of the Baltic languages, a branch of the Indo-European The contacts between Nadruvian and Scalovian populations with those to the north and west, where the grand dukes of Lithuania were ruling from the 13th or the 12th century, were probably close. Nadruvia had bordered on Sudovia and Samogitia, Skalovia – on Samogitia and Nadruvia. Yotvingians or Sudovians (also called Suduvians, Jatvians, or Jatvingians in English (Jotvingiai Sūduviai Jatvingi Jaćwingowie Яцьвягі The inside Baltic migration, trading and ethnic consolidation presumably had happened since the earlier times than the German military invasion occurred. The Balts or Baltic peoples (People who live by the Baltic Sea) defined as speakers of one of the Baltic languages, a branch of the Indo-European

The land was probably depopulated during the warfare and the source of the regeneration of the population was internal as well as presumably major external from the neighbouring areas. The land had been resettled by the former refugees and newcomers from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. ^[8] After the permanent war had ended finally with the Treaty of Melno in 1422, the population continued to grow. 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 newcomers were Lithuanians from Trakai, Vilnius voideships and Samogitia. Trakai Voivodeship, Trakai Palatinate, or Troki Voivodeship (Trakų vaivadija Województwo Trockie was a unit of administrative division and local government This is an article about a voivodeship in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Samogitia ( Samogitian: Žemaitėjė, Žemaitija literally lowlands) is one of the five Ethnographic Regions of Lithuania. Lithuanian farmers used to flee to the Sudovian forest, which lain in the Trakai voivodeship, and live here without dues, what was possible until the agrarian reform of Lithuania, performed during the second half of the 16 century. Trakai Voivodeship, Trakai Palatinate, or Troki Voivodeship (Trakų vaivadija Województwo Trockie was a unit of administrative division and local government

The tribal areas such as Nadruvia, Scalovia, Sudovia had to some extent later coincided with the political administrative and the ethnic areas. Nadruvia and Scalovia became Lithuanian Province in East Prussia and the Yotvingian population persisted in their lands more commonly as western Lithuanians in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and East Prussia. Yotvingians or Sudovians (also called Suduvians, Jatvians, or Jatvingians in English (Jotvingiai Sūduviai Jatvingi Jaćwingowie Яцьвягі

Prussian Lithuanian living area of Prussia

As a distinctive ethno-cultural region, Lithuania Minor emerged during the 16th or the 15th century. The substratum of Prussian Lithuanian population comprised mostly ethnic Baltic tribes – local (Old Prussians – Sambians, north Bartians, Natangians; either probably formerly Lithuanized or Prussian Scalovians and Nadruvians; Sudovians, some Curonians) and neighbouring (newcomers, including returning refugees, from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania: Lithuanians from the right side of the middle reaches of Neman or Suvalkija, Samogitians, Sudovians, Prussians etc. The Balts or Baltic peoples (People who live by the Baltic Sea) defined as speakers of one of the Baltic languages, a branch of the Indo-European "Prussians" redirects here "Prussians" may also refer to citizens of the former German state of Prussia. The Scalovians (Schalauer Skalviai also known as the Skalvians, was a Baltic tribe related to Prussians. The Nadruvians were one of the now-extinct Prussian clans. They lived in Nadruvia (alternative spellings include Nadruva, Nadrowite, Yotvingians or Sudovians (also called Suduvians, Jatvians, or Jatvingians in English (Jotvingiai Sūduviai Jatvingi Jaćwingowie Яцьвягі The Kursenieki are also known as Curonians The Curonians ( Curonian: Kursi; Kuren Kurši Kuršiai Kuralased were The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė old literary Lithuanian Didi Kunigiste Letuvos, Ruthenian: Wialikaje Kniastwa Litowskaje Lithuanians are the Baltic Ethnic group native to Lithuania, where they number a little over 3 million Samogitia ( Samogitian: Žemaitėjė, Žemaitija literally lowlands) is one of the five Ethnographic Regions of Lithuania. Yotvingians or Sudovians (also called Suduvians, Jatvians, or Jatvingians in English (Jotvingiai Sūduviai Jatvingi Jaćwingowie Яцьвягі "Prussians" redirects here "Prussians" may also refer to citizens of the former German state of Prussia. ). Colonists from the Holy Roman Empire also contributed to Lithuanian population to some extent. The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in Prussians and Yotvingians tended to be assimilated by Lithuanians in the northern part of East Prussia, while by Germans and Poles in the southern one.

Lithuanian percentage decreased to about half of population in about half of the area eastwards from Alna river and northwards from the lower reaches of Pregolya during the 18th century. Lava is molten rock expelled by a Volcano during an eruption When first expelled from a volcanic vent it is a Liquid at Temperatures Lithuanian percentage of the area was continually decreasing during the ages since the plague of 1709-11. Lithuanians constituted the majority only in about half of the Memelland area and by Tilžė and Ragainė from the last quarter of the 19th century upwards to 1914. Lithuanian percentage was marginal in the southern half of the region of Lithuania Minor at that time. There resided about 170 thousands of Lietuvininks in East Prussia till 1914.

Former administrative Lithuanian Province

The territory known as the main part of Lithuania Minor had been distinguished in administrative terms first as Nadrauen and Schalauen, later the names Lithuanian counties, Lithuanian Province, Prussian Lithuania or Lithuania (Litauische Kreise or Litt(h) auen) became predominant. The Nadruvians were one of the now-extinct Prussian clans. They lived in Nadruvia (alternative spellings include Nadruva, Nadrowite, Scalovia (Schalauen was the area originally inhabited by the now extinct Baltic tribe of Skalvians or Scalovians (Schalauer which according to the Chronicon ^[9] The administrative Lithuanian Province (part of the administrative province of Sambia) (about 10 000 km²) comprised four districts of that time: Klaipėda (Memel), Tilžė (Tilsit, Sovetsk), Ragainė (Raganita, Ragnit, Neman) and Įsrutis (Insterburg, Cerniachovsk). There were three provinces in the Duchy of Prussia overall:

• Sambia – Sambia peninsula, Nadruvia and Scalovia. Sambia (Земландский полуостров Zemlandsky poluostrov) or Samland ( is a Peninsula in the Kaliningrad Oblast of The latter two constituted Lithuanian Province.
• Natangia – Natangia, Bartia, Galindia.
• Oberland

Former factual Prussian Lithuanian living area

The factual Prussian Lithuanian living area was broader than the administrative Lithuanian Province. Several Lithuanian-linked areas were determined on different criterions in the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century by mostly German researchers (Lithuanians, without doing difference between the residents of Russian Empire and of Prussia, were considered by Germans in the 19th century to be the little nation facing its end. Lithuanians are the Baltic Ethnic group native to Lithuania, where they number a little over 3 million The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state Therefore the various researches on Lithuanian culture were made):

• Lithuanian inhabited area indicated by toponymic data. The language line between Old Prussian and Lithuanian languages was determined by A. Bezzenberger (linguistic, archaeological and geographical data) and M. Toeppen (historical data). A. Bezzenberger found that toponyms in the right side of Alna and north from Pregolya after the Alna fall were mostly Lithuanian (with -upē (upē – a river), -kiemiai, -kiemis, -kēmiai (kiemas – a village)) and in the left side – mostly Prussian (with -apē (apē – the same), -kaimis (kaimis – the same). Thus, the area (11 430 km²) was considered to be Lithuanian lived and its southern limit was roughly the same as the southern limit of Nadruvia administrative unit. Lithuania Minor is commonly understand to be this area.
• The area of traditional Lithuanian architecture: the original layout of the country seats, the architectural style. The territory between Koenigsberg, the lower reaches of Pregolya and Alna river was architecturally mixed – of German-Lithuanian pattern. The Pregolya or Pregola (Преголя Pregel Prieglius is a River in the Russian Kaliningrad Oblast exclave The Łyna (ˈwɨna in Polish) ( Alna Old Prussian: Alnā) or Lava (Лава is a River in northern Poland 's The latter area was inhabited by mostly Prussians and Lithuanians, later – Germans and Lithuanians. The Lithuanian Province together with the latter area and Sambia peninsula presents the broader perception of Lithuania Minor (about 18 000 km²).
• The area of the everyday vocabulary of Lithuanian country
• The area of churches where Lithuanian sermons were used in 1719. F. Tetzner on the ground of the list of villages where Lithuanian sermons were used in 1719 defined the southern limit of Lithuanian parishes. F. Tetzner wrote in the beginning of the 20th century: 200 years ago the Lithuanian language area embraced, not mentioning the ten present districts of Prussia, also these: Koenigsberg, Žuvininkai, Vėluva, Girdava, Darkiemis and Gumbinė districts. Lithuanian sermons were finished in the last century in Muldžiai, Girdava district, also coastal villages around Žuvininkai and in the Koenigsberg district.

The limits of the latter Lithuanian areas were more southwest. Various other fragmentary demographic sources (the first general census was made in 1816) and the lists of colonists of the 18th century showed the area of Lithuanian majority and the areas of considerable percentage of Lithuanians to the first half of the 18th century. It was more southwest from the once existed administrative Lithuanian Province. The southern limit of Lithuania Minor went by Šventapilis, Bagrationovsk, Bartoszyce, Barčiai (Dubrovka), Lapgarbis (Cholmogorovka), Mėrūniškai (Meruniszki), Dubeninkai (Dubeninki). Mamonovo (Мамоново Święta Siekierka or Świętomiejsce; Šventpilis prior to 1945 known by its German name Heiligenbeil, is a town in Bagrationovsk (Багратио́новск Preußisch Eylau Yluva or Prūsų Ylava; Pruska Iława or Iławka) is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast Bartoszyce (Bartenstein Baršteinas is a Town on the Łyna River in northeastern Poland with 25621 inhabitants (as of 2004 The southern limit of the most compact Lithuanian area went byŽuvininkai, Königsberg, Frydland, Engelschtein (Węgielsztyn), Nordenburg (Krylovo), Angerburg, Geldapė, Gurniai, Dubeninkai. Primorsk, prior to 1945 known by its German name Fischhausen (Примо́рск Fischhausen Žuvininkai/Skanavikas Rybaki is an Urban-type settlement in Königsberg (Karaliaučius Low German: Königsbarg; Królewiec see also other names) was until 1946 the name of Kaliningrad. Pravdinsk (; Romuva Frydląd is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia. Węgorzewo (Angerburg is a tourist Town in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland, not far from the border with Russia 's Kaliningrad Gołdap ( Geldapė is a Town and the seat of Gołdap County in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in Poland.

Ethnic composition

The economic and especially demographic statistics had been fragmentary previous to the first general census of 1816. The accounting after the native tongue had begun since the census of 1825-1836. Thus, the situation of ethnic composition previous to the century is known from the various separate sources: various records and inventories, descriptions and memoirs of contemporaries, language of the sermons used in the churches, registers of births and deaths; various state published documents: statutes, acts, decrees, prescriptions, declarations etc. The lists of peasants‘ pays for plots and grinding of flour was also demographic source. Lithuanian and German proportion of Piliakalnis (Dobrovolsk) in the middle of the 18th century was determined by O. Natau on the ground of these lists. The toponymy of Prussia and its changes is also a source for situation of Lithuanians. ^[10]

The nationality of the residents of the country of Lithuania Minor is best shown by the sources from the fourth decade of the 18th century. In the process of the colonization of Lithuania Minor the order to check the circumstance of the state peasants was issued. The data showed the distribution by nationalities and the number of state peasants in the Lithuanian Province. ^[11] The data was used by M. Beheim-Svarbach, who published the tabulations of the territorial distribution of Lithuanian and German villeins (having their farm) in all the villages and districts of Lithuanian Province. The data from the lists of colonists, which shown their descent, was published by G. Geking, G. Schmoler, A. Skalveit in their researches.

Lietuvininkai

Main article: Prussian Lithuanians

The ethnic Lithuanian inhabitants of Lithuania Minor called themselves Lietuvininkai (other form Lietuvninkai). The term Prussian Lithuanians, Lietuwininkai (singular Lietuwininkas) Lietuvininkai refers to a Western Lithuanian ethnic group which did not form The term Prussian Lithuanians, Lietuwininkai (singular Lietuwininkas) Lietuvininkai refers to a Western Lithuanian ethnic group which did not form L. Baczko wrote around the end of the 18th century:

all this nation, which, mixed with many German colonists, is living form Memel to Labiau, from Schirwindt^[12] to Nordenburg,^[13] call themselves Lietuvninkai and their land – Lithuania

The historical sources indicate that Lietuvininkai is one of two historical ways to call all Lithuanians. Memel is a name mainly used by Germans and both for towns and rivers Polessk (Поле́сск prior to 1945 known by its German name Labiau (Labiawa Labguva is a town in and the administrative center of Polessky Lietuvninkai (Литовники) are mentioned in the recording (1341) of the second chronicle of Pskov. Pskov (Псков ancient Russian spelling Пльсковъ Pleskov) in Latvian Pleskava, in Estonian Pihkva, is an ancient city located in In what had been the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the word lietuvis became more popular, while in Lithuania Minor lietuvininkas was preferred. Prussian-Lithuanians also called their northern neighbors in Samogitia "Russian-Lithuanians" and their south-eastern neighbors of the Suwalki region "Polish-Lithuanians". Samogitia ( Samogitian: Žemaitėjė, Žemaitija literally lowlands) is one of the five Ethnographic Regions of Lithuania. Suwałki ( Lithuanian: Suvalkai, Yiddish: Suwałk; German: Suwalken and Sudauen between 1939-1944 is a town Some sources used the term Lietuvininkai to refer to any inhabitant of Lithuania Minor irrelevant of their ethnic adherence.

Lithuanian population presumably grew after the wars ended with the Treaty of Melno in 1422. 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 Samogitian newcomers were more common in the northern part of it and Aukštaitian in the western one.

Lithuanians lived mostly in the rural areas. German towns were like islands in the Lithuanian Province. The area was inhabited by almost only Lithuanians until the plague of 1709-11.

Plague of 1709-11 and the aftermaths

There were not less than 700 thounsands of persons in East Prussia and up to 300 thounsands of them, resided in the Lithuanian Province and the Labguva district previous to the plague of 1709-11. About 160 thousands of Lithuanians died in Lithuanian Province and Labguva district what was 53 percents of the population of the latter area. About 110 thousands of people died in the other places of East Prussia which overall lost about 39 percents of its population during the plague.

Before 1914 and present day situation

There were Lithuanian speakers and Lithuanian language was effective throughout Lithuania Minor at the beginning of the 20th century, though the concentration places of Lithuanians were near Neman – Klaipėda, Tilžė (Tilsit), Ragainė (Ragnit). At the end of the war, the German and Lithuanian population of the former East Prussia either fled or was expelled to the western parts of Germany. The evacuation of East Prussia refers to the evacuation of the German civilian population and military personnel in East Prussia and the Klaipėda region There resided about 170 000 Prussian Lithuanians in East Prussia previous to 1914. Lithuanian felloships functioned in Gumbinė, Įsrutis, Koenigsberg, Lithuanian press was printed in Geldapė, Darkiemis, Girdava, Stalupėnai, Eitkūnai, Gumbinė, Pilkalnis, Jurbarkas, Vėluva, Tepliava, Labguva, Koenigsberg, Žuvininkai.

No Germanization in Lithuania Minor prior 1873. Prussian Lithuanians voluntary were affected by German culture. In the 20 century good number of Lithuanian speakers considered themselves to be Memellandish and also Germans. After the Treaty of Versailles divided East-Prussia into four parts (Polish, German, Danzig, and Lithuanian), Lithuania started a campaign of Lithuanisation its acquired region, the Memel Territory. The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. The Second Polish Republic or interwar Poland is the Republic of Poland between World War I and World War II. The term Weimar Republic ( ˈvaɪmarɐ repuˈbliːk is used by historians to signify the democratic and Republican period of Germany from 1919 to 1933 The Free City of Danzig ( German: Freie Stadt Danzig; Polish: Wolne Miasto Gdańsk) was an autonomous Baltic Sea port and The Klaipėda Region (Klaipėdos kraštas or Memel Territory (Memelland or Memelgebiet Territoire de Memel was defined by the Treaty of Versailles In the regional census^[14] of 1925,^[15] over 26% declared themselves Lithuanian and over 24% simply as Memellandish, compared to over 41% German. The election results to the Landtag (the territory's local parliament) between 1923 and 1939 revealed approximately 90% votes for German political parties and about 10% for national Lithuanian parties. A Landtag ( Diet) is a representative assembly or Parliament in German-speaking countries with some legislative authority

The former language of Lietuvninkai (which is very similar to standard Lithuanian) is currently spoken and known only by about several hundreds of persons from sometime residents of Lithuania Minor. Almost all former Prusian Lithuanians – including Lithuanian speakers – had already identified themselves with German speakers, Prussians, by the end of the 19th century because of the influence of German culture and attitudes of the residents of East Prussia, which had been in quick progress during the 19th century. East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part Majority of Lietuvininkai population has migrated to Germany together with Germans and now lives there.

Prussian Lithuanians spoke in western Aukštaitian dialect, living by the Curonian lagoon spoke in so called „Curonianating“ (Samogitian „donininkai“ subdialect; there are three Samogitian dialects where Lithuanian „duona“ (a bread) is said dūna, dona and douna) subdialect, and small part of them spoke in Dzūkian dialect. Prussian Lithuanians never called themselves and own language as Samogitian.

Old Prussians

Prussians were the native and main inhabitants of the lands which later became the core lands of the Teutonic Order. "Prussians" redirects here "Prussians" may also refer to citizens of the former German state of Prussia. The Teutonic Order is a German Roman Catholic religious order. After the conquest Prussian nobility became vassals of the Order and became Germanized. The officers of the Order were forbidden to speak in Prussian with local inhabitants in 1309. Prussian is an extinct Baltic language once spoken by the inhabitants of the area that later became East Prussia (now north-eastern Poland After the cancellation of the Order and the introduction of the Protestantism the situation of Prussians became some better, three catechisms in Prussian language were issued in 1545 and 1561. Prussians villagers Prussians tended to be assimilated more by Lithuanians in the northern half of East Prussia, while more by Germans and Poles in the southern half of it. East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part There were parts in East Prussia where Lithuanians and Prussians constituted the majority of inhabitants. Prussian Lithuanian and German population was in minority until the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century in Sambia peninsula. Sambia (Земландский полуостров Zemlandsky poluostrov) or Samland ( is a Peninsula in the Kaliningrad Oblast of Later Germans became the ethnical majority in the peninsula, while Lithuanians left in minority there. The case of Jonas Bretkūnas illustrates the phenomenon of Prussian-Lithuanian bilingualism. Jonas Bretkūnas, Johann(es Bretke, also known as Bretkus (born 1536 in Bammeln near Friedland – 1602 Königsberg) was a Lutheran pastor and The last Prussian speakers died around the end of the 17th century. Prussian is an extinct Baltic language once spoken by the inhabitants of the area that later became East Prussia (now north-eastern Poland

Germans

The native-born Germans who lived in Prussia since the expansion of the 13th century resided mostly in the western and southwestern parts of Duchy of Prussia and were in ethnical minority here till the 18th century. The German people (Deutsche are an Ethnic group, in the sense of sharing a common German culture, descent and speaking the German language as The Duchy of Prussia or Ducal Prussia (Herzogtum Preußen Prūsijos kunigaikštystė Prusy Książęce was a Duchy in the eastern part of Prussia from Germans were politically dominant ethnic group in East Prussia. The percentage of Germans in Lithuania Minor was low previous to 1709-11. Later Germans became the main ethnic group of Prussia in the number of people as well.

Poles

Poles were coming to Prussia, especially to Masuria (about 7000 km²) and catholic Varmia (about 4000 km²) until the 17th century. The Polish people, or Poles, (Polacy) are a Western Slavic Ethnic group of Central Europe, living predominantly in Poland. Poles constituted about one third of the inhabitants of East Prussia by the latter century. By the 18th century the border between the areas, inhabited by mostly Lithuanian towards one side and by Poles towards the another one, speakers went by Köningsberg, Bagrationovsk, Bartoszyce, Węgorzewo, Benkaimis, Žabynai (Zabin), Gołdap, Dubeninkai (Dubeninki) in Prussia. Bagrationovsk (Багратио́новск Preußisch Eylau Yluva or Prūsų Ylava; Pruska Iława or Iławka) is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast Bartoszyce (Bartenstein Baršteinas is a Town on the Łyna River in northeastern Poland with 25621 inhabitants (as of 2004 Węgorzewo (Angerburg is a tourist Town in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland, not far from the border with Russia 's Kaliningrad Gołdap ( Geldapė is a Town and the seat of Gołdap County in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in Poland.

Germanization

The process of Germanization of other ethnic groups was complex. It included direct and indirect Germanization. Old Prussians were discriminated after they were conquered, though Old Prussian nobility was not. They were not allowed to live in towns and were only allowed to farm. The situation of Prussian Lithuanians was presumably similar in earlier times. Prussian Lithuanians paid higher taxes and usually had no personal freedom and no law of succession to their plots. The high taxation was the cause of the bad economical situation of Lithuanians and the consequent largest death rate of East Prussia during the plague of 1709-11. East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part There were about 9 thousands of left free farms after the plague and the colonization called the Great started. Its final stage was 1736-56. Germans were preferred by the government when newly inhabiting the farms left. Thus the percentage of Germans increased to 13. 4 percents in the villages of Lithuanian Province. By 1800 most Prussian-Lithuanians were literate and bilingual in Lithuanian and German. There was no Germanization prior 1873. After unification of Germany so called Germanisation by Lithuanians, but not by Lietuvininkai themselves, was an install of German language in schools - a usual practice in all states. The unification of Germany took place on January 18, 1871, when Prussian Chief Minister Otto von Bismarck managed to unify a number of independent The Germanization process accelerated in the second half of the 19th century, when German was made compulsory in the education system at all levels, though newspapers, books were freely published and church services in Lithuanian language were held even in Nazi times, even Lithuanian periodicals were printed in Lithuania Minor, such as Auszra or Varpas, in interbellum times Lithuanian communists printed own periodicals in Lithuania Minor till 1933. Germanisation (also spelled Germanization) is either the spread of the German language, people and culture either by force or Assimilation For the solar power company see Ausra (company Aušra or Auszra (literally dawn) was the first Varpas (lit The Bell) was a Lithuanian-language Newspaper published from 1889 to 1905 By the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century many Prussian Lithuanians identified themselves more with Germans than Lithuanians possibly in the subsequence and the influence of Germanization.

Culture

Main article: Prussian Lithuanians

The first book in Lithuanian, prepared by Martynas Mažvydas, was printed in Königsberg in 1547, while the first Lithuanian grammar, Daniel Klein's Grammatica Litvanica, was printed there in 1653. The term Prussian Lithuanians, Lietuwininkai (singular Lietuwininkas) Lietuvininkai refers to a Western Lithuanian ethnic group which did not form For the solar power company see Ausra (company Aušra or Auszra (literally dawn) was the first Martyno Mažvydo vertimasTranslation of Martynas Mažvydas2jpg|thumb|180px|Martynas Mažvydas translated book]] Martynas Mažvydas (1510 near Žemaičių Naumiestis (now

Lithuania Minor was the home of Kristijonas Donelaitis, pastor and poet and author of The Seasons, which mark the beginning of Lithuanian literature. Kristijonas Donelaitis, Latin: Christian Donalitius was a Lithuanian ref> or by others Lietuvnink or by The Seasons (Metai is the first Lithuanian Poem written by Kristijonas Donelaitis around 1765–1775 The Seasons gave vivid depiction of the everyday life of Prussian Lithuanian country.

Lithuania Minor was an important center for Lithuanian culture, which was persecuted in Russian Empire occupied Lithuania proper. The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya Lithuania proper (Lithuania propria Lietuva siaurąją prasme tikroji Lietuva, literally "Lithuania in a narrow sense" "Genuine Lithuania " That territory had been slowly Polonized when being part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was heavily Russificied while part of the Russian Empire, especially in the second half of the 19th century. Polonization (polonizacja is the acquisition or imposition 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 Russification (in Russian: русификация rusifikátsiya)is an adoption of the Russian language or some other Russian attribute (whether voluntarily The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya Knygnešiai (singular knygnešys) a Lithuanian term that has no equivalent in other languages - approximately translation would be book Smugglers During the ban on Lithuanian printing in Russia from 1864 until 1904, Lithuanian books were printed in East Prussian towns such as Tilsit, Ragnit, Memel, and Königsberg, and smuggled to Russia by knygnešiai. Sovetsk (Сове́тск prior to 1945 known by its German name Tilsit (Tilžė Tylża is a town now in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia Neman (Неман formerly known as Ragnit Ragainė Ragneta is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located east of the town of Memel is a name mainly used by Germans and both for towns and rivers Königsberg (Karaliaučius Low German: Königsbarg; Królewiec see also other names) was until 1946 the name of Kaliningrad. Knygnešiai (singular knygnešys) a Lithuanian term that has no equivalent in other languages - approximately translation would be book Smugglers The first Lithuanian language periodicals appeared during the period in Lithuania Minor, such as Auszra, edited by Jonas Basanavičius, succeeded by Varpas by Vincas Kudirka. For the solar power company see Ausra (company Aušra or Auszra (literally dawn) was the first Jonas Basanavičius (( (b 23 November 1851, Ožkabaliai - d 16 February 1927, Vilnius) was an activist and proponent of Lithuania Varpas (lit The Bell) was a Lithuanian-language Newspaper published from 1889 to 1905 Vincas Kudirka Reversumjpg|thumb| Litas coin issued to commemorate Vincas Kudirka]] Vincas Kudirka ( Paežeriai, - Naumiestis,) was a They had contributed greatly to the Lithuanian national revival of the 19th century.

Symbols

• Lithuania Minor's flag is a horizontal tricolor of green, white and red, first mentioned in 1660. ^[16] Lithuania Minor is the only ethnographic region of Lithuania which has its flag separate from its coat of arms, rather than having it based on its coat of arms.

• The coat of arms of Lithuania Minor is divided into two fields, per pale. A coat of arms or armorial bearings (often just arms for short in European tradition is a design belonging to a particular person (or group of people A pale is a term used in heraldic Blazon and Vexillology to describe a charge on a Coat of arms (or Flag) that takes the form The sinister green field depicts a silver prancing horse. This article describes the heraldic tincture vert For other uses see Vert (disambiguation. In Heraldry, argent is the tincture of silver, and belongs to the class of light tinctures called "metals" The dexter field is divided, per fess, into a red upper field and a silver lower field. FESS is also an acronym for Functional endoscopic sinus surgery. In Heraldry, gules (pronounced with a hard 'g' is the tincture with the colour Red, and belongs to the class of dark tinctures called "colours" ^[17]

• "Lietuvninkais mes esam gimę" ("Lietuvininks we are born"), the anthem of Lithuania Minor, is based on a text written by Georg Sauerwein in 1879. Lietuvininks we are born is a poem written by German linguist Georg Sauerwein in 1879 The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music (in Music theory and religious contexts or more generally a song (or composition of Georg Julius Justus Sauerwein (15 January 1831 in Hannover – 16 December 1904 in Christiania (now Oslo) was a German Publisher, polyglot Lithuania Minor is the only ethnographic region of Lithuania with its own anthem. The anthem was suggested as a possible anthem for all of Lithuania when the country achieved independence in 1918. Under this proposal, the word Lietuvninkais would have been changed to Lithuanian throughout. This proposal had the drawback that some text only referred to Lithuania Minor. "Tautiška giesmė", written by Vincas Kudirka, was adopted instead. "Tautiška giesmė" is the National anthem of Lithuania, also known by its opening words "Lietuva Tėvyne mūsų" (Lithuania Our Homeland Vincas Kudirka Reversumjpg|thumb| Litas coin issued to commemorate Vincas Kudirka]] Vincas Kudirka ( Paežeriai, - Naumiestis,) was a

Lithuanian claims

Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1422 Treaty of Melno refused of all territorial claims in Prussia. Kaliningrad Oblast (Калинингра́дская о́бласть Kaliningradskaya oblast; informally called Yantarny kray (ru Янта́рный край meaning The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė old literary Lithuanian Didi Kunigiste Letuvos, Ruthenian: Wialikaje Kniastwa Litowskaje The Treaty of Melno (Melno taika Pokój melneński or Treaty of Lake Melno (Friede von Melnosee was a Peace treaty ending the Gollub War. Grand Duchy of Lithuania was occupied by Russia in 1795 and Lithuania became independent in 1918. The first time in modern times Lithuanians put eye on East Prussia was in 1914, August 17 when so called Amber Declaration was signed. East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part Events 986 - A Byzantine army was destroyed in the pass of Trajan's Gate by the Bulgarians under the Comitopuli The leaders of Lithuanian national revival expressed hope to Czar that East Prussia would be attached to atonomous Lithuania within Russian Empire. This article discusses the history of Lithuania and of the Lithuanians. Tsar csar and tzar redirect here For other uses see Tsar (disambiguation. The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya In the document East Prussia was viewed as a part of Samogitia. Samogitia ( Samogitian: Žemaitėjė, Žemaitija literally lowlands) is one of the five Ethnographic Regions of Lithuania.

Lithuanian leaders viewed to Lietuvininkai people as a part of Lithuanian nation. The term Prussian Lithuanians, Lietuwininkai (singular Lietuwininkas) Lietuvininkai refers to a Western Lithuanian ethnic group which did not form While Prussian Lithuanians had different aspirations, Lithuanians didn't look seriously to this. Lithuania declared own independence basing on Wilsonian Self-determination right, but Lithuanian leaders didn't wanted to use this right to Poles of Lithuania, and to Prussian Lithuanians. Wilsonianism or Wilsonian are words used to describe a certain type of ideological perspectives on Foreign policy. Self-determination is defined as free choice of one’s own acts without external compulsion and especially as the freedom of the people of a given Territory to determine their Prussian Lithuanians were viewed as Germanised who should be re-lithuanised no matter they want to or not. Such policy was being done during reign of autocratic Antanas Smetona in 1926-39 in Memel Territory. Antanas Smetona ( August 10 1874 January 9 1944) was one of the most important Lithuanian political figures between World

In 1919 Versaillies, Lithuania asked for large areas in East Prussia. Though delegation of Lithuanians was not recognized, such claims were quickly used by Poland and, with help of Clemenceau anti-German policy, the part of East Prussia was detached from Germany. Detached area was named Memel Territory. The Klaipėda Region (Klaipėdos kraštas or Memel Territory (Memelland or Memelgebiet Territoire de Memel was defined by the Treaty of Versailles

The capture of Memel Territory by Soviet Army in 1944 in Soviet Lithuania was named a "liberation of Samogitia".

It was set in the Potsdam conference that the question of the status of the Königsberg region, which was passed to the Soviet Union, would be discussed during the future fifty years. The Potsdam Conference was held at Cecilienhof, the home of Crown Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollern, in Potsdam, Germany, from July 16, The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 But the Soviet Union has collapsed and the territory became the enclave oblast of Russia. Oblast (во́бласць oblast о́бласт oblast о́бласть област/ oblast; oblasť област о́бласть is a type of Administrative division Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending

The opinion requiring attach the Kaliningrad oblast to Lithuania exists among Lithuanians today. Kaliningrad Oblast (Калинингра́дская о́бласть Kaliningradskaya oblast; informally called Yantarny kray (ru Янта́рный край meaning ^[18][19]. ^[20][21] According members whole Kaliningrad oblast, is an ancient Lithuanian land i. e. Lithuania Minor is understand as a Lithuanian land from times immemorial. The political party which has no seats in Seimas, Lithuanian nationalist union, requires to attach Kaliningrad oblast to Lithuania too. The Seimas is the Lithuanian Parliament. It has 141 members that are elected for a four-year term According Lithuanian nationalists Lithuania can be seen as rightfull success-state of Old Prussians, and even all Balts^[22] The opinion of attachment is popular among Nationalistic people and spare movement of Neo-pagans in Lithuania. "Prussians" redirects here "Prussians" may also refer to citizens of the former German state of Prussia. The Balts or Baltic peoples (People who live by the Baltic Sea) defined as speakers of one of the Baltic languages, a branch of the Indo-European The term nationalism can refer to an Ideology, a sentiment, a form of Culture, or a Social movement that focuses on the Nation Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is an Umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of modern religious movements particularly those influenced by historical

References

• Simon Grunau, Preussische Chronik. Hrsg. von M. Perlbach etc. , Leipzig, 1875.
• Adalbert Bezzenberger, Die litauisch-preußische Grenze. Adalbert Bezzenberger (1851-1922 was a German philologist, born at Kassel. - Altpreußische Monatsschrift, XIX–XX, 1882–1883.
• K. Lohmeyer, Geschichte von Ost- und Westpreußen, Gotha, 1908
• R. Trautmann, Die Altpreußischen Sprachdenkmaler,Göttingen, 1909
• L. David. Preussische Chronik. Hrsg. von Hennig, Königsberg, 1812
• M. Toeppen, Historische-comparative Geographie von Preußen, Gotha, 1958

See also

• Regions of Lithuania

External links

• Timeline of Lithuania Minor
• The Folklore of the Lietuvininkai
• Names of Settlements in Lithuania Minor
• Map of Lithuania Minor, with Lithuanian-type placenames
• http://lietuvos.istorija.net/kleinlitauen/karten.htm Detailed area maps of Kaliningrad Oblast with Lithuanian place names (text in German)
  • Area maps:

[3] Darkehmen [4] Goldap [5] Gumbinnen [6] Insterburg [7] Memel [8] Labiau

[9] Pogegen [10] Gastos / Heinrichswalde [11] Pillkallen [12] Ragnit-Tilsit [13]Stallupönen [14] Heydekrug

[15] Gerdauen [16] Friedland [17] Preußisch Eylau [18] Karaliaučius Königsberg [19] Heiligenbeil [20] Wehlau

• • Maps of Lithuania Minor showing % of Lithuanian speakers (text in Lithuanian):
    • Under the German Empire (1871-1914)
    • Under the Kingdom of Prusssia (1701-1871)
    • Under the Duchy of Prussia (1525-1701) (text in Lithuanian with some English translations added)

Lithuania can be divided into historical and cultural regions (called Ethnographic regions Ozyorsk (Озёрск Darkehmen renamed Angerapp from 1938 to 1945 Darkiemis Darkiejmy is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia. Gołdap ( Geldapė is a Town and the seat of Gołdap County in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in 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 Memel is a name mainly used by Germans and both for towns and rivers Polessk (Поле́сск prior to 1945 known by its German name Labiau (Labiawa Labguva is a town in and the administrative center of Polessky Pagėgiai ( Pogegen is a city in the south western Lithuania. Slavsk, prior to 1945 known by its German name Heinrichswalde (Славск HeinrichswaldeJędrzychowo Gastos is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia Heinrichswalde is a municipality in the Uecker-Randow district in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Neman (Неман formerly known as Ragnit Ragainė Ragneta is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located east of the town of Sovetsk (Сове́тск prior to 1945 known by its German name Tilsit (Tilžė Tylża is a town now in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia Nesterov (Не́стеров Stallupönen or Ebenrode; Stalupėnai Stołupiany is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia Heydekrug may refer to places in former East Prussia Šilutė, now Lithuania the site of Stalag Luft VI - a World War II German allied aircrew POW Zheleznodorozhny, prior to 1945 known by its German name Gerdauen (Железнодоро́жный Gerdauen Gierdawy or Gierdawa, Girdava is an Bagrationovsk (Багратио́новск Preußisch Eylau Yluva or Prūsų Ylava; Pruska Iława or Iławka) is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast Königsberg (Karaliaučius Low German: Königsbarg; Królewiec see also other names) was until 1946 the name of Kaliningrad. Königsberg (Karaliaučius Low German: Königsbarg; Królewiec see also other names) was until 1946 the name of Kaliningrad. Znamensk (; Vėluva Welawa is a settlement in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia.

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