The Masurian Lake District, or the 'Land der Tausend Seen', provided a water
route connecting Nikolaiken, Johannisburg, Angerburg, Lötzen, Lyck and
Rudczanny with a number of lakes and canals. This wilderness area was once
inhabited by Prussian tribes, and in the 13th century the Teutonic Order built
houses, castles, estates and villages in Masuria. Later, the area was more finely
developed by the elements described above who poured the hearts and souls
into building and enhancing towns such as Allenstein, Sensburg, Rastenburg,
Neidenburg, Goldap, Ortelsburg, Lötzen, Angerburg, Lyck and Marienburg.
route connecting Nikolaiken, Johannisburg, Angerburg, Lötzen, Lyck and
Rudczanny with a number of lakes and canals. This wilderness area was once
inhabited by Prussian tribes, and in the 13th century the Teutonic Order built
houses, castles, estates and villages in Masuria. Later, the area was more finely
developed by the elements described above who poured the hearts and souls
into building and enhancing towns such as Allenstein, Sensburg, Rastenburg,
Neidenburg, Goldap, Ortelsburg, Lötzen, Angerburg, Lyck and Marienburg.
At the end of World War Two, while northern East Prussia was given to Russia as part of the
"Kalingrad Oblast", Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin gave the lakes region of East Prussia to Poland
as the "Warminsko-Mazurskie Voivodship".
"Kalingrad Oblast", Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin gave the lakes region of East Prussia to Poland
as the "Warminsko-Mazurskie Voivodship".
In 1939, East Prussia had 2.49 million inhabitants, 85% of them ethnic Germans, and the others
describing themselves as culturally German. They had a proud and unique culture.
describing themselves as culturally German. They had a proud and unique culture.
The Bishop of Courland founded castle Memelburg in 1252, and by 1258 a town was granted
Lübeck City Rights. The castle and environs were transferred from Livonia to the Teutonic Order in
Prussia in 1328, and it faced war between the Order and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the castle
being attacked every 15 to 20 years by Samogitians and Lithuanians, hindering the growth of the
town. With the Peace at Melno-See in 1422, the border was permanently set between the Teutonic
Order and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, with Memel remaining part of Prussia. It finally became an
important trading center during the Middle Ages when it was part of the Hanseatic League. The
border was one of the longest lasting unchanged borders in Europe until it was changed by the
Allies in 1919, and is referred to in the now-unsung and degraded first verse of the German national
anthem, describing the borders of German: Von der Maas bis an die Memel.
Lübeck City Rights. The castle and environs were transferred from Livonia to the Teutonic Order in
Prussia in 1328, and it faced war between the Order and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the castle
being attacked every 15 to 20 years by Samogitians and Lithuanians, hindering the growth of the
town. With the Peace at Melno-See in 1422, the border was permanently set between the Teutonic
Order and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, with Memel remaining part of Prussia. It finally became an
important trading center during the Middle Ages when it was part of the Hanseatic League. The
border was one of the longest lasting unchanged borders in Europe until it was changed by the
Allies in 1919, and is referred to in the now-unsung and degraded first verse of the German national
anthem, describing the borders of German: Von der Maas bis an die Memel.
| "Von der Maas bis an die Memel" |
Then there is the real history of Memel and the rewritten history of Memel. The name "Memel" can
be found in sources from the 13th century. It remained the name of the city near the lower reaches
of the Neman River in the former East Prussia from 1252 until 1945, with the exception of the 16
years from 1923 to 1938 when it was renamed "Klaipėda" by the victorious Allied powers at
Versaille when they lopped it off of Germany to form Lithuania.
be found in sources from the 13th century. It remained the name of the city near the lower reaches
of the Neman River in the former East Prussia from 1252 until 1945, with the exception of the 16
years from 1923 to 1938 when it was renamed "Klaipėda" by the victorious Allied powers at
Versaille when they lopped it off of Germany to form Lithuania.
Ducal Memel adopted Lutheranism in 1525. After 1618, a constructed defence was erected around
the entire town in 1627, and this paid off when a small army of Swedes tried to capture the town and
failed in 1678. Memelfestung was one of the strongest fortresses in Prussia until captured by
Russians troops during the Seven Years' War and held for 5 years.
the entire town in 1627, and this paid off when a small army of Swedes tried to capture the town and
failed in 1678. Memelfestung was one of the strongest fortresses in Prussia until captured by
Russians troops during the Seven Years' War and held for 5 years.
The town developed slightly with industrialization in the 19th century, but the population remained
relatively small because of the town's remote location. Memel became the most northeasterly city of
Germany with the creation of the German Empire in 1871, and while the city itself was
predominantly German, a third of the people of the outer region spoke Lithuanian.
relatively small because of the town's remote location. Memel became the most northeasterly city of
Germany with the creation of the German Empire in 1871, and while the city itself was
predominantly German, a third of the people of the outer region spoke Lithuanian.
Martial law was imposed in 1926 and again in 1938. Lithuania
had no choice but to transfer the town and the surrounding
region back to Germany in 1939. The tide would turn soon
enough. While some German civilians were evacuated to the
west in October 1944 during WW 2, the city was captured by
the Red Army on January 28, 1945 and the German inhabitants
were killed or expelled, never to be allowed to return.
De-Germanizing Memel, left
had no choice but to transfer the town and the surrounding
region back to Germany in 1939. The tide would turn soon
enough. While some German civilians were evacuated to the
west in October 1944 during WW 2, the city was captured by
the Red Army on January 28, 1945 and the German inhabitants
were killed or expelled, never to be allowed to return.
De-Germanizing Memel, left
Their homes, businesses and properties were stolen. The war-battered territory was incorporated into
the "proud Lithuanian" Soviet Socialist Republic in 1947, and the Soviets then transformed
"Klaipėda" with huge shipyards and dockyards. Religion and local "proud Lithuanian"culture was
restricted. By 1990, there were 203,000 people in Klaipėda, formerly German Memel, mostly from
Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and other parts of Lithuania.
the "proud Lithuanian" Soviet Socialist Republic in 1947, and the Soviets then transformed
"Klaipėda" with huge shipyards and dockyards. Religion and local "proud Lithuanian"culture was
restricted. By 1990, there were 203,000 people in Klaipėda, formerly German Memel, mostly from
Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and other parts of Lithuania.
An Allied commission recommended establishing a "Free City" under League of Nations supervision
in the fall of 1922. Memel's German and Polish communities favored the proposal but local
Lithuanians responded by forming a "Committee for the Salvation of Lithuania Minor." The same
American interests that created anti-German propaganda in World War One (see Hysteria) continued
actively instigating in Lithuania throughout World War One and even after. An uprising began in
January, 1923 against the French, and Memel Lithuanians were supported by troops from Lithuania
proper. They gained control over the entire region in a week and forced withdrawal of the French
garrison. The move drew "sharp," but disingenuous diplomatic protests, and within a month the
Allied Council of Ambassadors accepted it. The French left after the Lithuanian occupation was
encouraged under the command of Colonel Budrys in 1923 (the Klaipėda Revolt). By 1925, the city
of Memel itself was still German, but the surrounding territory had grown from one third to one half
Lithuanian. The German community, having roots going back hundreds of years, remained
unreconciled throughout the short decade and a half of Lithuanian rule.
in the fall of 1922. Memel's German and Polish communities favored the proposal but local
Lithuanians responded by forming a "Committee for the Salvation of Lithuania Minor." The same
American interests that created anti-German propaganda in World War One (see Hysteria) continued
actively instigating in Lithuania throughout World War One and even after. An uprising began in
January, 1923 against the French, and Memel Lithuanians were supported by troops from Lithuania
proper. They gained control over the entire region in a week and forced withdrawal of the French
garrison. The move drew "sharp," but disingenuous diplomatic protests, and within a month the
Allied Council of Ambassadors accepted it. The French left after the Lithuanian occupation was
encouraged under the command of Colonel Budrys in 1923 (the Klaipėda Revolt). By 1925, the city
of Memel itself was still German, but the surrounding territory had grown from one third to one half
Lithuanian. The German community, having roots going back hundreds of years, remained
unreconciled throughout the short decade and a half of Lithuanian rule.
During the 18th century, Memel started a lively trade in wood products
which lasted one hundred years. Memel became the temporary capital of the
Kingdom of Prussia during the Napoleonic Wars, and from 1807 to 1808,
the town was the home of King Friedrich Wilhelm III, his consort Louise,
his court and the government. It is here, in 1807, where the king signed the
October Edict, abolishing serfdom in Prussia.
which lasted one hundred years. Memel became the temporary capital of the
Kingdom of Prussia during the Napoleonic Wars, and from 1807 to 1808,
the town was the home of King Friedrich Wilhelm III, his consort Louise,
his court and the government. It is here, in 1807, where the king signed the
October Edict, abolishing serfdom in Prussia.
At end of World War I, the Treaty of Versailles severed Memel and the surrounding district from
Germany without a plebiscite or input from its inhabitants because of pressure from Lithuanian
representatives to the Paris Peace Conference who had asked the Allied Powers to grant them
possession of the entire Memelland. The area was placed under a protectorate of the Entente States,
separated from Germany with an autonomous government under a temporary French jurisdiction
installed. Lithuania had, meanwhile, lost its capital city Vilnius in a dispute with Poland, was not
about to give up" its" chief port without a fight. Memel's population was as 80% German at this
point. The first wave of violence against white storks occurred at the time of the Silesian referendum
and the uprisings of 1919–1921. Nearby "peacemaking troops" of the Entente (British, French, and
Italian troops), who were brought into Silesia to calm the situation and arrest armed civilians, used
the big birds for target practise and murdered hundreds of white storks.
Germany without a plebiscite or input from its inhabitants because of pressure from Lithuanian
representatives to the Paris Peace Conference who had asked the Allied Powers to grant them
possession of the entire Memelland. The area was placed under a protectorate of the Entente States,
separated from Germany with an autonomous government under a temporary French jurisdiction
installed. Lithuania had, meanwhile, lost its capital city Vilnius in a dispute with Poland, was not
about to give up" its" chief port without a fight. Memel's population was as 80% German at this
point. The first wave of violence against white storks occurred at the time of the Silesian referendum
and the uprisings of 1919–1921. Nearby "peacemaking troops" of the Entente (British, French, and
Italian troops), who were brought into Silesia to calm the situation and arrest armed civilians, used
the big birds for target practise and murdered hundreds of white storks.
Whole East Prussian villages had become deserted in the terrible plagues of the
Middle Ages. Over 30,000 people from the Memel area alone had perished. In
some areas around Tilsit, not one soul had survived. The land was devastated
by famine and the landscape bleak from years of decay. In 1720, the King of
Prussia attempted to repopulate it and he published an immigration patent which
drew in Swiss Mennonites and settlers from Pfalz, the Rhineland, Franconia,
Swabia, Nassau, as well as some Dutch, Swiss, Bohemians, French Huguenots
and even a group of Scots who settled around Danzig and Elbing. Later, over
20,000 religious refugees from Salzburg found new, welcoming homes in these
lands. The Historian Lucanus stated in 1748: "In no European landscape was a
greater mix of so many foreign nations." Harmoniously, these groups formed a
unique culture.
Middle Ages. Over 30,000 people from the Memel area alone had perished. In
some areas around Tilsit, not one soul had survived. The land was devastated
by famine and the landscape bleak from years of decay. In 1720, the King of
Prussia attempted to repopulate it and he published an immigration patent which
drew in Swiss Mennonites and settlers from Pfalz, the Rhineland, Franconia,
Swabia, Nassau, as well as some Dutch, Swiss, Bohemians, French Huguenots
and even a group of Scots who settled around Danzig and Elbing. Later, over
20,000 religious refugees from Salzburg found new, welcoming homes in these
lands. The Historian Lucanus stated in 1748: "In no European landscape was a
greater mix of so many foreign nations." Harmoniously, these groups formed a
unique culture.
The German inhabitants who had been invited to resettle this once plague and famine devastated
land and who made the area their home for generations, working the land, raising their families and
building canals, villages, homes, schools, churches and businesses, were brutally murdered, raped,
robbed and driven into exile with their properties all stolen before the blood was even dry. Any
evidence of the region's Germanic heritage was destroyed and buried. Today, its history has been
rewritten, and it is considered "eternally Polish".
land and who made the area their home for generations, working the land, raising their families and
building canals, villages, homes, schools, churches and businesses, were brutally murdered, raped,
robbed and driven into exile with their properties all stolen before the blood was even dry. Any
evidence of the region's Germanic heritage was destroyed and buried. Today, its history has been
rewritten, and it is considered "eternally Polish".
