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| '''Klaipėda Region''' (''Memel Region'', ''Memelland'') is the name of the part of ] consisting of the coastland around ] (formerly known as ''Memel'') and along the ], on the right bank of ]. | '''Klaipėda Region''' (''Memel Region'', ''Memelland'') is the name of the part of ] consisting of the coastland around ] (formerly known as ''Memel'') and along the ], on the right bank of ]. | ||
| From ] to ] it was a part of the ], ]-] the fief of ], and then ]. From ] to ] it belonged to ]. As a separate unit it was formed in ], when it was separated from ] by ] as the territory, populated prevalently by ], and the name ''Klaipėda Region'' was used for first time. From ] to ], it was governed by ]. In ], after some military incidents, inspired by ]n authorities, Klaipėda Region was ceded to ] as integral autonomous unite of this state. It was recognized as integral part of The ] by ] in January 29, ] (]). Klaipeda region however remained an autonomy inside Lithuania and had a significant German population, also a significant population of people who chose to identify themselves as ] during censae |
From ] to ] it was a part of the ], ]-] the fief of ], and then ]. From ] to ] it belonged to ]. As a separate unit it was formed in ], when it was separated from ] by ] as the territory, populated prevalently by ], and the name ''Klaipėda Region'' was used for first time. From ] to ], it was governed by ]. In ], after some military incidents, inspired by ]n authorities, Klaipėda Region was ceded to ] as integral autonomous unite of this state. It was recognized as integral part of The ] by ] in January 29, ] (]). Klaipeda region however remained an autonomy inside Lithuania and had a significant German population, also a significant population of people who chose to identify themselves as ] during censae (see demography information bellow). Both Lithuanian and German languages were official in the region. Due to large German population, nazi activity was on rise, and eventually nazis became a significant force inside the ] of autonomy. Some of nazi leaders were arrested and sentenced to death by Lithuanians due to their work against the establishment of the state (the penalties weren't carried out however due to WW2), which was the first action done against nazis in Europe. However on ], ] Germany presented an ultimatum to Lithuania to cede the Klaipėda region, and invaded it even before Lithuanian acceptal. Despite of pledge to overlook after Klaipeda and help maintain it's position as autonomous part of Lithuania, United Kingdom was not interested in helping Lithuania, and therefore ] was forced to approve the occupation of Klaipeda region, that way falsely hoping that Germany won't invade other parts of Lithuania at least (on ]). After ] it became a part of ]. | ||
| The Klaipėda Region is again part of ] since the ]. | The Klaipėda Region is again part of ] since the ]. | ||
| == Demography == | |||
| According to 1925 census (by subdivisions): | |||
| *City of ] - 35,854 inhabittants, 30,3% local Lithuanians and "Klaipėdians", 57,2% local Germans, 5,5% other locals, 7.0% foreign citizens. | |||
| *] - 30,409 inhabittants, 73.4% local Lithuanians and "Klaipėdians", 23.7% local Germans, 0,8% other locals, 2.1% foreign citizens. | |||
| *] - 36,404 inhabittants, 55,6% local Lithuanians and "Klaipėdians", 41,8% local Germans, 0,1% other locals, 2,5% foreign citizens. | |||
| *] - 38,987 inhabittants, 47,5% local Lithuanians and "Klaipėdians", 49,2% local Germans, 0,2% other locals, 3,1% foreign citizens. | |||
| *All apskritys, excluding Klaipėda city - 105,804 inhabittants, 57,8% local Lithuanians and "Klaipėdians", 39,3% local Germans, 0,3 other locals, 2,6% foreign citizens. | |||
| *All region - 141,640 inhabittants, 50,8% local Lithuanians and "Klaipėdians", 43,8% local Germans, 1,6% other locals, 3,8% foreign citizens. | |||
| Overally, Lithuanians were more rural than Germans; the part of Lithuanians in Klaipėda city itself increased over the time due to urbanization and migration from villages into cities. Foreign citizens might include some Germans, who opted German citizenship instead of Lithuanian one (although at the time German government pressured local Germans to take Lithuanian citizenship, so that German presence would remain). There were more Lithuanians in the north of region (Klaipėdos apskritis and Šilutės apskritis) than in south (Pagėgių apskritis). Other locals includes people of other nationalities who had citizenship of Lithuania, such as ]. | |||
| == See also == | == See also == | ||
Revision as of 13:33, 17 August 2005
Klaipėda Region (Memel Region, Memelland) is the name of the part of Lithuania Minor consisting of the coastland around Klaipėda (formerly known as Memel) and along the Curonian Lagoon, on the right bank of Neman River.
From 1328 to 1525 it was a part of the Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights, 1525-1701 the fief of Ducal Prussia, and then East Prussia. From 1871 to 1920 it belonged to Germany. As a separate unit it was formed in 1919, when it was separated from Germany by Treaty of Versailles as the territory, populated prevalently by Lithuanians, and the name Klaipėda Region was used for first time. From 1920 to 1923, it was governed by France. In 1923, after some military incidents, inspired by Lithuanian authorities, Klaipėda Region was ceded to Lithuania as integral autonomous unite of this state. It was recognized as integral part of The Republic of Lithuania by Germany in January 29, 1928 (Lithuanian - German border treaty). Klaipeda region however remained an autonomy inside Lithuania and had a significant German population, also a significant population of people who chose to identify themselves as Klaipėdians during censae (see demography information bellow). Both Lithuanian and German languages were official in the region. Due to large German population, nazi activity was on rise, and eventually nazis became a significant force inside the seimelis of autonomy. Some of nazi leaders were arrested and sentenced to death by Lithuanians due to their work against the establishment of the state (the penalties weren't carried out however due to WW2), which was the first action done against nazis in Europe. However on March, 1939 Germany presented an ultimatum to Lithuania to cede the Klaipėda region, and invaded it even before Lithuanian acceptal. Despite of pledge to overlook after Klaipeda and help maintain it's position as autonomous part of Lithuania, United Kingdom was not interested in helping Lithuania, and therefore Seimas was forced to approve the occupation of Klaipeda region, that way falsely hoping that Germany won't invade other parts of Lithuania at least (on March 30). After WWII it became a part of Lithuanian SSR. The Klaipėda Region is again part of Lithuania since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Demography
According to 1925 census (by subdivisions):
- City of Klaipėda - 35,854 inhabittants, 30,3% local Lithuanians and "Klaipėdians", 57,2% local Germans, 5,5% other locals, 7.0% foreign citizens.
- Klaipėdos apskritis - 30,409 inhabittants, 73.4% local Lithuanians and "Klaipėdians", 23.7% local Germans, 0,8% other locals, 2.1% foreign citizens.
- Šilutės apskritis - 36,404 inhabittants, 55,6% local Lithuanians and "Klaipėdians", 41,8% local Germans, 0,1% other locals, 2,5% foreign citizens.
- Pagėgių apskritis - 38,987 inhabittants, 47,5% local Lithuanians and "Klaipėdians", 49,2% local Germans, 0,2% other locals, 3,1% foreign citizens.
- All apskritys, excluding Klaipėda city - 105,804 inhabittants, 57,8% local Lithuanians and "Klaipėdians", 39,3% local Germans, 0,3 other locals, 2,6% foreign citizens.
- All region - 141,640 inhabittants, 50,8% local Lithuanians and "Klaipėdians", 43,8% local Germans, 1,6% other locals, 3,8% foreign citizens.
Overally, Lithuanians were more rural than Germans; the part of Lithuanians in Klaipėda city itself increased over the time due to urbanization and migration from villages into cities. Foreign citizens might include some Germans, who opted German citizenship instead of Lithuanian one (although at the time German government pressured local Germans to take Lithuanian citizenship, so that German presence would remain). There were more Lithuanians in the north of region (Klaipėdos apskritis and Šilutės apskritis) than in south (Pagėgių apskritis). Other locals includes people of other nationalities who had citizenship of Lithuania, such as Jews.