This is an old revision of this page, as edited by DeirYassin (talk | contribs) at 14:16, 14 August 2005 (Readding information about the border treaty: I checked history book, it really was signed - reverts shouldn't be done just because of person who edited the article). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 14:16, 14 August 2005 by DeirYassin (talk | contribs) (Readding information about the border treaty: I checked history book, it really was signed - reverts shouldn't be done just because of person who edited the article)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)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. 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.