The resettlement of the German minority from the Baltic states, i. e. Estonia and Latvia, to the German Reich, or more precisely to Polish lands recently incorporated into Germany, was carried out in the autumn of 1939 and at the beginning of 1941 upon the initiative and under the pressure of the government of the Third Reich. Numerous Germans decided to leave fearing the Soviet threat in the wake of ultimatum demands of installing Red Army bases in Estonia and Latvia. The perspective of settling down comfortably in the homesteads of the exiled Poles, promised by the Nazi authorities, appeared to be highly encouraging. The urged departures and accompanying panic became the cause of Soviet-German diplomatic tension, overcome with considerable difficulties. The German side managed to impose upon the governments of Estonia and Latvia convenient conditions for evacuation, both as regards large portable property and foreseen compensation. Altogether, 13 500 persons left Estonia in the autumn of 1939, followed by 7 100 at the beginning of 1941, while the number of resettlers from Latvia totalled 52 500 and 11 000, respectively. The departure of the Baltic Germans created a precedence for further resettlements of the German minority from other parts of Central-Eastern Europe. We may accept, therefore, that the resettlements, today described as deportation, were initiated by Hitler's policy.
The author discussed the events which transpired in the autonomous Region of Memel during the 1933-1935 period. In the wake of Hitler's rise to power, this region witnessed the emergence of an extremely strong Nazi movement. The Nazis openly intended to detach Memel from Lithuania, and enjoyed the broad support of the local German population. The Lithuanian authorities supervising Memel opposed this trend: Nazi parties were disbanded, and many of their activists were arrested. Despite the protests expressed by the Germans, the attacks launched by the press, and economic reprisal, the Lithuanian authorities prepared and carried out a court trial of the Nazi activists, who received harsh sentences. At the same time, the Lithuanian side tried to augment its position in Memel in the domains of education, culture and the economy. The integration of the autonomous region with the rest of the country made conspicuous progress. The Lithuanian authorities, however, did not possess sufficient strength and determination to continue their resolute policy, initiated in 1933. In the spring of 1934 they announced a reversal to the previous state of things, whose predominant principle was observing the resolutions of the statute of Memel, which acknowledged the town's wide autonomy.
This detailed presentation of the annexation of Memel by the Third Reich (March 1939) underlines the fact that the Nazi campaign constituted an important act of aggression, to be included among a number of similar German ventures, and a noteworthy element in the general preparations for war made by the Third Reich. The author described the various undertakings conceived by German diplomacy, its ruthless and brutal methods, and various endeavours to obliterate the true nature of the Memel policy. Faced with an ultimatum, the Lithuanian side found itself in an extremely difficult situation, with no one offering support or assistance. Unable to tackle the threat of military aggression, Lithuania was compelled to succumb to force. The article describes the seizure of Memel by the Reich and the role played by the local pro-nazi German community. The author also wrote about the echoes of the loss of Memel and its consequences for Lithuania. The article is based on Lithuanian and Polish archival sources and German published documents. The cited literature includes most recent Lithuanian publications.
A depiction of a fragment in the history of Memel (Klaipeda) in 1924-1932, i. e. after the signing of the Memel Convention and prior to Hitler's ascension to power in Germany. The article describes the nature of Memel's autonomy as well as the threats and sources of conflicts lurking in the accepted solutions. Prime attention is focused on the mechanisms of political activity - the constant misunderstandings and conflicts between the Lithuanian central authorities, the governor, and the self-government bodies, predominated by Germans. The author indicated the essence of the controversy in which the Lithuanian side strove towards integration with Lithuania, as well as closer political, cultural and economic bonds. The Germans rejected such demands, wishing to preserve their heretofore privileges and to win the greatest possible independence from Kaunas. The most important dispute was caused in 1931 by the activity of Otto Böttcher, the chairman of the Directorate, correctly accused of having violated the statute of Memel. The ensuing conflict was resolved by The Hague Tribunal, which issued a verdict in favour of Lithuania.
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