Hitler in Memel (Klaipeda)

Lithuania, stuck between Poland and Russia, and as close to Germany as it is, has suffered a similar national fate as Poland--wiped away by war, absorbed, in part or wholly, by larger neighbors, and the like.

Lithuania has had a historic affinity with Poland, having entered into various forms of union with the western neighbor. That seems reasonable enough, though not durable. In 1920, the Polish national hero, Marshal Pilsudski, plotted to return Vilnius (Lithuania's capital) to Polish control. I suppose you can't blame Pilsudski--both Poland and Lithuania had been battered by Russia and Germany, so if the Poles could redeem some sovereignty, dignity, and territory (and Pilsudski's "home town") at the expense of their weak neighbor, well....

Meanwhile, Lithuania (as well as Poland) spent hundreds of years trying to play Germany and Russia against each other in order to maintain their own autonomy and independence. By the 20th century, both Germany and Russia were losing capacity to control the further reaches of their domains, WWI being the final collapse for both empires.

Memel--the German name for Klaipeda--had been designated a free city after WWI. It was supposed to remain autonomous, and under the authority of the French. In 1923, the Lithuanians seized it back, and the world community didn't do much.

Hitler, or course, didn't much care for Lithuanians controlling what had long been a German city (the highlight, so to speak, was when Frederick Wilhelm III moved the Prussian capital to Memel while Napoleon occupied Berlin), so he annexed Klaipeda on March 22, 1939 (watch the painting out of the name Klaipeda on the sign). This was the last German annexation before the war started in September--when Hitler invaded Poland, following on the secret Soviet-German agreement to partition Poland. (A short chronology.)

Since Lithuania is between Poland and Russia, and Molotov and von Ribbentrop had secretly agreed on the partition of Poland, this meant that the Lithuania would be swept away, again, under Russian--this time Soviet--control. On August 23, Lithuanians celebrate Black Ribbon Day, commemorating the secret pact.

Upon the 1939 annexation, Hitler made a speech to the people of Memel/Klaipeda in this square (this is not my photo, but one from someone else's blog), from the the second floor exterior balcony of the theater. Our apartment is about 50 yards from here.