Klaipeda
Klaipėda is Lithuania's only seaport on the Baltic Sea. It has 194,400 inhabitants (2002), down from 202,900 in 1989. Today Klaipeda is a major ferry port with connections to Sweden, Denmark and Germany. Klaipeda owns a picturesque framework-architecture similar to that found in Germany, England or in Denmark. Popular Lithuanian seaside resorts are found close to Klaipeda in Neringa and Palanga.
History
Klaipeda was founded by Baltic tribes in the 12th century. For a long time it belonged to East Prussia and prior to World War II, it was called Memel.This Baltic Sea harbor city was founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1252 and is recorded as Castrum Memele (German Memelburg, also Mimmelburg). In 1254 Klaipeda was granted LÃÂübeck City Right. The area was converted to Christianity by the Teutonic Knights. The Peace at Melno Sea in 1422 fixed the border between Province of Prussia and Lithuania. Memel was included in Prussia and the border remained unchanged until 1923. It was one of the longest unchanged borders in Europe.
Beginning in 1474 Memel was governed by the Kulm Law of the Prussian Land cities. In 1525 Ducal Memel, under Albert of Prussia (Albrecht von Brandenburg-Ansbach-Prussia), adopted Lutheranism. It was a beginning of the long time of prosperity for the city and port, since Dukal Prussia was Polish fief and later part Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This border city served as port for neighbouring Lithuania and Samogitia, benefiting from location near mouth of Niemen river. The end of the prosperous times came, when between 1629-1635 Memel was attacked, damaged, and occupied by Sweden. It was rebuilt numerous times and 75 years later a large number of people in Memel died of the plague. With the creation of the united German state in 1871 Memel became the most north-easterly city of Germany.
In 1919 Klaipeda was placed under the protectorate of the Entente States. After the Treaty of Versailles the territory around Memel was separated from Germany and an autonomous German government under French occupation was installed. It was planned, that Memel will play an important role as Polish port and naval base. However, Lithuania troops under command of colonel Budrys attacked in 1923 and the French troops left. The annexation of Memel by German Reich on March 22, 1939 was the next in series of fait accomply of Hitler, after annexations of Austria, Sudetenland and Czechoslovakia.
During World War II, starting at the end of 1944 and into 1945, the inhabitants fled during active fighting. The city was captured by the Red Army in January 1945 and given back to the Lithuanian Soviet Republic. Many of the remaining inhabitants were sent to Siberia, and the rest were expelled to Germany. In 1947 Memel was officially renamed Klaipeda and included within the borders of Soviet-controlled Lithuania. The name Klaipeda is based on an old name that had been used in the past.