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Line 15:
Line 15: − + − [[File:Oder-Neisse Line.PNG|right|400px|thumb|Oder-Neisse Line. Poland's present day borders are largely a gift by [[Josef Stalin]] of German lands to the Polish Republic.]]+
→History
==History==
==History==
[[File:Oder-Neisse Line.PNG|right|400px|thumb|Oder-Neisse Line. Poland's present day borders are largely a gift by [[Josef Stalin]] of German lands to the Polish Republic.]]
Modern Kaliningrad consist of the northern half of the former territory of '''East Prussia''', the original heartland of [[Prussia]]. It is an area of rich farmland, lakes and forest bordered to the east and south by the [[Russian Empire]] and to the west by the [[Baltic Sea]]. The main city was Konigsberg (King's City) the former summer retreat of the [[Kaiser]]s and Prussian monarchs It was also the home of philosopher [[Immanuel Kant]]. The region featured very large estates controlled by Junker elites and nobles.
Modern Kaliningrad consist of the northern half of the former territory of '''East Prussia''', the original heartland of [[Prussia]]. It is an area of rich farmland, lakes and forest bordered to the east and south by the [[Russian Empire]] and to the west by the [[Baltic Sea]]. The main city was Konigsberg (King's City) the former summer retreat of the [[Kaiser]]s and Prussian monarchs It was also the home of philosopher [[Immanuel Kant]]. The region featured very large estates controlled by Junker elites and nobles.
The province was a battleground in 1914-15, when, following the outbreak of the [[First World War]] Russian armies invaded the province but were decisively defeated at the [[Battle of Tannenberg]] in 1914 and the Battle of the Masurian Lakes. Following Germany's defeat in 1918, the [[Treaty of Versailles]] divided Germany and the state of Poland re-created, which included the [[Polish Corridor]] to the Baltic Sea and the port city of [[Danzig]] (later Gdansk) declared a "Free City", neither part of Germany or Poland. East Prussia remained part of [[Germany]] (with the exception of the port of [[Memel]], seized by newly-independent [[Lithuania]]). In 1939 [[Nazi Germany]] forced Lithuania to relinquish Memel.
The province was a battleground in 1914-15, when, following the outbreak of the [[First World War]] Russian armies invaded the province but were decisively defeated at the [[Battle of Tannenberg]] in 1914 and the Battle of the Masurian Lakes. Following Germany's defeat in 1918, the [[Treaty of Versailles]] divided Germany and the state of Poland re-created, which included the [[Polish Corridor]] to the Baltic Sea and the port city of [[Danzig]] (later Gdansk) declared a "Free City", neither part of Germany or Poland. East Prussia remained part of [[Germany]] (with the exception of the port of [[Memel]], seized by newly-independent [[Lithuania]]). In 1939 [[Nazi Germany]] forced Lithuania to relinquish Memel.
After the [[Second World War]], about 9 million Germans were deported to the West, and East Prussia was divided between the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Poland]]. Memel - renamed [[Klaipeda]] - became part of the Soviet Republic of Lithuania; northern East Prussia, with Konigsberg (renamed [[Kaliningrad]]), became part of the Russian Federated Republic (known as ''Kaliningrad Oblast''), and the southern part was ceded to [[Poland]]. [[Adolf Hitler]]'s wartime headquarters, ''Wolfschanze'' from which he directed [[Operation Barbarossa]], was in the territory ceded to Poland.
After the [[Second World War]], about 9 million Germans were deported to the West, and East Prussia was divided between the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Poland]]. Memel - renamed [[Klaipeda]] - became part of the Soviet Republic of Lithuania; northern East Prussia, with Konigsberg (renamed [[Kaliningrad]]), became part of the Russian Federated Republic (known as ''Kaliningrad Oblast''), and the southern part was ceded to [[Poland]]. [[Adolf Hitler]]'s wartime headquarters, ''Wolfschanze'' from which he directed [[Operation Barbarossa]], was in the territory ceded to Poland.