Lithuania's 1923 Recovery of Klaipėda (Memel)

This historic video shows the return of the port city of Klaipėda back to Lithuania that took place between 10-15 January, 1923. The Lithuanian majority in Klaipėda long awaited the day to take back the city and on 15 January, 1923 they revolted. The city was entrusted to French military forces as previously stipulated by the League of Nations at the close of WWI.

Martynas Jankus a fighter for Lithuanian causes was the chairman of the committee to liberate Lithuania Minor which included Klaipėda. At 0.14 the leader of the revolt, Budrys reviews his men who enthusiastically greet their top man. Between 0.18-0.24 one can see Lithuanian transatlantic hero, Stephen Darius who was a participant in the revolt. 10 years later he would fly across the Atlantic in an attempt to reach Lithuania.

The video then shows the Lithuanians attacking French military positions as well as German agitators. In one skirmish French and German enemies are taken prisoner. The populace of the city warmly greeted the rebels. The leader of the second group of rebels, Mikas Bajoras was the first to penetrate into the city. The French defenders clearly understood this man's Lithuanian commands which was to surrender their weapons. Sentries were monitoring the coastline for western alliance warships. One ship was spotted which was the British light cruiser "Caledon" which hoisted a white flag. The ship appeared to be non-threatening to the Lithuanians and its sailors were watching the revolt unfurl with great interest. Lithuanians who died were given military burials. Shortly after the arrival of the light cruiser "Caledon" two French torpedo boats arrived in the port of Klaipėda. The League of Nations mission was guarded by the French and after the arrival of the "Caledon", British sentries were also posted there. Lithuanian Americans participated in the recovery of Klaipėda. They included: Pranas Rimkus, Steponas "Stepas" Darius, Martus, Ivašauskas and Kostas Jurgela. After the Lithuanian occupation, the first train arrives in Klaipėda. Remaining French soldiers can be seen at their barracks.

The former President of Lithuania, Antanas Smetona arrived in the city with his military advisor, Major Jakutis. He had specific documents and stipulations from the Lithuanian government. The port and its facilities were now under Lithuanian control.

(This historic event that took place in 1923 was significant as the city of Klaipėda was now a Lithuanian city with a Lithuanian majority. In March 1939. Hitler forced the Lithuanians to surrender the city to the Germans. After WWII the city was under Soviet control, however still a part of Lithuania. If the 1923 revolt would not suceeded, Klaipėda would have become a Soviet district like the Kaliningrad region. and today's Lithuania would not have the city and its only seaport).

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Lithuania
• Klaipėda
• League of Nations
• Memel

[cercilis]

O no! You all made mistakes. Memel/Klaipeda was build as one of the many castles in Lithuania/Samogitia/Prussia territory to conquer native tribes. Many of the castles were destroyed during the War in 1250-1410, but Memel/Klaipeda still not. First came Military German Ordin with help of Pope and then colonisation started. Poor natives sambies (tribe of Prussian) tried to destroy the Castle at very begining because they knew they will die of if they don't stop cristians.

[sisterandi]

in 1923 there wasn't a lithuanian majority in Memel/Klaipeda. The majority was german minded, despite the fact that the majority had (prussian) lithuanian roots. But they were assimilated in 700 years of german civilisation. After 1945 the population of Memel/Klaipeda was completely exchanged.

Everything else is propagandha, faking the historical truth, sorry...

[elamite66]

the inhabitants like the inhabitatnts of Danzig were not given a chance to vote on the issue because they would not have voted to secede from Germany the allies wanted to give Poland and Lithuania ports Fortunes of war

[IustitiaPax]

In 1923, only a handful of pro-Lithuanian activists existed in Memel. The majority stayed far from Lithuanian sympathies. You can see this in this video! Compared it to 1939 pro-German demonstrations in Memel.... BTW: Memel never belonged to any Lithuanian state before 1923, although the (Protestant) Memelland was Lithuanian-speaking to 55 %.

[Memelhistory]

Lietuviai kaip ir kiti atejunai cia yra tik sveciai :) Herku Manta isdave, ir zemaicius atidave kryziuociams, o kai tie isnaikino visus prusus staiga krastas Lietuvai parupo.... :) Uzkariavo ir tiek.... Idomu, kad propaganda visose salyse yra ir visi i savo puse lenkia. Po kaimus vazineji - iki siol lietuviai nesusitvarko namu ir kiemu, gyvena griuvesiuiose nuo karo laiku - "cia ne musu, cia vokieciu" - sako :) ech.... Prusija Prusija ir as tave mindau...