Memel 1939

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Phil Nix
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Re:

#16

Post by Phil Nix » 15 Jan 2012, 12:25

USAF1986 wrote:The man in black on right is Dr. (first name?) Neumann, the leader of the Memel Germans.

Regards,
Shawn
On the left is Wilhelm Frick and next to him is Hans Lammers and on the right is Dr. Ernst Neumann
Phil Nix

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tigre
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Re: Memel 1939

#17

Post by tigre » 01 May 2015, 20:52

Hello to all :D; a little complement.........................

Memel until 1923.

The region of the lower Niemen (Germ.: Memel) river - inhabited by Prussian and Lithuanian Baltic communities - was conquered by the German Swordbrothers Order (Schwertbrüderorden) in the course of the 13th century. Its main center was the city of Memel (Lit.: Klaipéda) founded in 1252. In 1328 the territory was ceded to the Teutonic Order and it now followed the general history of Prussia, or more correctly of the province of Ostpreussen of which it later became part. Despite a massive German colonization in the region, an important Lithuanian community always continued to exist and as result the Lithuanian state which emerged at the end of WWI started claiming the territory. The claim was recognized by the Allied Supreme Council and, in 1919, by the Peace Treaty of Versailles, Germany had to renounce in favour of the Allies all rights over the following East Prussian territories :

- District of Gumbinnen :

- the largest part of the Kreis Heydekrug
- parts of the Kreise Niederung, Ragnit, Tilsit-Stadt and Tilsit-Land

- of the District of Königsberg :

- the Kreise Memel-Stadt and Memel-Land

Due to the troubled situation in the Baltic, the territories were however not immediately transferred to Lithuania. Instead, an allied (French) provisional administration took charge of the Memel Territory in 1920.

Memel in 1939.

March 15 as the news of the German occupation of Prague reached Memel the Germans, headed by Ernst Neumann, Leader of the Memeldeutscher Kulturverband started claiming the return of the city and its territory to the German Reich.

March 20 the German government issued an ultimatum stating that unless the territory wasn't immediately returned to the Reich, war would be the consequence.

March 21 as the Lithuanian civilians started leaving Memel, Neumann and his militia assumed power in parts of the city taking control of banks transport facilities , etc.

March 22 the Lithuanian administrators and military left the city. A Convention between Germany and Lithuania was signed : in return for some economic advantages - a free zone in the harbor and some financial compensation for the roads build during the Lithuanian period - Memel had to be returned to the German Empire.

March 23 Memel was united with the German Empire (with retroactive effect on march 22) and German troops entered the territory. It became part of the Regierungsbezirk Gumbinnen in the province Ostpreussen

Sources: http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Ro ... index.html (closed)
Das Interessante Blatt. 30 März 1939.
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... eiten1.htm
https://www.dhm.de/lemo/bestand/objekt/memel2

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
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Panzerspähwagen (Recce armored vehicles) Sd.Kfz 232 (6-Rad) crossing the customs office in Tilsit, on the former border between Germany and Lithuania.................. ......
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Kriegsmarine troops landing in Memel (perhaps the Assault Company that later was engaed in Danzig - MSK? .............................
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tigre
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Re: Memel 1939

#18

Post by tigre » 03 May 2015, 21:25

Hello to all :D; a little more.........................

Memel Frei!.

Sources: Das Interessante Blatt. 30 März 1939.
Berliner Illustrierte Zeitung http://www.od43.com/52x_BIZ_1939.html

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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AH aboard the battleship "Deutschland" ........................
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The battleship "Deutschland" in the harbour of Memel ..............................
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AH greets Dr. Neumann in the freed Memel ....................................
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tigre
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Re: Memel 1939

#19

Post by tigre » 16 May 2015, 23:56

Hello to all :D; a little more.........................

Memel Frei!.

Sources: Das Interessante Blatt. 30 März 1939.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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Great joy among the inhabitants...............
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After the troops marched the members of the Party, here elements of the NSKK....................
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Re: Memel 1939

#20

Post by tigre » 27 Jan 2016, 22:20

Hello to all :D; a little more.........................

The Kriegsmarine in Memel!.

Sources: http://www.ebay.fr/itm/z38-AK-Polen-Mem ... 1300512859

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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Destroyers during the liberation of the country of Memel in the harbor of Memel.............................
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Re: Memel 1939

#21

Post by tigre » 21 Feb 2016, 23:57

Hello to all :D; a little more.........................

Memelgebiet - March 1939.

On March 22, 1939 the territory of Memel, ceded by the Treaty of Versailles, was returned to the German Reich. The Radfahr Abt. 1 (Maj. Reichsfreiherr Maximilian von Edelsheim) took part in the recovery and marched across the Königin-Luise bridge toward the assigned objectives as follows:

1. Squadron reached Wischwill and stayed there.
2. Squadron occupied Pogegen and settled in the barracks the Lithuanians had there.
3. Squadron, together with the 4. squadron reached Heydekrug and the area north of it.

The population quickly gave the Tilsit's soldiers an enthusiastic welcome. After two days in the region the squadrons 1., 3. and 4. returned to its barracks in Tilsit. The 2. Squadron remained at Pogegen.

Sources: Memeler dampfboot. 26 März 1939
Die Aufkärer der 1. Kavallerie Division.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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Re: Memel 1939

#22

Post by tigre » 28 May 2016, 15:00

Hello to all :D; a little story...........................

The German Fleet at Memel.

In the sea off Memel, were the three pocket battleships "Deustchland", "Admiral Graf Spee" and "Admiral Scheer" and the three cruisers "Nürnberg", "Köln" and "Leipzig". The Konteradmiral Lütjens assumed command of all land, sea and air forces on that occasion.

At 10:00 hours the German Fleet under the command of Admiral Boehm approached and anchored in the harbor of Memel. In the port city, landed three landing corps (formed with the crews of the pocket battleships, cruisers and destroyers) with a strenght of 1200 men under the command of Fregattenkapitän Rollmann; These troops formed the garrison of the city with the Fregattenkapitän Rollmann as Commander of it.

After noon the Torpedero "Leopard" approached the "Deutschland" and transported the Führer to the port of Memel. When AH stepped ashore at 15:45 hours, the sirens blared and rang the bells of the churches of the city to the delight of the crowd assembled there.

The Führer was accompanied at the opportunity by Generaloberst Keitel, Generaladmiral Raeder, Reichsminister Dr Lammers, Reichspressechef Dietrich and SA-Obergruppenführer Brückner. AH received the reports of the Commander of the I. AK, General d. Art. Von Kuchler and Konteradmiral Lütjens. Then he greeted the SS-Oberführer Neumann.

After developing several activities in the city, the Führer returned to the port and embarked on the "Leopard" to move back to the "Deutschland", arriving at the pocket battleship shortly before 17:00 hours.

Sources: Wiener Bilder. 2. April 1939
Memeler Dampfboot. 25 März 1939.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
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AH aboard the "Deutschland" with Raeder and Keitel .......................................
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On the streets of Memel .....................................................
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Aboard the Torpedo boat "Leopard" .............................................................
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Re: Memel 1939

#23

Post by tigre » 04 Jun 2016, 13:40

Hello to all :D; a little story...........................

AH in Memel in March 1939.

Sources: Memeler Dampfboot. 25 März 1939.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
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Leaving the Theatre............................................
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AH in front of the Guard of Honor ...........................................
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luftk
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Re: Memel 1939

#24

Post by luftk » 11 Jun 2016, 23:09

Dadis wrote:Hi folk,

does anybody know which Luftwaffe units participated in Klaipėda (Memel) annexation in 23.03.39?
I was wondering this also. Are there any links to Luftflotte 1 (Air Fleet 1)?

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Re: Memel 1939

#25

Post by tigre » 13 Jun 2016, 03:08

Hello to all :D; a little more. Here goes something luftk, not in detail, but a reference at least...........................

The Memel country back under the protection of the Reich 1939.

Who was present there was the General Commander of the Luftwaffe in East Prussia, Generalleutnant Wimmer.

Sources: http://www.delcampe.net/page/item/id,18 ... age,G.html
Memeler Dampfboot. 26 März 1939.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
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Great enthusiasm in Memel by the fact of being again under the protection of the Reich. Seaplane squadrons of the Naval Aviation (Marineluftwaffe - sic) were warmly received when making its appearance over the port of Memel......................................
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AH in the port of Memel, in the background the Panzerschiff "Deutschland" ..................................... ......
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luftk
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Re: Memel 1939

#26

Post by luftk » 13 Jun 2016, 21:41

Thank you Raul.

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tigre
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Re: Memel 1939

#27

Post by tigre » 19 Jun 2016, 15:25

Hello to all :D; a little more...........................

Back Home 1939.

Thus expected the inhabitants on both sides of the border..........................................

Sources: Memeler Dampfboot. 26 März 1939.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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Thus the people of Memel awaited German troops .............................................
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Thus the inhabitants of Tilsit waited in front of Maria-Luisa Bridge............................
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Balsi
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Re: Memel 1939

#28

Post by Balsi » 01 Jun 2017, 18:48

Hi,

there are some different informations about Dr. Ernst Neumann.

Was he born on the 13. july 1888?

Thanks for checking

Robert

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tigre
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Re: Memel 1939

#29

Post by tigre » 09 Jul 2017, 19:55

Hello to all :D; more...........................

The Kriegsmarine in Memel in March 1939.

Sources: http://c8.alamy.com/comp/DC2RNT/the-rei ... DC2RNT.jpg.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
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AH on the bridge of the Panzerschiff "Deutschland" accompanied by Admiral Erich Raeder (2nd right), General Wilhelm Keitel (3rd right) and Reich Minister Dr Hans Heinrich Lammers (left) ...........................................................
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gebhk
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Re: Memel 1939

#30

Post by gebhk » 10 Jul 2017, 10:00

Silly question probably.

All the armoured cars in the photos appear to have a balkenkreuz. I thought that prior to 1939 a plain white cross was painted on German AVFs?

Many thanks
K

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