What if Memel Became a Free City? #history #whatif #soviets #ww2

After the First World War, the German Region of Memel, also known as Klaipeda Region, was under the mandate of the League of Nations for 4 years, up until Lithuania annexed it.

This was controversial at the time, as Lithuania militarily invaded it, but the region was supposed to become a free city. The people living there were majority Germans with 42%, while the rest were 27% Memelandish and only 26% Lithuanian.

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[Gugs-qdzf]

The fact we could’ve had a city state called Memeland is way too unreal
Even God knew it and knew what he had to do

[SebiSupermil]

Damn Danzig 2.0 was supposed to exist. In an alternate reality, it could be Memel or War instead of Danzig or War

[SloveLDK]

The memelandish were just a subgroup of Lithuanian.

[birchheights]

Memelandisch were erhnic Lithuanians who were mostly Lutheran and spoke both Lithuanian and German. .

[gabri]

Nah, it would mostly be annexed by either Poland or Russia.

Like the city-state of Fiume, which got Independence after WW1, and got annexed by Italy before WW2 started, and After the War, the city was simply left to Yugoslavia, and after its collapse, it became Croatian.

[Vhisper]

Memellander here. Yeah till this day some including myself tend to associate with the region more than with the country. I for example grew up thinking Lithuania is a protestant nation, needless to say I associate myself with the "Protestant North" in this regard and I feel the same proximity towards Germany like some Lithuanian fee towards Poland. I know also many people hate Lithuanian flag and for a good reason, so I like painting our beautiful Memelland flag whenever there is a possibility to do so let’s say on the international meeting. Personally, after visiting Rostock, East Germany, I realized it would indeed be so much better for our beautiful city to be under rich Germany, with Lithuania it’s definitely better than with ruzzia occupied East Prussia, but not as good as it could have been with Germany.

[compatriot]

Memelandish? The correct word for Lithuanians in the region would be Prussian Lithuanian

[tompatterson]

The city is klaipeda, but the region is Memel.

[MeysterJ]

My Grandfather was born in the Memelland

[hdrote]

“It’s possible this place would become a free nation once again”

After soviet capture of Klaipeda only about 50 people were still living in the city. Even if less people fled or were killed they would be deported like germans of East Prussia

[darius-mp]

What if the Miracle of Vistula never happened?

[ActualGoatUnicorn]

They wouldn't become independent after 1991. Memel would've been part of either the Russian FSSR or the Lithuanian SSR under the Soviet Union, most likely under the former as part of Kaliningrad.

[ElDiosMashiar]

Memelandish sounds like a Meme Demonym more than a Memel Demonym

[dionnix]

That's why Klaipeda is so different

[craftboy]

We saw what happened to Danzig. It isn't too likely that Memel would stay independent. It'd probably become part of Lithuania or Kaliningrad.
Nevermind, that's like saying Luxembourg would still be part of Germany.

[povilasdev]

Lithuania at that time was pretty run down due to WWI, and lack of 19th century economic development. Probably main reason why Memel was not very enthusiastic to join.
Lack of development was also sort of not Lithuanian fault because Lithuanians were rather ruled over than ruling for themselves. This pretty much explains why Lithuanians leaned toward independence. Germany and many parts of Europe had big economical development (there is a term "belle epoch"), Lithuania was too close to those places not to take notice.

[NickAndriadze]

Okay but a Memel ASSR would be comedy gold.

[a_wazza]

I don't think Memel would go to being independent after 1991 considering what happened with the rest of Königsberg becoming Kaliningrad, where the people there got expelled and replaced with Russians

[loafofbreado]

It would just be a small country not a city state since it would contain multiple cities

[HIGHWARDEN]

I have a feeling it would just be a european Tuva