Last modified: 2003-08-09 by dov gutterman
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by Audrius Slapsinskas, 24 July 2003
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Since 1660 Lithuania Minor has its own flag, which is made up
of three equal horizontal bands: green on the top, white in the
middle, and red in the bottom. Since 1829 this tricolor was used
by student's fellowship Lituania, Koenigsberg University. Since
1885 society Birute used the tricolor with name of society in the
middle. The flag was hoisted and after the accession to power of
the Nazis in 1933. In 1988 the flag of Lithuania Minor was
hoisted for the first time in Kaliningrad Region.
Audrius Slapsinskas, 24 July 2003
maz.gif)
by Audrius Slapsinskas, 24 July 2003
The shield is divided into two fields, per pale. The dexter
field is divided into two fields, per fess: the upper field is
colored and the bottom field is silver. The sinister colored
field is charged with a silver, dexter facing pranced horse. The
black and white picture of the coat of arms of Lithuania Minor
was taken from newspaper "Mazoji Lietuva" (Lithaunia
Minor).
Audrius Slapsinskas, 24 July 2003
Historical region (area 17000-18000 sq.km.) formed from lands
of Baltic tribes on the lower reaches of Prieglius (Pregel,
present Pregolia) river and Nemunas river in 16th century:
Nadruva (Nadrowia, Nadrauen), Pilsotas, Skalva (Scalowia,
Schalauen), Semba (Sambia, Samland, Sambien), North Barta
(Bartha, Barten), North Notanga (Nattangia, Natangen). The region
of Lithuania Minor was a dependence of the Teutonic Order, the
Duchy of Prussia (Herzogtum Preussen, 1525-1701) and the Kingdom
of Prussia (Koenigreich Preussen, 1701-1918). During German
colonization a territory of Prussia was divided into Lithuanian
Department (Lietuvos departamentas, Litauisches Departement,
which included the Province of Lithuania (Lietuvos provincija,
Provinz Litauen) and Masuria (Mozurija, Masuren, Polish Mazury),
center Gumbine (Gumbinnen, present Gusev, area 17000 sq.km.) and
Eastern Prussian Department (Ostpreussisches Departement, center
Karaliaucius (Koenigsberg, present Kaliningrad, area 20000
sq.km.). Eastern Prussian Department included a part of Lithuania
Minor - Labguva (Labiau, present Polesk) district (apskritis,
Hauptamt). Under administrative reform in 1815-1818 departments
was renamed into Gumbine district (Regierungsbezirk Gumbinnen)
and Koenigsberg district (Regierungsbezirk Koenigsberg). Since
1618 this region was called: Provinz Litthauen, Littauischen
Aembtern, Littauische Kreis, Litauen, Preussisch-Litauen, Klein
Litthauen, and Klein Litauen. Since 1732 Province of Lithuania
and Labguva (Labegowe, Labiau, present Polesk) Region was called
Klein Litau, Klein Litauen, Preussisch Litthauen, Little
Lithuania, Lithuanie Prussienne, and Lithvania. The core of
Lithuanian lands was Province of Lithuania (approximate area
10000 km2), which included four districts (apskritis, Hauptamt):
Klaipeda (Memel), Tilze (Tilsit, present Sovetsk), Ragaine
(Ragnit, present Neman), and Isrutis (Insterburg, present
Chernyakhovsk). Lithuanians was in the majority in that Province.
Today a Northern part of Lithuania Minor (called Klaipedos
krastas - Klaipeda Region) is included into the Republic of
Lithuania and Southern part is included into Kaliningrad (former
Koenigsberg) Region, Russian Federation.
Inhabitants: Lietuvininkai - Lithuanian ethnic group, which was
formed from Baltic tribes in 15th - 16th centuries: Skalvians and
Nadruvians (called Western Lithuanians), Western Zemaitians
(Samogitians), assimilated Old-Prussians (Sembians, Northern
Bartians, Northern Notangians, and Galindians), Jotvingians
(Jadwinger, Sudauen), Southern Curonians, and others. Despite
oppressive conditions they preserved their language, customs, and
worldview and created a distinctive culture which exerted a great
influence on the neighboring culture of Lithuania Major. The
first Lithuanian book, the Catechism of M. Mazvydas, was
published here in 1547; the Bible was translated into Lithuanian
by Bretkunas in 1579 1590; the first Lithuanian grammar was
written by D. Klein in 1653. During the 17th century Lithuanian
life, customs, and beliefs were described by E. Wagner, M.
Pretorius, K. Hartknoch, and T. Lepner. K. Donelaitis created the
poem "Metai" ("The Year") in the 18th
century. It was the first classic of Lithuanian literature.
However, after the great plague of 1709-1711 the German
colonization of Lithuania Minor began. About 23,000 colonists,
mostly German farmers, moved into Lithuanian territory in
1710-1736. The rights and freedoms of Lithuanians were gradually
restricted; their culture was driven out of public life. In
1872-1876 the use of the Lithuanian language was prohibited in
schools and in all state institutions. The policy of Germanizing
this territory achieved its goal: in 1736 Lithuanians still made
up about 80 percent of the total population in the districts of
Klaipeda, Tilze, Ragaine, Isrutis, and Labguva; in 1837 they were
only about 33 percent; and in 1900 - about 20 percent. In the
20th century, the open persecution of the Lietuvininkai and the
destruction of their culture began in 1933 with the accession to
power of the Nazis, and the final, fatal blow was delivered by
World War II and the postwar Soviet occupation. Almost all of the
Lietuvininkai were then scattered over Europe and the expanses of
Siberia; their territory was settled by new colonists from the
Soviet Union. Their lands were devastated; even the place names
were changed into Slavic ones. Lietuvininkai begin to return from
all over the world to their land, and their culture begin to
revive only after the Soviet Union disintegrated.
Sources:
1. Cultural trails Of Lithuania Minor in Kaliningrad Region
(Mazosios Lietuvos kulturos pedsakai Kaliningrado srityje) by V.
Silas, H. Sambora. - Vilnius, 1990
2. Lithuania Minor in 17th century (Mazoji Lietuva XVII amziuje)
by A. Matulevicius - Vilnius, 1989.
3. Encyclopedia of Soviet Lithuania, General editorial office of
encyclopedia of the Lithuanian SSR, Vilnius.
Audrius Slapsinskas, 24 July 2003