Memel Territory (Memelland), till 1919 part of East Prussia (Ostpreussen, Germany)
1920-1923 under Council of Anmassadors, French troops
1923-1939 Republic of Lithuania
1939-1945 under German Rule
1945-1990 Part of Sowjet Union
since 1990 Republic of Lithuania
The town had almost an urban appearance because of the customs revenues and the lively trade with its hotels, inns and stores. The Memel River was the important transport and trade artery for timber and flax imports from the interior of the continent to the Baltic Sea (via the ports of Memel or Königsberg)
This is therefore the first attempt to present the Jewish history of Mémel in words and pictures. It is obvious that the Litvaks, the Jews from Lithuania, were an integral part of the Memel community throughout the period. This publication is intended for all who are interested in Jewish history. The author hopes that it will help fill in the gaps in the history of the city of Klaipėda, the region and the Jewish minority.
We are sad to have just heard about Hanoch (Heiny) Ellert’s passing. He has reported about the fate of Jews from Heydekrug and Žemaičių Naumiestis in a video.
However, all over the world, there are Jewish families who connect their roots with today’s Klaipeda. They managed to flee Europe at the end of the 1930s. In their language, they also took with them memories of their old hometown. (....)
For a long time the fate of the abandoned synagogue building in the middle of the town was uncertain, but in 2014 the building was declared a historical monument and we were glad to see the building secured against further decay during a visit in October 2020.
Silute/Heidekrug 16 Oct. 2020: At a seminar in Silute, Ruth Leiserowitz presents pictures from the photo album of Rita Lax. The audience could contribute many details to the pictures. The…
Vištytis (Polish: Wisztyniec, German: Wystiten, Yiddish: ווישטינעץ Vishtinets) was a dynamic shtetel (town) on the border with East Prussia, with a Polish, Prussian, French, Russian, Soviet and Lithuanian history. https://youtu.be/Soc4iK2PjYQ…
A new book in Lithuania about Schwarzort on the Curonian Spit, the popular holiday resort for Jewish families in the 19th century. Now translated from Lithuanian into German.
The Synagogue Square Memorial dedicated to the Jewish Community of Yurburg (Jurbakas/Lithuania) has been opened at JUL 19 2019. This impressive and significant monument is based on an unique idea. The…
Some days after German invasion to Lithuania, on Sunday, June 29, 1941 men from the German SS- unit Heydekrug (East Prussia) arrived in Laukuva (Lithuania). The rounded up all Jewish…