Kaliningrad

Kaliningrad in 2022.

Kaliningrad (formerly Königsberg) is an oblast in the Northwestern Federal District of the Russian Federation. It is the farthest west sovereign territory of the Russian Federation and number one destination of domestic tourists. It's administrative center is the city of Kaliningrad (formerly Koenigsberg, or "King's City", the summer home of the German Kaisers).

Set up as a trip wire against another Western invasion of Russia after World War II, the Kaliningrad Oblast has been often referred to as the largest nuclear weapons base on the planet.

Suwalski Gap

In a violation of a longstanding treaty in perpetuity, Lithuania cut off rail traffic of critical materials to the Russian federal territory of Kaliningrad.^[1] The Russian foreign ministry said: ‘We consider provocative measures of the Lithuanian side which violate Lithuania’s international legal obligations, primarily the 2002 Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and the European Union on transit between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of the Russian Federation, to be openly hostile.’^[2]

On July 18, 2025 the commander of U.S. Armed Forces in Europe and NATO Land Forces, General Christopher Donahue, for the first time publicly confirmed the existence of a plan to suppress Russian defenses in the Kaliningrad region. "Kaliningrad is 47 miles of territory surrounded by NATO countries. There is no reason why we can’t suppress the A2/AD zone^[3] from land, and we have already developed a plan of action," Donahue stated at a conference in Wiesbaden. NATO is developing a "Deterrence Line on the Eastern Flank" strategy. This is not merely a policy but a technical and operational plan that includes shared weapons systems, compatible launch systems, unified digital coordination, and integration of all NATO countries.^[4]

Donahue's statement was not intended to suggest that NATO had imminent plans to launch a first strike; rather it was a warning to Russia about the alliance's readiness. Commentators and officials interpret these remarks as reassurance to NATO partners and a signal to Moscow that any attack on NATO would prompt a decisive and rapid response. Regardless of Donahue's intent, ex-CIA analyst Larry Johnson observed that this is a reckless, dangerous statement in light of his position as the head of the US European Command. While it may have boosted morale in the Baltic states, the Russians viewed it as a serious threat and a provocation.

Russian authorities responded that any military assault on Kaliningrad would be treated unequivocally as an attack on the Russian Federation itself. Leonid Slutsky, chair of the Russian parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee (a senior figure who often reflects Foreign Ministry thinking), explicitly stated:

A parliamentary defense committee member called the threats "essentially a declaration of war." Donahue’s remarks, beyond being incredibly stupid, displayed the arrogance and contempt that US political and military leaders have for Russia.^[5] Former chief-of-staff for Secretary of State Colin Powell later stated Donahue's source was the Ukrainian military intelligence agency, the GUR.^[6]

The Chinese website sohu.com estimates that in the event of a NATO invasion of Kaliningrad, 34 million Europeans will be dead in the first 5 hours.^[7]

Oder-Neisse Line. Poland's present day borders are largely a gift of German lands to the 3rd Polish Republic by Josef Stalin.

Modern Kaliningrad consist of the northern half of the former territory of East Prussia, the original heartland of Prussia. It is an area of rich farmland, lakes and forest bordered to the east and south by the Russian Empire and to the west by the Baltic Sea. The main city was Konigsberg (King's City) the former summer retreat of the Kaisers and Prussian monarchs. It was also the home of philosopher Immanuel Kant. The region featured very large estates controlled by Junker elites and nobles.

The province was a battleground in 1914-15, when, following the outbreak of the First World War Russian armies invaded the province but were decisively defeated at the Battle of Tannenberg in 1914 and the Battle of the Masurian Lakes. Following Germany's defeat in 1918, the Treaty of Versailles divided Germany and the state of Poland re-created, which included the Polish Corridor to the Baltic Sea and the port city of Danzig (later Gdansk) declared a "Free City", neither part of Germany or Poland. East Prussia remained part of Germany (with the exception of the port of Memel, seized by newly-independent Lithuania). In 1939 Nazi Germany forced Lithuania to relinquish Memel.

After the Second World War, about 9 million Germans were deported to the West, and East Prussia was divided between the Soviet Union and Poland. Memel - renamed Klaipeda - became part of the Soviet Republic of Lithuania; northern East Prussia, with Konigsberg (renamed Kaliningrad), became part of the Russian Federated Republic (known as Kaliningrad Oblast), and the southern part was ceded to Poland. Adolf Hitler's wartime headquarters, Wolfschanze from which he directed Operation Barbarossa, was in the territory ceded to Poland.

Since 1946 Kaliningrad has served as a trip wire in Russian defense strategy against aggression from Western Europe. Kaliningrad, which is separated from Russia proper, in Soviet and post-Soviet times as been described as the largest military base on the planet.

Memel Territory

The Memel territory was separated from German East Prussia in 1920, and put under French administration. The area had been conquered by the Teutonic Order in the Middle Ages, and had belonged to Prussia for at least 500 years. It was inhabited by Germans as the largest part of the population, while a quarter declared itself Lithuanian, and another quarter, as local Memelländer and/or Klaipedians depending on language.

In 1923, Lithuanian forces occupied the area during what is called the Klaipeda revolt. The French forces put up a token resistance and left, and later the annexation of the area now called the Klaipeda region by Lithuania was confirmed by the International Community. This was considered a Western betrayal by many, especially by France who did not protect autonomy either with their troops, or by diplomacy. Also, when the government of the Weimar Republic agreed to the annexation in 1928, it was also considered a betrayal by many Germans, by their own government.

Battle of Königsberg

The Battle of Königsberg took place during World War II, specifically from October 1944 to April 1945, as the Red Army fought to capture the East Prussian capital from German forces. The battle was marked by intense fighting and significant destruction, culminating in the evacuation of approximately two and a half million people from East Prussia. The city was heavily bombed starting on January 26, 1945, and was designated as a fortress, which contributed to the fierce resistance encountered by Soviet forces.

During the assault on Königsberg in 1945, the Soviet troops were in a critical situation. Suddenly, the soldiers saw their commander arrive with priests and the icon of or Our Lady of Kazan, the Protectress of Russia. Many made jokes, "Just wait, that'll help us!" The commander silenced the jokers. He ordered everybody to line up and to take off their caps. When the priests finished the supplication, they moved to the frontline carrying the icon. The amazed soldiers watched them going straight forward, under intense Nazi fire. Suddenly, the Nazis stopped shooting. Then, the Russian troops received orders to attack on the ground and from the sea. Nazis died in the thousands.^[8]