Though evidence is inconclusive and reasoning disputed, Khrushchev may have proposed that the Kaliningrad enclave become part of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic. The Lithuanian leader Sniečkus declined because over 1 million ethnic Russians would have been added to the Lithuanian population and he feared problems with an ever-growing Russian population.
If the territorial swap had occurred, it may have wrecked havoc similar to Khrushchev making Crimea part of Ukraine. Would the Soviet Union or Russia have willingly given up their only warm-water port? Would Lithuania been able to defend themselves – militarily or politically – in the time when they were simply fighting for their independence? Or would Poland become involved, as the enclave was East Prussian, most of which was awarded to Poland after World War II?
In this interesting times, it does make for interesting discussions.
Image Credit
- Königsberg Castle and Monument for the german Emperor William I. in Königsberg (Preußen) (nowadays Kaliningrad, Russia), Public Domain, United States Library of Congress
