William Tyler
Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia: Playthings of the Great Powers
Summary
The Baltic States comprising Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, have over the centuries been the playthings of Great Powers, notably in the modern era, Russia and Germany. Today, however, all three are nation states firmly embedded in Europe, being both members of NATO and the EU. A historical overview and consideration of what the future holds.
William Tyler
William Tyler has spent his entire professional life in adult education, beginning at Kingsgate College in 1969. He has lectured widely for many public bodies, including the University of Cambridge and the WEA, in addition to speaking to many clubs and societies. In 2009, William was awarded the MBE for services to adult education, and he has previously been a scholar in residence at the London Jewish Cultural Centre.
It goes back to the earliest days. It’s the clash between the Slavs and Teutons, between Christianity and paganism, between Protestantism, Orthodoxy, and Catholicism. It’s the clash between the Teutonic Knights and the Russians. It is a deep division between Germany and Russia. In the 19th century, it is the threat of Russia that caused the conflict.
It began as Königsberg as the headquarters of the German order of the German Teutonic Knights. It then became part of Prussia because the leader of the Teutonic Knights, Albert of Brandenburg-Ansbach, converted to Protestantism. He wrote to Luther saying that he along with a number of his followers were now Protestants and asked what they should do. Luther said proclaim yourself a prince and that became the German and Prussian Royal House Hohenzollern. At the end of World War II, Kaliningrad is established. Because it was occupied by Russia, it fit nicely into the picture of Russian-occupied Baltic states including Russian-occupied Belarus and Poland. The problem arose at the end of the Cold War when the Russians remained in Kaliningrad. Also in Kaliningrad is the Suwalki Gap, a 40-mile stretch of land on the border between Lithuania and Poland with Russia-supporting Belarus and Russia adjacent. This is a huge problem because it is a Russian enclave in the middle of the independent Baltic states which are members of the European Union and NATO. Putin’s wife is also from Kaliningrad and I think that makes a difference to him.
Yes, the Lithuanians, Ukrainians, Latvians, and Estonians killed Jews. There’s a new book being written about the horrors of World War II and Ukraine’s involvement in Holocaust activities. My point is that these were not Germans or Russians, they were indigenous populations of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine. And that is why it’s difficult to get our heads around the horror of it today, because we’re presented with wonderful leaders like Ukrainian president Zelensky, but the real story is much more complex than that.