by Geoffrey Churchman

One aspect of the geo-political situation of eastern Europe that many are unaware of is the Russian enclave in what is now hostile NATO Empire territory.

It used to be the German city of Königsberg until 1945 when Stalin kicked all Germans out of all lands east of the Oder and Neisse Rivers and sent them to what he shrunk the map of Germany to. At the same time, all Poles were expelled from all territory east of what was called the Curzon Line (named after British foreign secretary in WWI, Lord Curzon) through Poland. This line was roughly used as the division line in the pact signed in August 1939 between the Nazis and the Soviets, the Molotov–von Ribbentrop pact.

In 1945 Stalin was determined that the Soviet Union would keep all the territory that was in the deal it had signed with von Ribbentrop, irrespective of the fact that Nazi Germany was no more.

Thus in 1945 millions of Poles were sent to what had been German territory and many Germans were in turn expelled from what had been their land for centuries and sent west of the Oder-Neisse line.

The German city of Königsberg and its surrounds, instead of being given to Poland, was kept by Stalin for Russia. It had been substantially destroyed in 1944, including the landmark castle, and new builds after 1945 were in dull Soviet style. But in recent times the Russians have been interested in restoring its German heritage.

The ugly House of Soviets building was demolished this past year and there is talk of rebuilding the Königsberg castle (Schloss in German) that was a feature of the city until 1945.

Given how nasty the Leftist regimes in Germany have been towards Russia in the last few years, it may be a surprise that Russia would have this empathy, but they clearly want to show they believe in European history and cultural heritage.