Why is Kaliningrad a Russian counterattack?
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kaliningrad became an "enclave". Let’s first explain the geographical term “enclave”. It mainly refers to areas where the territory is not connected to the country. Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, , the three Baltic Kingdoms, , became independent, so Kaliningrad became an enclave.
The reason why Kaliningrad became Russia's counterattack trick is mainly because this enclave is like a sharp knife inserted into Europe. You can attack when you advance and defend when you retreat. Although NATO clamored to take Kaliningrad in an instant, it was just bragging before. Judging from the geographical location of Kaliningrad, this place is connected to the Russian Baltic Fleet. Unless NATO uses a large number of missiles, to flatten the place, don’t forget that Russia has heavily guarded it here and will inevitably counter it. But now Russia is facing crises in many directions, can it still take care of Kaliningrad?
01
Kalininggrad was once a German territory. Let's learn about the history of the Kaliningrad people again.
Kaliningrad was called " Konisburg ". This was the fifth crusade of . The king of Czech led Teutonic Knights and defeated Prussians on the Sambi Peninsula. So the Teutonic Knights established a city near the mouth of the Pregolia River. This is where Konisberg comes from.
During the Thirty Years' War in Europe, Konisburg was loved by the Junker nobles and built a cultural center of German here.
17th century, Brandenburg married the Principal of Prussia, but the two countries were separated by the Kingdom of Poland, so Konesburg became an enclave.
After World War I , Germany was defeated, and the victorious country built a Polish corridor dozens of kilometers wide, dismembering Germany. Konisburg became an enclave for the second time.
For the Baltic region, as early as Peter the Great , he had always wanted to find an estuary in different directions, and the Baltic Sea was one of them. Before his death, Peter the Great took the Baltic estuary, but he was not satisfied and said to his descendants that "we must occupy the Baltic coast."
Before World War II , Hitler wanted to take away Polish Corridor , so after the outbreak of World War II. The Soviet Union and Germany fought bloody battles in Konissburg in 1945. Nearly 300,000 people fought fiercely here, and the Soviet Union suffered more than 60,000 casualties before occupying Konissburg.
Later, when the Potsdam meeting , the Soviet Union proposed to divide East Prussia and divide it into two parts, the south to Poland and the north to the Soviet Union. The final meeting of actually passed this plan. In April 1946, Konisburg was incorporated into the Soviet Union, and Kalinin named the place before the Soviet Union.
Kaliningrad is very important. It is adjacent to Poland in the south, the east and the north are adjacent to Lithuanian in the west, and the Baltic Three Kingdoms. It is only more than 400 kilometers from here to Warsaw, Poland, and not far from Berlin , Sweden , and Denmark, so it has become an important region that the Soviet Union controls Europe. The home port of the Soviet Union's Baltic Fleet is in Kaliningrad and can be dispatched at any time.
02
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kaliningrad became an enclave again. Why didn’t Germany make territorial claims for Kalininingrad?
In fact, Germany wants to go back here, but it is powerless. Because during the Soviet rule, Kaliningrad had been completely transformed, all the Germans were removed, and a large number of Russians, Ukrainians, etc. were moved, and there were no Germans in Kaliningrad.
Although there are still some old German buildings in Kaliningrad, it is difficult for Germany to come back. Even if they want to come back, the Russians here are unwilling. Unless Germany takes it back by force.
According to the data, there are 920,000 people in Kaliningrad, of which 80% are Russians, which is impossible for the Germans. Even if you want to plan a referendum on Kaliningrad, it is impossible to achieve it.
Even if Germany takes back Kaliningrad, this place is still an enclave, and it is difficult for Germany to rule the place.
03
Germany is difficult to regain Kaliningrad, and there is another very important reason. Because Kaliningrad is a major military center in Russia, it was a militarized area as early as the Soviet Union.
Kaliningrad has two unfreezing ports . Although there are military ports, commercial ports, and fishing ports, they are mainly military. There are shipyards, airports, and missile bases here, and military camps can be seen everywhere.
According to the data, Russia has deployed map 22 bomber , Su-27 fighter , An 26 transport aircraft , and different types of Katha helicopters.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the three Baltic countries were independent and then turned to the Western camp. Therefore, the three countries and Russia had a great hatred. Kaliningrad suddenly became a major area surrounded by NATO. Although it seems to be isolated and helpless, there are also heavy troops to guard it. Russia will not lose this treasure land. From this point of view, even if Germany wants to fight, it is impossible to succeed, let alone Poland. But with the participation of the United States, can Russia resist it?
According to foreign media data, after Putin took office, Russia strengthened Kaliningrad's military strength and deployed advanced missiles, regardless of range or power, which made the West afraid. In 2019, Russia deployed the most advanced S-400 missile in Kalininaggrad and entered combat readiness duty, which could deter NATO and Europe.
It can be seen from this that Kaliningrad is still a military important place in Russia, and the possibility of war breaking out here is getting greater and greater.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia passed through a difficult area. At that time, Yeltsin even wanted to sell Kaliningrad to Germany in exchange for Germany's aid, but it was opposed by the Russians. Moreover, EU is also worried that the large influx of Russians into the EU will bring pressure on European countries. This was Yeltsin's "land for mark" plan at that time.
Now with NATO expanding eastward , the United States continues to suppress, and Russia attaches more and more importance to Kaliningrad. NATO often conducts exercises in the Baltic region to threaten Russia, but Russia also conducts tit-for-tat exercises in Kaliningrad, which makes NATO nervous. After all, it is too close to NATO, and if you are not careful, you will get fire.
Kaliningrad is considered a military center and has been limited in the past few years. For example, Germans are allowed to come and find their roots, and the gambling industry is also available here. But after the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Kaliningrad returned to a military position again. Historically, when Russia weakens, Western European countries will take action. Now it is a dangerous moment in Russia again. Will Poland and Germany dare to attack Kaliningrad?
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