Why does Russia still control Kaliningrad?

The short answer is: Germany was forced to give up huge patches of its conquered land at the end of WWII. In 1945 the Potsdam Agreement was signed by the USSR (now Russia), Britain and the USA. It specifically gave Kaliningrad (known as the German Königsberg at the time) to Russia, without opposition.

Does Kaliningrad speak German?

The Russian language is spoken by more than 95\% of Kaliningrad Oblast’s population. English is understood by many people. While German culture plays a long historical role in the region the language is spoken by few.

What is the difference between Kaliningrad and the Baltic states?

An independent Kaliningrad would be an independent state on the Baltic, but the concept of the ” Baltic States ” is more specific than that, referring to the small Baltic- and Finnic-language nation-states on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea that have experienced both independence and Soviet occupation…

What if Kaliningrad had its own history?

An independent Kaliningrad would not have shared in any of this history, with its population descended almost entirely from post-1945 Russian migrants. It would not even be likely to share in the Balts’ own evaluation of this history of occupation as an occupation.

What is the biggest threat Russia poses from Kaliningrad?

The biggest threat Russia poses from Kaliningrad is its deployment of Iskander-M ballistic missiles. Since the accession of the Baltic nations into NATO, the region of Kaliningrad has been considered a strategic hotspot. Sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland, it is one of the major Russian ports that has access to Baltic Sea.

Is Kaliningrad a good base for Russian troops?

“But the unique position of Kaliningrad, nestled between Poland and Lithuania, well away from the rest of Russia, makes it both an excellent advance base and a highly exposed target.” Moscow in recent years has been beefing up Kaliningrad’s defenses.