Germany–Soviet Union relations

Kaliningrad celebrates anniversary of Soviet takeover

AsianetApril 10, 2013 17:02

Citizens of Russia's Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad on Tuesday celebrated the 68th anniversary of the Soviet takeover of the city at the end of World War II. Local and federal dignitaries joined around 200 surviving veterans and more than 1,000 others at the city's War Memorial Complex for an official ceremony. "I want my son, who was born in Kaliningrad, to know who gave him his home," Kaliningrad Governor Nikolai Tsukanov told the audience, while thanking the veterans for their sacrifice. The city, known in German as Konigsberg, was the last major obstacle on the Red Arm

Italy compensates Lithuania for Soviet embassy grab

Agence France-PresseFebruary 21, 2013 12:31

Italy agreed Thursday to hand over a property in central Rome to Lithuania as compensation for an embassy building seized by the Soviet Union on the eve of World War II. Lithuania will take over 700 square metres (7,500 square feet) in Palazzo Blumenstihl free-of-charge on a 99-year lease, under the deal signed by Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi and his Lithuanian counterpart Linas Linkevicius. "De facto it becomes our property," Linkevicius said of the premises worth an estimated nine million euros ($11.8 million).