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Recently, I have gotten my hands on Thomas Remeikis's collection of documents on the Nazi occupation of Lithuania from 1941 to 1945 and the efforts of Lithuanian anti-Nazi resistance, prepared by the American Legation in Stockholm with the help and support of the Lithuanian anti-Nazi movement (which clandestinely sent reports to the American legation about the conditions in the Baltic States and Lithuania specifically).

Most of the dispatches are, as you might expect, about the general situation in Lithuania, the ongoing colonization efforts, the cultural situation and reports on events such as the failed attempt to form a Lithuanian SS legion or the disbandment of the Territorial Defense Force. However, some are fairly interesting and potentially relevant for this forum, as they detail the German plans on the future of the Baltic states. They, obviously, changed a lot with time, but the one which caught my interest was this dispatch.

The whole dispatch is transcribed down below for your interest, but what concerns this scenario are the last three paragraphs:

LEGATION OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

No. 1276

Stockholm, Sweden, January 4, 1943.
Subject: The Future Status of the Baltic States.

The Honorable
The Secretary of State,
Washington.

Sir:

I have the honor to refer to several reports and rumors that have emanated from various sources of late regarding imminent changes in the status of the Baltic States, all of which have concerned the possibility of their being declared "independent" but under governments appointed by and responsible to the Reich. Reference is made in this connection to telegram no. 1281 of December 29, 1942, 12 noon, from the American Legation at helsinki, and to this Legation's telegrams nos. 3088 of November 2, 1942, 5 p.m. and 114 of January 11, 1943, 12 midnight; and also to the Legation's despatch no. 1245 of December 19, 1942, entitled: "Present Situation in Lithuania".

The Legation's reaction to these reports was summarized in its telegram no. 114 mentioned above. It questioned the sources of these rumors, the most recent of which appeared to emanate from German quarters in Helsinki. It appeared likely that the Germans were spreading such reports in the Baltic States and in Finland, which is particularly sympathetic and friendly towards Estonia, with the view of trying to create a more pro-German sentiment in those countries.

The Germans are reported to be about to embark on a more drastic recruitment campaign in the Baltic States, which may amount to virtual mobilization. They also need more labor for German industries and more active cooperation of the inhabitants in producing agricultural and industrial products. The Germans no doubt realize that they will achieve better results if they can allay the fears and antipathies of the people, who are increasingly non-cooperative. Moreover, the Germans may or may not intend to fulfil the rumors referred to but they probably believe that the rumors themselves will build up the peoples' confidence in the future of the Baltic States under Germany.

The Legation's Baltic informants do not believe anything the Germans do can change the bitter hostility of the populations in the Baltic countries since their distrust now lies so deep that they are beyond the influence of Nazi propaganda or even of actual concessions in their favor. As far as the rumor in question is concerned, it may be pointed out that it would involve little real change in the situation for the local inhabitants. They are today completely ruled by Nazis and they would continue to be so, even if they had so-called Ministers representing them in Berlin.

In connection with these rumors regarding changes in the Baltic States the Legation's Special Reporting Section has obtained a memorandum in the German language on the future of the Baltic States from the same source referred to in its despatch no. 1244 of December 19, 1942 entitled: "The German Colonization of Lithuania". A translation is enclosed as a supplementary document on the subject. Although it is undated and unsigned it was apparently prepared in Germany towards the end of the summer of 1942 by a person closely associated with Baltic circles. The nature of the source appears to be further evidence that such rumors have originated in German circles with the intention of being spread in the Baltic states.

Another similar story, this time allegedly originating in Switzerland, reached the Legation at the end of December 1942, through the former Lithuanian Minister to Sweden. His memorandum is also enclosed.

The whole question of the future of the Baltic States and other "occupied" territories, in the event of a German victory, has been brought to the foreground by an article by Dr. Fritz Zierke in the VOLKISCHER BEOBACHTER of December 15, 1942, entitled "The Right of the Small Nations". Reviews of this article published by the Swedish newspapers, SVENSKA DAGBLADET, SOCIAL DEMOKRATEN, STOCKHOLMS TIDNINGEN, and NYA DAGLIGT ALLEHANDA, are enclosed. The first three reviews are combined into one summary, and are largely a factual review of the article in question, while the ALLEHANDA review is more of a frank and sarcastic expose of Dr. Zierke's views.

This question is also interesting against the background of certain recent Nazi treatises, such as that by Dr. Werner Best, new German envoy in Denmark, entitled: "Grossraumordnung und Grossraumvenwaltung", a translation of which was enclosed with despatch no. 1233 dated December 16, 1942 entitled "German National Socialist Grossraum System and Administration".

It would appear that from the contents of enclosure no. 1 to the present despatch that the three Baltic States would probably qualify under group (2), entitled "Control Administration" (i.e., similar to Slovakia), according to Dr. Best's classification of future States, while the Czechs and Poles, according to Dr. Zietke, would follow under groups (3) and (4), entitled respectively "Government Administration" and "Colonial Administration". Similarly, Finland might qualify under group (1), entitled "Allied Administration". Thus by granting various parts of Europe each a different status according to Best's classification, the Germans apparently aim at kindling feelings of animosity and jealousy - the old principle of "divide and rule" - thereby preventing the development of a more intimate understanding between the small nations concerned.

Respectfully yours,
Winthrop S. Greene,
Charge d'Affaires ad interim.

Granting the three Baltic states Slovakia-style puppet status with the possibility of Germanizing them within the following decades is an interesting scenario and I could honestly see it be implemented by the Nazis. Obviously, this dispatch is from early 1943, when the Nazi regime was starting to turn a little desperate, but it's definitely possible that the puppet state proposal could see implementation even with a swift German victory over the Soviet Union.

I feel like it's fairly obvious at this point that the full implementation of Generalplan Ost is a pipe dream and even the Nazi regime would have realized its infeasibility a few years down the line - and granting the Baltic States closely-monitored puppet status seems like one of the concessions they could realistically make.

Thoughts?
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