Z badań nad duchowieństwem warmińskim w udzielnej prałaturze kłajpedzkiej w latach 1926 – 1939
Research on Ermland clergy in the free prelature of Klaipeda in the years 1926 – 1939

Summary/Abstract: After the conference of Versailles, the Klaipeda region (Memel Territory, Memelland) was excluded from the jurisdiction of the Weimar Republic. In March 1924, the League of Nations proposed that this area should be given to Lithuania as a sovereign and autonomous territory within the country. Until Pope Pius XI’s bull of 4 April 1926 Lithuanorum gente was issued, the Memel Territory was located within the Diocese of Ermland (Warmia). Thebull sanctioned the establishing of the free prelature of Klaipeda (Memel) in its area. The prelature was headed by the bishop residing in Telšiai, Lithuania. At first, six priests from Ermland worked there: Rev. Albert Dannelautzki, who was the parish priest and dean of Klaipeda, Rev. Josef Rohwetter and Rev. Paul Wermter, who were vicars of the parish, parish priest Rev. Franz Schacht of Šilutė, parish priest Rev. Richard Rischewski of Robkojen,parish priest Rev. Leo Olschewski of Wischwill. The Lithuanian population in the Klaipeda region was increasing, so priests of this nationality were employed in the area. Among the clergy of the Klaipeda prelature, its dean, canon priest Albert Dannelautzki played an important role. He was respected by the state authorities and by the German government. In 1934, a numerous group of German officials was expelled from the Klaipeda Region for, among other reasons, pro-German views. The group included Rev. Leo Olschewski of Wischwill. In 1938, 11 Catholic priests worked at the Klaipeda prelature, 9 of whom were Lithuanian.

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