The Republic of Prussia (Republik Preußen) is a small independent state that lies on the southern rim of the Baltic Sea, incorporating the traditional northern part of the former East Prussia, including the famous yellow amber-infested peninsula of Samland, as well as its capital city of Königsberg (its renewed proper name after decades of Soviet- imposed renaming). The state is almost landlocked, sandwiched between Poland in the south, Lithuania in the east, and Russia proper in the northeast, has managed to create its own distinct culture by refocusing in renewed Prussian-Germanic traditions, in combination with the multicultural Soviet heritage. World-famous for its rich deposits of “Baltic gold” - Baltic amber - Prussia derives additional income mainly through maritime industrial production, specifically in the domains of shipbuilding, light industries, and tourism. The Amber Coast Revolution of 1966 was a major attempt by the people of Prussia to break free from Soviet control. Inspired by reforms in Czechoslovakia and other efforts to move away from strict communist rule, workers, students, German-speaking citizens, and even some former communists joined together to demand change. They wanted Prussia to be neutral, to leave the Warsaw Pact, to protect their culture, and to trade with Western countries. Protests began along the amber-rich Samland coast and spread to the city of Königsberg, starting as calls for more local freedom but growing into demands for full independence. The Soviet Union acted quickly, using military force and declaring martial law to stop the revolution, crushing it within weeks and taking full control of the territory. Even though the rebellion failed, it showed the people’s strong desire for freedom and independence. However on November 15, 1991, amid the dissolution of the Soviet Union following the failed August Coup, the East Prussian SSR declared full independence as the Republic of Prussia (Republik Preußen). Local leaders, leveraging the power vacuum in Moscow and support from emerging nationalist and reformist factions, negotiated a peaceful troop withdrawal and sovereignty. In February of 1992, Poland, agreed in a meeting to return most of the southern territories annexed after 1968, in exchange for trade deals, border demilitarization, and mutual non-aggression pacts. Between April 15 to 18, 1997, Prussia would join the EU, officially being the first former Soviet state to join any western alliance.
entry (for alt history contest)
