Ernst Thälmann Island
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Ernst Thälmann Island (German: Ernst-Thälmann-Insel), formerly Cayo Blanco del Sur, is an uninhabited island in the Gulf of Cazones, Matanzas Province, southern Cuba.
Geography
Ernst Thälmann Island has a land area of 7.0 km² (2.7 sq mi). 15 km² (9.3 mi) long and 500 m (1,600 ft) wide, it is located in the Gulf of Cazones, Matanzas Province, southern Cuba. The island is just north of the Canarreos Archipelago. It contains coral reef formations with a high degree of biodiversity and hosts a number of endangered species, including black coral and various ornamental reef fish species. It also has extensive beaches. Ernst Thälmann Island has—like most of Cuba— a tropical savanna climate (Aw) according to the Köppen Climate classification. The dry season generally lasts from November to April and the rainy season from May to October. Part of Cuba, Ernst Thälmann Island is in Hurricane Alley, and was severely effected by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
History
The island was formerly known as Cayo Blanco del Sur (English: Southern White Key). On the occasion of a state visit on 19 June 1972 by Erich Honecker, leader of the German Democratic Republic (GDR; East Germany), Cuban leader Fidel Castro renamed the island in honour of German communist politician Ernst Thälmann. He also made a promise that Cuba would donate the island to the East German government, although this would be purely symbolic. A bust of Ernst Thälmann was unveiled on 18 August in the presence of the GDR ambassador and some East German and Cuban delegates. In 1998, the island was severely hit by Hurricane Mitch, knocking over the bust of Thälmann.
Molossian declaration of war
On 2 November 1983, Kevin Baugh, then-Prime Minister of the Grand Republic of Vuldstein (predecessor to the Republic of Molossia), declared war on East Germany while stationed with the United States Army in West Germany for supposedly disrupting his sleep. Baugh retroactively stated: "The reasons for this war declaration are obscure […] It is known that the US Army in Europe was conducting a military training exercise in Europe at around the same time, thus there is perhaps a connection, as those exercises were aimed at preventing an incursion by Soviet Forces, largely by way of East Germany." As of 2022, Baugh claims that the present-day Republic of Molossia is still at war with East Germany through Ernst Thälmann Island, despite East Germany's dissolution.
According to Baugh, Ernst Thälmann Island is the "last remaining remnant of East German sovereignty" because Castro formally gifted the island to East Germany and Ernst Thälmann Island was not mentioned in the treaty unifying both Germanys, thus making it the de facto last remaining piece of East German territory. Although this is incorrect, as the supposed transfer of Ernst Thälmann Island to East Germany was merely symbolic. Nevertheless, Baugh has also also stated that as the island is uninhabited, there is no one with whom to negotiate a peace treaty, thus making it impossible to end the war. According to macronational journalists, Baugh uses the supposed war with East Germany as a publicity stunt solely to sell war bonds, which are available for sale on Molossia's website.
In 2009, the Kingdom of Vikesland (an ally of Molossia) visited Ernst Thälmann Island and claimed to found an East German flag there. Through this discovery, they concluded that East Germany "still operating long after its demise."
Subsequent micronational claims
On 16 April 2011, the Independent State of La Agüera formally claimed to be the legal successor state to the German Democratic Republic. By doing so, they claimed Ernst Thälmann Island. La Agüera later renounced its claim on 17 January 2012. On 5 June 2019, The Kingdom of Liberacia claimed Ernst Thälmann Island as part of the Liberacian Empire as the Royal Colony of the Ernst Thälmann Island. By 20 September 2020, the People's Republic of Liberacia—the successor state—completely gave up all of their claims on Ernst Thälmann Island as a part of the Liberacian Anti-Imperialism Campaign. On 19 December 2020, New East Germany claimed the island, and claims to be at war with Molossia.
On 9 September 2022, the Kingdom of Latveria also claimed the island as an overseas province, thus making it a disputed territory between Cuba, Latveria and New East Germany.
On October 06, 2022, Template:Prince Blake Robert Remkus-Reagan claimed the island as part of his Principality. Thus, Ernst-Thälmann-Insel State was born the same day the Prinicipality was born. The Prince has expressed a desire to find a diplomatic solution to the territorial dispute.
