the Soviet East Prussian offensive to the south made the position of the bridgehead untenable, and it was decided to withdraw the XXVIII Corps from the town into Samland to assist in the defence there; the remaining troops of the 95th and 58th Infantry Divisions were evacuated to the Curonian Spit, where the 58th Division acted as a rearguard for the withdrawal. The last organized German units left at 4am on 28 January, Soviet units taking possession of the harbour a few hours later. Aftermath Memel, which had been part of Lithuania only between 1923 and 1939 prior to being reincorporated into Germany, was transferred to the Lithuanian SSR under the Soviet administration. In 1947 it was formally renamed using the Lithuanian name, Klaipėda. See also 1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania Operation Hannibal, the evacuation effort by the Kriegsmarine beginning January 1945 East Prussian Operation, Soviet offensive that finally eliminated the Memel pocket Courland Pocket Footnotes References Glantz, D. Soviet Military Deception in the Second World War, Routledge, 1989, Further reading Map of the Soviet Advance into East Prussia & Siege of Königsberg January 13 - May 9, 1945 This shows clearly how Memel was already surrounded and besieged. Raus, E. Panzer Operations, Da Capo, 2005, Conflicts in 1944 Battles and operations of the Soviet–German War History of Klaipėda 1944 in Lithuania Battles of World War II involving Germany Military history of Lithuania during World War II 20th century in Klaipėda 1944 in Germany 1945 in Germany 1945 in Lithuania January 1945 events in Europe