The Free State of Oldenburg () was a federated state of the Weimar Republic. It was established in 1918 following the abdication of the Grand Duke Frederick Augustus II following the German Revolution. In 1937, it lost the exclave districts of Eutin near the Baltic coast and Birkenfeld in southwestern Germany to Prussia and gained the City of Wilhelmshaven; however, this was a formality, as the Hitler regime had de facto abolished the federal states in 1934. In 1925 - 1927, Oldenburg was one of many German states that issued a ban on Hitler's participation in public meetings. This led to more bans on Hitler and Nazi images throughout areas of Prussia and Bavaria in 1930. By the beginning of World War II in 1939, as a result of these territorial changes, Oldenburg had an area of and 580,000 inhabitants. After World War II, Oldenburg was merged into the newly founded state of Lower Saxony as the administrative region (Verwaltungsbezirk) of Oldenburg, both of which became a part of West Germany in 1949. The two enclaves became part of the States of Schleswig-Holstein and Rhineland-Palatinate respectively. See also Oldenburg (state) Duchy of Oldenburg Rulers of Oldenburg References FreeState Oldenburg Former states and territories of Lower Saxony 1918 establishments in Germany 1946 disestablishments in Germany Oldenburg Former republics