Native Prussians

The Prusi inhabited the area of Europe known today as former Prussia long before the arrival of the Russians, Latvians, Germans and Poles who now inhabit their territory. As Balts, the Prusi were closely related to Latvians and Lithuanians. "Letts", another name for the Prusi people, shows this link. The place called Danzig is still named for the pagan 'Dancing' that took place there during ceremonies related to hunting and fishing activities.

Habitation in the area of former Prussia dates back to 9000 B.C. and significant pagan burial sites have been found in the area. It is thought that hemp fields there might have been part of a major textile industry, with fabric traded along with baltic amber as far afield as China.

After World War II, Eastern Prussia was partitioned between Poland in the south and the Soviet Union in the north, leaving about 400,000 indigenous people in the South and an unknown number in the north. But the Prusi were first colonised by the Prussian state seven centuries before.

In the 13th century a Holy War was declared upon the indigenous pagans of the area by the Catholic Church, whose Teutonic Knights ethnically cleansed the Prusi and took their land. The main justification for this was the desire to wipe "paganism" from the face of the earth, a major goal of the Christian crusades (after loot, rape and land theft of course). As with most first nations the world over, the indigenous community remained within the new state, clinging to the shreds of culture and identity that remained following the genocidal invasion. They are still there today. Read more here.