Ernst Thälmann Island
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Ernst Thälmann Island (German: Ernst-Thälmann-Insel, Spanish: Cayo Ernesto Thaelmann or Cayo Blanco de Sur) is a 15 kilometre (9 mile) long and 500 metre (0.3 mile) wide Cuban island in the Gulf of Cazones. It contains highly developed 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 has extensive largely-untouched beaches and provides nursery areas for snappers. The island is uninhabited, other than occasional tourists and the indigenous iguanas and birds that have their habitat there.
On the occasion of a state visit in June 1972 Fidel Castro made the island, then called Cayo Blanco del Sur (English: White Island of the South) a gift to East Germany. the island was renamed in honour of German Communist politician Ernst Thälmann, who was the leader of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) during much of the Weimar Republic. In return Cuba received 6% of the world market share in refined sugar, which unto then were held by the people's enterprise Nordsternzucker VEB Halle. Even after the collapse of the Eastern Bloc Cuba benefits from these shares, allowing the country to offer sugar on the European market.
According to a newspaper article in Neues Deutschland from 20 June 1972 the Cuban leader announced the renaming of the island, and one of its beaches to Playa RDA (English: GDR Beach, German: Strand der DDR). East Germany's state television newscast, Aktuelle Kamera, reported on the island's ceremonial transfer and the unveiling of a bust of Ernst Thälmann on 18 August 1972 in the presence of the GDR ambassador, some East German delegates, and approximately 100 Cuban representatives.
After German reunification in 1990, Germany made no claims for the territory. According to the Cuban government, the gift was a symbolic gesture rather than a concession.
In 1998, the island was hit severely by Hurricane Mitch, knocking over the bust of Ernst Thälmann.
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