There was a Prussian fortress Tuvangste (Tvangste, Tvangeste). History has not left reliable information about the founding of Tvangste and descriptions of the fortress itself. According to legend, the Tvangste fortress was founded by Prince Zamo in the middle of the 6th century. There is information about an attempt to establish a settlement near the mouth of the Pregel, undertaken at the end of the 10th century by Khovkin, the son of the Danish king Harald I Blue-lipped. German chronicles for 1242 contain information about negotiations between the deputies of the city of Lübeck and the Grand Master Teutonic Order Gerhard von Mahlberg on the founding of the free trading city on the mountain on the bank of the Pregel.
In the mid-13th century, the toponym Twangste extended to the Prussian fortified settlement, the mountain on which it was located, and the surrounding forest.
The Tvangste fortress was taken and burned at the beginning of 1255 during the campaign of the united army of the knights of the Order and the Bohemian king Přemysl Otakar II. There is a legend according to which King Otakar II advised the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, Poppo von Osterne, to build an order fortress on the site of Tvangste. The foundation of the Koenigsberg fortress took place in early September 1255. The first commander of Königsberg was Burkhard von Hornhausen.
There are several versions of the origin of the name Königsberg. The most common version associates the name of the Königsberg fortress, Royal Mountain, with King Otakar II. According to her, the fortress and future city were named after the King of Bohemia. Other versions of the origin of the toponym associate it with the Vikings or Prussians. Perhaps “Konigsberg” is a form of “Konungoberg”, where “konung”, “kunnigs” are “prince”, “leader”, “head of the clan”, and the word “berg” can mean both “mountain” and “steep, high bank" In Russian chronicles and maps until the end of the 17th century, the toponym Korolevets was used instead of the name Koenigsberg.
The first two wooden blockhouses were built on the mountain on the right bank of the Pregel in 1255. Koenigsberg was first mentioned in a document dated June 29, 1256. In 1257, construction of stone fortifications began to the west of the blockhouses. In 1260, 1263 and 1273, the castle was besieged by the rebel Prussians, but was not taken. Since 1309, Königsberg Castle has been the residence of the Marshal of the Teutonic Order.
On February 28, 1286, the Landmaster of Prussia, Konrad von Thirberg, granted the settlement that arose near the castle walls the status of a city based on the Kulm Law. Most likely, the settlement was originally named after the castle - Koenigsberg. However, later, with the emergence of neighboring settlements, it received the name Altstadt, translated from German language meaning " old town" The settlement that arose east of the castle was named Neustadt ( New city). Neustadt was later renamed Löbenicht, and on May 27, 1300, Löbenicht received city rights from the commander of Königsberg, Berthold von Brühaven. On an island located south of Altstadt, a settlement was formed, originally called Vogtswerder. In 1327, the settlement on the island received city rights. In the deed of granting city rights it is called Knipav, which most likely corresponds to the original Prussian toponym. Since 1333, the city was called Pregelmünde, but gradually the original name in the Germanized form – Kneiphof – was established.
The cities of Altstadt, Löbenicht and Kneiphof had their own coats of arms, city councils, burgomasters, and were members of the Hanseatic Trade Union from the 14th century.
In 1325, under the leadership of Bishop Johannes Claret, construction of the Cathedral began on the island of Kneiphof. In a document dated September 13, 1333 grand master The Teutonic Order, Luther von Brunswick, agreed to continue construction of the cathedral, this date is considered the official start date of construction. The construction of the Cathedral was completed in 1380. In the winter of 1390-1391, an English detachment under the command of the Earl of Derby, the future King of England Henry IV Lancaster, stayed in Konigsberg.
After the loss of Marienburg (Malbork, Poland) in the Thirteen Years' War in 1457, Grand Master Ludwig von Erlichshausen moved the capital of the Teutonic Order to Königsberg. In 1523, Hans Weinreich, with the assistance of Grand Master Albrecht, opened the first printing house in Königsberg in Löbenicht, in which the first book was printed in 1524. On April 8, 1525, the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order Albrecht of Brandenburg-Ansbach concluded the Peace of Krakow with the King of Poland Sigismund I, as a result of which the Teutonic Order was secularized and the Duchy of Prussia was formed. Königsberg became the capital of Prussia. In 1544, a university was opened in Königsberg, which later received the name Albertina in honor of Duke Albrecht. Since 1660, publishing began in Königsberg. city newspaper. In May 1697, as part of the Great Embassy, Russian Tsar Peter I visited Koenigsberg under the name of nobleman Peter Mikhailov, having lived in the city for about a month. Later, Peter I visited the city in November 1711, June 1712, February and April 1716.
On January 27, 1744, Sophia Augusta Frederica von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg, the future Russian Empress Catherine II, passed through Königsberg from Stettin to St. Petersburg. On January 11, 1758, during the Seven Years' War, Russian troops entered Königsberg, after which, on January 24, in the Cathedral, representatives of all city classes took the oath of allegiance Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna. Until 1762 the city was part of Russian Empire. In 1782, the city's population was 31,368. In 1793, the first obstetrics and gynecology institution opened in the city. On August 8, 1803, an earthquake occurred in Königsberg.
After the battles of Preussisch-Eylau in January and Friedland in June, Königsberg was occupied by the French army on June 15, 1807. On July 10-13, 1807 and June 12-16, 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte stayed in the city. On the night of January 4-5, 1813 french army left Koenigsberg, and around noon on January 5, troops of the Russian corps under the command of Pyotr Christianovich Wittgenstein entered the city.
In 1813, an astronomical observatory was opened in Königsberg, the director of which was outstanding mathematician and astronomer Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel. In 1830, the first (local) water supply system appeared in the city. In 1834, in the Königsberg laboratory, Moritz Hermann Jacobi demonstrated the world's first electric motor. On July 28, 1851, the Königsberg Observatory astronomer August Ludwig Busch took the first photographic photograph of a solar eclipse in history. On October 18, 1861, Wilhelm I, the future Kaiser of Germany, was crowned in Königsberg. In 1872-1874, the first city water supply network was built, and in 1880 work began on laying the city sewerage system. In May 1881, the first horse-drawn route opened in Königsberg; in 1888, the city’s population was 140.9 thousand people; in December 1890, 161.7 thousand people. To protect the city, a defensive ring of 15 forts was built along its perimeter by the mid-1880s. In May 1895, the first trams ran along the streets of Königsberg. In 1896, the Königsberg Zoo was opened, with Hermann Klaas (1841-1914) becoming its director.
The population of Koenigsberg in 1910 was 249.6 thousand inhabitants. In 1919, Germany's first airport, Devau Airport, was opened in Königsberg. On September 28, 1920, German President Friedrich Ebert opened the first East Prussian fair in Königsberg, located on the territory of the zoo, and later in special pavilions. In 1939, the city had 373,464 inhabitants.
During World War II, Koenigsberg was repeatedly bombed from the air. The first raid on the city was carried out by Soviet aviation on September 1, 1941. 11 Pe-8 bombers took part in the raid, none of which were shot down. The bombing produced a certain psychological effect, but no significant casualties or destruction were caused. On April 29, 1943, a Pe-8 bomber from the USSR Long-Range Aviation dropped a bomb weighing 5 tons on Koenigsberg for the first time. On the night of August 27, 1944, the 5th Group of the Royal Air Force Great Britain, consisting of 174 Lancaster bombers, carried out a raid on the city, during which the eastern outskirts were bombed, and the Royal Air Force lost 4 aircraft. The most massive and terrible raid on Koenigsberg was carried out by the British Air Force on the night of August 30, 1944. 189 Lancasters dropped 480 tons of bombs, killing 4.2 thousand people, destroying 20% of industrial facilities and 41% of all buildings in the city, and the historical center of the city was razed to the ground. During the raid, napalm bombs were used for the first time. RAF losses amounted to 15 bombers.
As a result of the East Prussian offensive operation of the Red Army, by January 26, 1945, Koenigsberg found itself under siege. However, already on January 30, the Greater Germany tank division and one infantry division from Brandenburg (now the village of Ushakovo) and the 5th tank division and one infantry division from Königsberg pushed back the troops of the 11th Guards Army 5 kilometers from Frisches Huff Bay, releasing Koenigsberg from the southwest. On February 19, counter strikes along the northern shore of the Frisches Huff Bay from Fischhausen (now the city of Primorsk) and Koenigsberg broke through the defenses of the 39th Army and restored communication between Koenigsberg and the Zemland Peninsula.
From April 2 to April 5, 1945, Koenigsberg was subjected to massive artillery strikes and air raids. On April 6, troops of the 3rd Belorussian Front began an assault on the fortress city. The bad weather did not allow the full use of aviation; by the end of the day, assault troops and groups had reached the outskirts of the city. On April 7, the weather improved and Koenigsberg was subjected to massive bombardment. On April 8, the Red Army troops advancing from the north and south split the enemy group into two parts. 4th german army General Müller attempted to assist the Koenigsberg garrison with a strike from the Zemland Peninsula, but these attempts were stopped Soviet aviation. By evening, the defending Wehrmacht units found themselves sandwiched in the city center under continuous attacks from Soviet artillery. On April 9, 1945, the commandant of the city and fortress of Königsberg, General Otto von Lyash, ordered the garrison to lay down their arms, for which Hitler was sentenced in absentia to death penalty. The last pockets of resistance were eliminated on April 10, and the Red Banner was hoisted on the Don tower. More than 93 thousand German soldiers and officers were captured, about 42 thousand died during the assault. Irrevocable losses The Red Army directly during the assault on Koenigsberg amounted to 3.7 thousand people.
The capture of Koenigsberg was marked in Moscow by 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns, and the medal “For the Capture of Koenigsberg” was established - the only Soviet medal established for the capture of a city that was not the capital of the state. After the end of World War II, according to the decisions of the Potsdam Conference, the city of Königsberg was transferred Soviet Union.
On June 27, 1945, the Königsberg Zoo, in which after the April assault only five animals remained: a badger, a donkey, a fallow deer, a calf elephant and the wounded hippopotamus Hans, received its first post-war visitors.
By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on July 4, 1946, Koenigsberg was renamed Kaliningrad. The city was populated by settlers from other regions of the Soviet Union; by 1948, the German population was deported to Germany. Due to the important strategic location and a large concentration of troops, Kaliningrad was closed to visitors foreign citizens. In the post-war years, special attention was paid to the restoration of production, issues of preserving historical and cultural values were of secondary importance and were often completely ignored. In 1967, by the decision of the first secretary of the Kaliningrad regional committee of the CPSU N.S. Konovalov Königsberg Castle, seriously damaged during the raid British aviation in August 1944 and the storming of the city in April 1945, it was blown up. The demolition of the ruins and much of the surviving buildings continued until the mid-1970s, causing irreparable damage architectural appearance cities.
Since 1991, Kaliningrad has been open to international cooperation.
Kaliningrad is the most contrasting Russian city. The history of Kaliningrad-Konigsberg is full of interesting facts, outstanding names, significant world events and legends.
The westernmost region of Russia
The Kaliningrad region is the westernmost point of the Russian Federation, which is completely cut off from the country. It was formed in 1945 after the Potsdam Conference, by the decision of which the northern part of the liquidated East Prussia passed to the Soviet Union.
The first inhabitants of the territory were Prussians
One of the first inhabitants of this territory (early Middle Ages) were the Prussians, who got their name from ancient name Curonian Lagoon – Rusna. Prussian culture was close to the Letto-Lithuanians and the ancient Slavs.
Founding date of Königsberg: September 1
The founding day of Königsberg is considered to be September 1, 1255 - the date when the Königsberg fortress was built on the site of the burned settlement of Twangste. The fortress was founded by the Master of the Teutonic Order Peppo Ostern von Wertgaint and the King of the Czech Republic Přemysl I Otakar.
City name: Royal Mountain
Until 1946, the city of Kaliningrad was called Königsberg, which translates from German as “royal mountain.” This name is associated with the Royal Castle on the hill, which the surrounding peoples called differently: the Lithuanians Karaliaučius, the Poles Krulevec, the Czechs Kralovec.
What is the oldest surviving building?
The oldest surviving building in Kaliningrad is the Judditen Church (1288). Located on the street. Tenistaya Alley 39 b.
How long did it take to build the Cathedral?
The most significant historical and architectural object of Kaliningrad is Cathedral, founded on September 13, 1333 and took half a century to build.
Whose residence was Königsberg in the 15th century?
In 1457, the Königsberg fortress became the capital and residence of the leader of the Teutonic Order after the loss of Marienburg during the Thirteen Years' War.
Königsberg was formed by the merger of which cities and when?
The city of Königsberg was formed on July 13, 1724 by merging the cities of Altstadt, Löbenicht and Kneiphof by order of the Prussian king Frederick William I. Before that, it consisted of many small towns.
How many forts did Königsberg have in 1900?
Königsberg is called the museum of fortification due to the construction of the system fortifications in 1900, consisting of 12 large and 5 small forts.
Who and when destroyed Koenigsberg?
In 1944, Königsberg was hit by a devastating bombing during Operation Retribution. British bombers shelled the city center - injured civilians, the old city and many cultural sites were destroyed. The four-day assault forced the city commandant, General Otto von Lyasch, to capitulate, and in 1945 Königsberg was stormed Soviet troops.
Ratings of the Kaliningrad region by area and population
The Kaliningrad region has the most modest area in Russia - 15.1 thousand square meters. km. But in terms of population density, the region is the third in the federation - 63 people/sq. km.
How many streets are there in Kaliningrad?
Kaliningrad is small in population - less than 500 thousand people. But at the same time, the city is rich in streets - more than 700 streets have Russian and old German names.
What fossils are remarkable in the Kaliningrad region?
The Kaliningrad region has been dubbed the “land of amber” - the world’s largest deposit of this stone is located here (the village of Yantarny). This is evidenced by pieces of amber that are constantly washed ashore.
Which Kaliningrad museum has the largest collection in the world of one type of exhibit?
The city has an Amber Museum, which has the world’s largest collection of “ sun stone"in more than 1.5 thousand copies. Among them is the largest piece of this mineral in Russia (4.5 kg), as well as the world’s largest panel of amber “Rus” (70 kg, 2984 fragments, 276 by 156 cm).
What is the most famous lake in the Kaliningrad region?
The oldest lake is located in the Kaliningrad region glacial origin- Vishtynets. It is believed to be older Baltic Sea for 10 thousand years.
Birds of Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad is a bird-loving region with many storks and swans, including rare black swans. The most ancient route of bird migration from the northern regions of Europe to the south passes through the Curonian Spit, which is called the “bird bridge”.
German architecture and infrastructure
The city and region have preserved many German parks, roads with paving stones, communications and houses with characteristic tiles. These German islands explain why the private sector is not located on the outskirts, but is dispersed throughout the city.
What was the name of the very first university on the territory of modern Russia?
The Albertina University of Königsberg, founded in 1542, is the first higher education institution on the territory of modern Russia.
The most famous philosopher of Königsberg?
Koenigsberg is the birthplace of the outstanding philosopher Immanuel Kant, who never left his beloved city.
Which of the most famous German cultural figures lived in Königsberg?
The romantic writer Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann was born and studied in Königsberg, who changed his name “Wilhelm” to “Amadeus” in honor of Mozart. Famous German scientific and cultural figures also worked here: composer Wagner, philosophers Johann Gottfried Herder and Johann Gottlieb Fichte, artist-sculptor Käthe Kollwitz and sculptor Hermann Brachert.
Prominent personalities of Russia in Konigsberg
Many people have left their mark on the history of the city. outstanding personalities Russia. Peter I, Catherine II, commander M.I. visited here. Kutuzov, poets N.A. Nekrasov, V.V. Mayakovsky, V.A. Zhukovsky, writer A.I. Herzen, historian N.M. Karamzin and artist K.P. Bryullov.
Place of peace of Napoleon and Alexander I
On the territory of today's Sovetsk (Tilsit), one of the cities of the Kaliningrad region, the Peace of Tilsit was concluded between Napoleon and Alexander I.
Russian historical ally
Historically, Prussia has more often acted as an ally of Russia than as an enemy. After the Seven Years' War, Russia ruled the city for 4 years. It was on this territory that Napoleon was first defeated in the 1807 Battle of Preussisch-Eylau (Bagrationovsk).
Proximity to Europe
From Kaliningrad to the border with Poland 35 km, with Lithuania - 70 km, and to the Russian city of Pskov as much as 800 km. It is not surprising that there is no Russian accent in the local dialect, but there is a German, Polish or Lithuanian word.
Kaliningrad weather
The Kaliningrad climate is characterized by high humidity and frequent rain (approximately 185 days a year). At the same time, the climate is mild with an average annual temperature of 8 °C - higher only in the most southern cities Russia.
Kaliningrad time
Kaliningrad time plus 1 hour to Moscow time, so New Year Kaliningraders meet you an hour later.
Green city
The city is surrounded by greenery due to numerous parks, there are botanical garden and arboretum, orchards. In spring, everything turns into a blooming paradise - trees bloom, a lot of snowdrops.
Diversity of cultures and traditions
Kaliningrad is a city in which residents of the entire territory live former USSR. From 1945 to the present day they work special programs for migrants.
About cars
In Kaliningrad you rarely see a domestic car - the majority of city residents drive imported cars.
International passports
The special location of the city forces every Kaliningrader to apply for a foreign passport almost from birth. Otherwise, they will not be able to get to Russia by land, but only by plane.
Kaliningrad-Konigsberg is an amazing city that you want to unravel and study.
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Royal Gate
Kaliningrad is one of the most mysterious and unusual cities. This is a place where old Königsberg and modern Kaliningrad coexist at the same time. Shrouded in secrets and legends, this city attracts large number tourists. These people lived here famous people How great philosopher Immanuel Kant, and the fantastic stories of Ernest Theodore Amadeus Hoffmann are known to many around the world. This place is also notable for the fact that magnificent coronations of kings took place here, scientific discoveries, precious works of art were kept. The historical past can still be felt at every step: cobblestone streets, forts, churches, order castles, the juxtaposition of German, Soviet and modern architecture.
History of Kaliningrad
The history of Kaliningrad (Königsberg) and the Kaliningrad region goes back more than 8 centuries. On this earth for a long time Prussian tribes lived. In the 13th century Knights of the Teutonic Order came to the territory of the South-Eastern Baltic and conquered the autochthonous population living here. In 1255, a fortress was built on the elevated bank of the Pregel River and named “Königsberg”, which means “Royal Mountain”. There is a version that the fortress was named after the Czech king Přemysl (Przemysl) II Ottokar, who led the crusade to Prussia. Three small but closely connected cities gradually formed near the castle: Altstadt, Kneiphof and Löbenicht. In 1724, these cities officially merged into one city with common name Koenigsberg.
In 1544, the first secular ruler, Duke Albert, built the Albertina University in the city, making Königsberg one of the centers of European science and culture. It is reliably known that Russian Tsar Peter I visited Königsberg as part of the Great Embassy.
In 1657, the Duchy of Prussia freed itself from fief dependence on Poland, and in 1701, the Elector of Brandenburg Frederick III was crowned Frederick I, making Prussia a kingdom.
In 1756, the Seven Years' War began, during which Russian troops occupied the territory of the kingdom, after which the inhabitants of Prussia took an oath of allegiance to the Russian Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. Thus, until the death of the Empress, this territory was part of the Russian Empire. In 1762, Prussia was again returned to the German crown. After the divisions of Poland in the 18th century. Prussia received part of the Polish territories. Since that time, the territory in which the Kaliningrad region is now located began to be called East Prussia.
View of the Cathedral
Before World War II, Königsberg was a large and beautiful city with developed infrastructure. Residents and guests of the city were attracted by numerous shops, cafes and fairs, beautiful sculptures, fountains, parks - there was a feeling of a garden city. In 1933, A. Hitler came to power in Germany. The Second World War began. In August 1944, as a result of two British air raids, most of the city was turned into ruins. In April 1945, Russian troops took Königsberg by storm. After the Second World War, based on the decisions of the Yalta and Potsdam conferences, from 1945, a third of the former East Prussia began to belong to the USSR, and from that moment it began new stage in the history of the amber region. By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated April 7, 1946, the Koenigsberg region was formed here, which became part of the RSFSR, and on July 4 its administrative center was renamed Kaliningrad, and the region - Kaliningrad.
Today, many wonderful corners of the former Koenigsberg, artifacts of the past, create a unique aura of Kaliningrad. Koenigsberg, like a disappeared Atlantis, beckons and calls for searches and new discoveries of the already known and the still unknown. This the only city in Russia, where you can find authentic Gothic, Romano-Germanic style of architecture and the modernity of the big city.
70 years ago, on October 17, 1945, by decision of the Yalta and Potsdam conferences, Koenigsberg and the surrounding lands were included in the USSR. In April 1946, a corresponding region was formed as part of the RSFSR, and three months later its main city received a new name - Kaliningrad - in memory of the “All-Union Elder” Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin, who died on June 3.
Inclusion of Königsberg and surrounding lands in Russian-USSR composition had not only military-strategic and economic significance, and was Germany’s payment for the blood and pain inflicted on the Russian superethnos, but also had a deep symbolic and historical significance. After all, since ancient times, Prussia-Porussia was part of the huge Slavic-Russian world (superethnos of the Rus) and it was inhabited by the Slavic Porussians (Prussians, Borossians, Borussians). Later, the Prussians living on the shores of the Venedian Sea (Wends is one of the names of the Slavic Russians inhabiting Central Europe) were recorded as Balts by “historians” who rewrote history to suit the needs of the Romano-Germanic world. However, this is a mistake or deliberate deception. The Balts were the last to emerge from the single superethnos of the Rus. Back in the XIII-XIV centuries. The Baltic tribes worshiped gods common to the Rus, and the cult of Perun was especially powerful. The spiritual and material culture of the Rus (Slavs) and the Balts was almost the same. Only after the Baltic tribes were Christianized and Germanized, suppressed by the matrix of Western civilization, were they separated from the superethnos of the Rus.
The Prussians were slaughtered almost completely, as they showed extremely stubborn resistance to the German “dog knights”. The remnants were assimilated, deprived of memory, culture and language (finally in the 18th century). Just as before this, their kindred Slavs, the Lyutichs and the Obodrichs, were exterminated. Even during the centuries-old battle for Central Europe, where the western branch of the superethnos of the Rus lived (for example, few people know that Berlin, Vienna, Brandenburg or Dresden were founded by the Slavs), many Slavs fled to Prussia and Lithuania, as well as to the Novgorod land. And the Novgorod Slovenes had thousands of years of ties with the Rus Central Europe, which is confirmed by anthropology, archeology, mythology and linguistics. It is not surprising that it was the Western Russian prince Rurik (Falcon) who was invited to Ladoga. He was not a stranger in the Novgorod land. And during the battle of the Prussians and other Baltic Slavs with the “dog knights,” Novgorod supported their relatives and supplied weapons.
In Rus', the memory of a common origin with the Porussians (Borussians) was preserved for a long time. The greats traced their origins to the Rus (Prussians) of Ponemanya. Vladimir princes. Ivan the Terrible, an encyclopedist of his era, wrote about this, having access to chronicles and annals that did not survive to our time (or were destroyed and hidden). Many noble families of Rus' traced their ancestry to Prussia. So, according to family tradition, the ancestors of the Romanovs left for Rus' “from Prussia.” The Prussians lived along the Rossa (Rusa) River, as the Neman was called in its lower reaches (today the name of one of the river branches is preserved - Rus, Rusn, Rusne). In the 13th century, the Prussian lands were conquered by the Teutonic Order. The Prussians were partly destroyed, partly driven out to neighboring regions, and partly reduced to the status of slaves. The population was Christianized and assimilated. The last speakers of the Prussian language disappeared in early XVIII century.
Königsberg was founded on a hill on the high right bank in the lower reaches of the Pregel River on the site of a Prussian fortification in 1255. Otakar and the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, Poppo von Osterna, founded the Order fortress of Königsberg. The troops of the Czech king came to the aid of those who were defeated by local population knights, who, in turn, were invited to Prussia by the Polish king to fight the pagans. Prussia for a long time became a strategic springboard for the West in the fight against Russian civilization. First against Rus'-Russia, including Lithuanian Rus' ( Russian state, in which the official language was Russian), the Teutonic Order fought, then Prussia and the German Empire. In 1812, East Prussia became the focus of a powerful group of French troops for a campaign in Russia, shortly before the start of which Napoleon arrived in Königsberg, where he held the first reviews of troops. The French troops also included Prussian units. During the First and Second World Wars, East Prussia was again a springboard for aggression against Russia and more than once became the scene of brutal battles.
Thus, Rome, which was then the main command post Western civilization, acted on the principle of “divide and conquer,” pitting the peoples of the Slavic civilization against each other, weakening them and “absorbing” part by part. Some Slavic Russians, like the Lyutichs and Prussians, were completely destroyed and assimilated, others, like the Western glades - Poles, Czechs, submitted to the Western “matrix”, becoming part of European civilization. We have observed similar processes in the last century in Little Rus' (Little Russia-Ukraine), especially accelerated in the last two or three decades. The West is rapidly turning the southern branch of Russians (Little Russians) into “Ukrainians” - ethnographic mutants, orcs who have lost the memory of their origin, are quickly losing their native language and culture. Instead, the death program is loaded, the “orc-Ukrainians” hate everything Russian, Russians and become the spearhead of the West for a further attack on the lands of Russian civilization (the superethnos of the Rus). The masters of the West gave them one goal - to die in battle with their brothers, weakening Russian civilization with their death.
The only way out of this civilizational, historical catastrophe is the return of Little Rus' to a single Russian civilization and the denazification of the “Ukrainians”, the restoration of their Russianness. It is clear that this will take more than one decade, but as history and the experience of our enemies show, all processes are manageable. Kharkov, Poltava, Kyiv, Chernigov, Lvov and Odessa must remain Russian cities, despite all the machinations of our geopolitical opponents.
The first time Koenigsberg almost became Slavic again was during the Seven Years' War, when Russia and Prussia were enemies. In 1758, Russian troops entered Königsberg. Residents of the city swore allegiance to the Russian Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. Until 1762 the city belonged to Russia. East Prussia had the status of a Russian general government. However, after the death of Empress Elizabeth, Peter III came to power. Once in power, Emperor Peter III, who did not hide his admiration for the Prussian king Frederick II, immediately stopped military operations against Prussia and concluded the St. Petersburg Peace Treaty with the Prussian king on conditions extremely unfavorable for Russia. Pyotr Fedorovich returned to Prussia the conquered East Prussia (which by that time had already been four years integral part Russian Empire) and abandoned all acquisitions during the Seven Years' War, which was practically won by Russia. All the sacrifices, all the heroism of the Russian soldiers, all the successes were wiped out in one fell swoop.
During World War II, East Prussia was the Third Reich's strategic springboard for aggression against Poland and the Soviet Union. East Prussia had a developed military infrastructure and industry. Bases were located here German Air Force and the Navy, which made it possible to control most of the Baltic Sea. Prussia was one of the most important regions of the German military-industrial complex.
The Soviet Union suffered during the war huge losses, human and material. Not surprisingly, Moscow insisted on compensation. The war with Germany was far from over, but Stalin looked to the future and expressed the Soviet Union's claims to East Prussia. Back on December 16, 1941, during negotiations in Moscow with A. Eden, Stalin proposed to attach to the draft agreement on joint actions secret protocol(were not signed), which proposed separating East Prussia and part of it with Königsberg to be transferred to the USSR for a period of twenty years as a guarantee of compensation for losses incurred by the USSR from the war with Germany.
At the Tehran Conference, in his speech on December 1, 1943, Stalin went further. Stalin emphasized: “The Russians do not have ice-free ports on the Baltic Sea. Therefore, the Russians need the ice-free ports of Königsberg and Memel and the corresponding part of East Prussia. Moreover, historically these are primordially Slavic lands.” Judging by these words, Soviet leader not only realized strategic importance Koenigsberg, but also knew the history of the region (the Slavic version, which was outlined by Lomonosov and other Russian historians). Indeed, East Prussia was a “originally Slavic land.” During the heads of government breakfast meeting on November 30, Churchill stated that “Russia needs to have access to ice-free ports" and "...the British have no objections to this."
In a letter to Churchill dated February 4, 1944, Stalin again addressed the problem of Königsberg: “As for your statement to the Poles that Poland could significantly expand its borders in the west and north, then, as you know, we agree with this with one amendment. I told you and the president about this amendment in Tehran. We claim that the northeastern part of East Prussia, including Königsberg, as an ice-free port, will go to the Soviet Union. This is the only piece German territory, which we claim. Without satisfying this minimal claim of the Soviet Union, the concession of the Soviet Union, expressed in recognition of the Curzon line, loses all meaning, as I already told you about this in Tehran.”
Moscow's position on the issue of East Prussia on the eve of the Crimean Conference is set out in a brief summary of the note of the Commission on Issues peace treaties and the post-war device “On the treatment of Germany” of January 12, 1945: “1. Changing the borders of Germany. It is assumed that East Prussia will go partly to the USSR, partly to Poland, and Upper Silesia to Poland...”
Great Britain and the USA have long tried to push the idea of decentralizing Germany, dividing it into several state entities, including Prussia. At the Moscow Conference of the Foreign Ministers of the USSR, USA and Great Britain (October 19-30, 1943), British Foreign Minister A. Eden outlined the British government's plan for the future of Germany. “We would like,” he said, “the division of Germany into separate states, in particular we would like the separation of Prussia from the rest of Germany.” At the Tehran Conference American President Roosevelt proposed discussing the issue of dismembering Germany. He said that in order to “stimulate” discussion on this issue, he would like to outline the plan he personally drew up two months ago for the dismemberment of Germany into five states. So, in his opinion, “Prussia should be as weakened as possible and reduced in size. Prussia should constitute the first independent part of Germany...” Churchill put forward his plan to dismember Germany. He proposed, first of all, to “isolate” Prussia from the rest of Germany. “I would keep Prussia in harsh conditions,” said the head of the British government.
However, Moscow was against the dismemberment of Germany and eventually achieved the concession of part of East Prussia. England and the United States agreed in principle to satisfy Moscow's proposals. In a message to J.V. Stalin received in Moscow on February 27, 1944, Churchill indicated that the British government considered the transfer of Koenigsberg and the surrounding territory to the USSR “a fair claim on the part of Russia... The land of this part of East Prussia is stained with Russian blood, generously shed for common cause... Therefore, the Russians have a historical and well-founded claim to this German territory».
In February 1945, the Crimean Conference took place, at which the leaders of the three Allied powers practically resolved issues related to the future borders of Poland and the fate of East Prussia. During the negotiations, British Prime Minister W. Churchill and American President F. Roosevelt stated that, in principle, they were in favor of the dismemberment of Germany. The British Prime Minister, in particular, again developed his plan to separate Prussia from Germany and “create another great German state in the south, whose capital could be in Vienna."
In connection with the discussion at the conference of the “Polish question”, it was essentially decided that “the whole of East Prussia should not be transferred to Poland. The northern part of this province with the ports of Memel and Koenigsberg should go to the USSR. The delegations of the USSR and the USA agreed to provide compensation to Poland “at the expense of Germany,” namely: parts of East Prussia and Upper Silesia “up to the line of the Oder River.”
Meanwhile, the Red Army had practically resolved the issue of liberating East Prussia from the Nazis. As a result of successful offensives in the summer of 1944, Soviet troops liberated Belarus, part of the Baltic states and Poland and approached the German border in the region of East Prussia. In October 1944, the Memel operation was carried out. Soviet troops not only liberated part of the territory of Lithuania, but also entered East Prussia, surrounding the city of Memel (Klaipeda). Memel was captured on January 28, 1945. The Memel region was annexed into the Lithuanian SSR (a gift from Stalin to Lithuania). In October 1944, the Gumbinnen-Goldap offensive operation was carried out. The first assault on East Prussia did not lead to victory. The enemy had too strong a defense here. However, the 3rd Belorussian Front advanced 50-100 kilometers and took over a thousand settlements, preparing a springboard for a decisive push on Königsberg.
The second assault on East Prussia began in January 1945. During the East Prussian strategic operation (it was divided into a number of front-line operations), Soviet troops broke through German defenses, reached the Baltic Sea and eliminated the main enemy forces, occupying East Prussia and liberating northern part Poland. April 6 - 9, 1945 during Koenigsberg operation Our troops stormed the fortified city of Königsberg, defeating the Königsberg Wehrmacht group. The 25th operation was completed with the destruction of the Zemland enemy group.
Soviet soldiers storm Koenigsberg
At the Berlin (Potsdam) conference of the leaders of the three allied powers on July 17 - August 2, 1945, which took place after the end of hostilities in Europe, the issue of East Prussia was finally resolved. On July 23, at the seventh meeting of the heads of government, the issue of transferring the Königsberg region in East Prussia to the Soviet Union was considered. Stalin stated that “President Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill gave their consent on this matter at the Tehran Conference, and this issue was agreed upon between us. We would like this agreement to be confirmed at this conference.” During an exchange of views, the US and British delegations confirmed their consent, given in Tehran, to the transfer of the city of Königsberg and the surrounding area to the USSR.
The minutes of the Potsdam Conference stated: “The Conference considered the proposals of the Soviet government that from now on final decision territorial issues in a peaceful settlement, the part adjacent to the Baltic Sea western border The USSR passed from a point on the Eastern shore of the Danzig Bay to the east - north of Braunsberg-Goldan to the junction of the borders of Lithuania, Polish Republic and East Prussia. The Conference agreed in principle to the Soviet Union's proposal to transfer to it the city of Königsberg and the surrounding area, as described above. However, the exact boundary is subject to expert research.” In the same documents, in the “Poland” section, the expansion of Polish territory at the expense of Germany was confirmed.
Thus, the Potsdam Conference recognized the need to exclude East Prussia from Germany and transfer its territory to Poland and the USSR. “Expert studies” did not follow this due to changes in the international situation, but this does not change the essence of the matter. There are no deadlines (“50 years”, etc., as some anti-Soviet historians claim) for which Königsberg and the surrounding area were supposedly transferred to the USSR, allied powers not installed. The decision was final and indefinite. Koenigsberg and the surrounding area became Russian forever.
On August 16, 1945, an agreement on the Soviet-Polish state border was signed between the USSR and Poland. In accordance with this document, the Mixed Soviet-Polish Demarcation Commission was formed, and demarcation work began in May 1946. By April 1947, the state border line was demarcated. On April 30, 1947, the corresponding demarcation documents were signed in Warsaw. On April 7, 1946, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issued a Decree on the formation of the Koenigsberg region on the territory of the city of Koenigsberg and the adjacent region and its inclusion in the RSFSR. On July 4, it was renamed Kaliningradskaya.
Thus, the USSR eliminated a powerful enemy bridgehead in the northwestern direction. In turn, Königsberg-Kaliningrad became a Russian military-strategic bridgehead in the Baltic. We have strengthened the naval and air capabilities of our armed forces in this direction. As Churchill rightly noted, former enemy Russian civilization, but a smart enemy, it was a fair act: “The land of this part of East Prussia is stained with Russian blood, generously shed for a common cause... Therefore, the Russians have a historical and well-founded claim to this German territory.” The Russian superethnos returned part of the Slavic land that was lost many centuries ago.
Koenigsberg, now the well-known city of Kaliningrad, is an enclave washed by the cold and noisy Baltic Sea.
The history of the city is majestic and multifaceted, dating back more than 700 years - seven centuries of rapid growth, rapid conquests and frequent changes heads of government.
Most western city Russia is shrouded in ancient legends and surrounded by interesting historical sites.
Basics
Story
It was founded on September 1, 1255. The beginning modern city became a castle erected on the site of the Prussian fortification of Twangste in the lower reaches of the Pregel River. The founders are considered to be the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order Poppo von Osterna and the King of the Czech Republic Přemysl Otakar II.
Tvangste was besieged by knights, but after help arrived from the king of the Czech Republic, the settlement fell. The first structure was made of wood, and in 1257 the construction of brick walls began.
The castle was named Königsberg, he was besieged by Prussian tribes three times (in 1260, 1263 and 1273), but survived. In subsequent years, German colonists began to arrive to develop Prussian lands. The indigenous people were assimilated and by the 16th century only 20% of the total population remained.
On February 28, 1286, the settlement near the castle walls, bearing the same name, was awarded city rights. Other settlements were rapidly growing around. In 1300, another city began to be called Löbenicht, where the first printing house was opened in 1523, and the first book was printed in 1524.
From an administrative point of view, both cities were independent, but in fact they formed a single whole. The united cities were named Königsberg, and the first and oldest part of it was renamed Altstadt (“old city”).
The third settlement to receive official status was Kneiphof and it also formed part of Königsberg.
In 1466, as a result of the Thirteen Years' War, the capital of the Teutonic Order was moved from Marienburg to Königsberg.
In 1525, the theocratic state became known as the Duchy of Prussia, and Grand Master Albrecht proclaimed himself duke. Since the 16th century, the city became a cultural center, important figures lived there and the first books were published in the Lithuanian language.
In 1660, the publication of its own newspaper began, its copies were regularly sent to Russia to compile reviews intended for the Boyar Duma and Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.
Territorially unified, but consisting of administratively independent districts, the city existed until 1724, then the official unification of the three cities, their surrounding suburbs, villages and the castle took place. The name remains the same - Koenigsberg.
As a result of the seven-year war, the city belonged to Russia from 1758 to 1762, until Empress Elizabeth gave it back as a sign of reconciliation. In the 19th century, Königsberg grew and modernized rapidly, with countless ravelins, bastions and defensive ramparts built (many of the buildings still exist).
In 1857, a railway appeared in Königsberg, and in 1862 a railway connection with Russia was built. In May 1881 appeared new look transport - horse-drawn (horse-drawn - city railway), and exactly 14 years later (in 1895) - the first trams. In 1901, the electrification of public transport began.
In 1919, the first airport in Germany and one of the first in the world, Devau, was built and put into operation. Regular flights Konigsberg - Riga - Moscow were organized in 1922. In the 20th century, the city expanded significantly; the following were built:
- train stations;
- residential buildings;
- commercial buildings.
The greatest contributions to the architecture of the city were made by Hans Hopp and Friedrich Heitmann. A large place was devoted to monuments and sculptures; they were created by both graduates and teachers of the Koenigsberg Academy of Arts. At the same time, research and reconstruction were carried out in the old castle.
In August 1944, during the British bombing, the city was heavily damaged and the entire old center of Königsberg was destroyed.
That same year, it was stormed by Soviet soldiers.
Assault and capture in 1945
The siege of the city began in December 1944, and assault troops were sent on April 5, 1945. On April 10, over the Der Dona tower ( modern museum amber) a flag was raised to signify the end of German rule. During the fierce battles, both sides suffered losses of 50 thousand people.
We invite you to watch a video about the assault on Koenigsberg.
Who was given a medal for taking it?
On June 9, 1945, the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces ordered the establishment of a medal for the capture of the fortress city of Koenigsberg.
This The medal was awarded to military personnel of the army, navy and NKVD troops who took personal part in the battle for the city, as well as the organizers and leaders of military operations in the period from January 23 to April 10, 1945.
This medal is the only one established in the USSR for the capture of a fortress; all the others were for the liberation and capture of capitals.
The Legend of Underground Kaliningrad
The essence of the legend is that located near the city underground city– double, built during German rule. It has power plants, numerous food and household goods, there are tank and aircraft factories.
The underground city is also a repository for many valuables, including the Amber Room. There are two versions of the ending of the legend:
- During the assault on the city by Soviet soldiers, the Germans collapsed and partially flooded several passages.
- After the war, an expedition was sent to the dungeon, but it was not able to fully explore all the passages. It was decided to wall up the unexplored tunnels.
Some residents claim that all systems are in lower town they work properly and sometimes someone turns them on to check, then a rumble is heard from the basements and a glow appears.
According to some versions, people still live underground.
The legend originated back in the 1950s; its appearance was provoked by numerous artistic and documentary works of those times.
Where is it located on the map?
The city is located on the shores of the Baltic Sea. On the southern side it borders with Poland, and on the eastern and northern side – with Lithuania. It has no land borders with Russia.
What does this name mean in German?
- The center of the city was the castle, which at its foundation was called “Royal Mountain” (translated from German Königsberg), in honor of the Czech King Přemysl Otakar II, who was one of the founders.
- According to another version, the word “Königsberg” is of Gothic origin: kuniggs is the head of the clan, and berg is the shore.
Which country does it belong to?
In 1945, the Potsdam Conference was held, by its decision the German province, along with its capital, was annexed to the Soviet Union. After the death of the chairman supreme council M. I. Kalinina On July 4, 1946, the city received a new name - Kaliningrad, and his region became Kaliningrad.
Coat of arms
The modern coat of arms was approved on July 17, 1996 and finalized on April 28, 1999. The authors of the project are Ernest Grigo and Sergei Kolevatov. The ancient coat of arms of Königsberg was taken as a basis.
On a blue background there is a silver ship with one sail and a silver two-pointed pennant with the St. Andrew's Cross. The mast goes down with three green leaves. Under the ship are 12 gold bezants arranged in a wave shape.
In the center of the mast there is a shield crossed with silver and scarlet, in the upper part there is a crown, in the lower part there is an equal-ended Greek cross (both figures of variable colors). Around the shield is a ribbon of the medal for the capture of Konigsberg.
Royal Castle
Story
Founded in 1255 on former Prussian territory. Initially, the structure was defensive in nature and was built of wood; later it was reinforced with stone walls. IN early period The Gothic style prevailed in the appearance of the castle, but over time the purpose of the building itself changed and its architectural appearance changed.
With the rise to power of Duke Albrecht in 1525 the castle became a secular palace. Coronations and receptions were held in its halls. In the 18th century, in the basement of the northern wing there was a wine restaurant “Blütgericht”, translated as “Bloody Judgment”. Previously, the restaurant premises were a prison, and there was a trial over it.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the castle served as a museum; rare collections were located within its walls:
- books;
- paintings;
- weapons.
The castle was captured by the Germans during the Second World War, it held meetings and stored valuables from plundered countries. One of these loots was the famous Amber Room, transported by the Germans from Pushkin. Its current location is unknown.
The castle was heavily damaged during the war, but the final “collapse” occurred in 1968 - by order of the Soviet authorities, the building was blown up, and the remaining stones were used for new buildings. Several attempts were made to begin the restoration of the castle. Excavations on its territory are periodically resumed, the last ones dating back to 2016.
Where can you find ruins?
The ruins of the castle are located at: st. Shevchenko 2, public transport stop "Hotel Kaliningrad". Landmark – House of Soviets, built on the territory of a former castle. The visit is paid and possible any day from 10 to 18.
What other attractions are there?
- Fishing village. An ethnographic, craft and shopping complex on the banks of the Pregel River, stylized as old Prussia. It was built in 2006.
- Kant Island(Kneiphof). Located in the middle of the Pregel River, in the 14th century there was an entire city with its own coat of arms. In 1944, the island had 28 streets, 304 houses, public transport, during the bombing in August of the same year, the city was completely destroyed. Now the only building is the Cathedral, surrounded by alleys and sculptures.
- Museum of the World Ocean. Opened in 1990 with the aim of preserving and popularizing Russia's maritime heritage. The museum presents the history of shipbuilding and exhibitions dedicated to marine flora and fauna, as well as the study of the seabed.
- Holy Cross Cathedral. Located on Oktyabrsky Island. Until 1945, there was a Lutheran-Evangelical shrine here, bearing the name of the Church of the Cross. Currently it is an Orthodox church. The central element in the external decoration is a mosaic Protestant cross on the facade, framed by an ornament with lilies and wind roses. The inside of the church is decorated in accordance with Orthodox traditions.
Forts
Beginning in the 19th century, instead of a continuous wall, a network of forts (earthen fortifications with stone buildings that could accommodate 300 soldiers and a supply of ammunition) was built around the city. The territory between them was shelled by artillery, and at a later time by machine guns.
The defensive ring around Koenigsberg consisted of 12 large and 5 small forts and was called the “night feather bed”.
This defense system was tested in April 1945, coming under fire from the Soviet Army.
Most of the forts were destroyed, and the few that remained were abandoned until recently. Monuments of fortification art are gradually being restored. Two forts are available in excursion mode:
- No. 5 King Frederick William III;
- No. 11 Dönhoff.
Below is a video about the forts of Koenegsberg.
Photo
In the photo below you can see the main historical attractions of the city:
When and how did the deportation of Germans take place?
In 1946, Stalin signed a decree on voluntary resettlement to Kaliningrad 12 thousand Russian families out of 27 various areas. From 1945 to 1948, several dozen Germans coexisted with Russians in the city, German schools, churches and public organizations operated.
But this neighborhood cannot be called peaceful - the Germans were regularly subjected to violence and looting by the Soviet population. The government tried in every possible way to eliminate hostility between peoples:
- a newspaper was published;
- training was conducted in German;
- Working Germans were given food cards.
Due to the impossibility of peaceful coexistence and increasing incidents of violence, in 1947 a decision was made to forcibly deport the German population.
Between 1947 and 1948, about 100 thousand German citizens and Prussian Lithuanians were resettled.
The deportation took place peacefully and in an orderly manner, former residents of East Prussia were allowed to transport any amount of cargo with them, they were also given dry rations and conscientious assistance was provided during the movement.
Receipts were taken from all those leaving that they had no claims against the Soviet Government.. Part German specialists was left for restoration agriculture and production, but they also did not receive citizenship and eventually left the country.
The history of Koenigsberg as the Russian city of Kaliningrad is just beginning. Its cultural image has undergone significant changes over the past 15 years:
- new museums appeared;
- forts were restored;
- The first Orthodox church was built.
For a long time, the architectural heritage of the Prussian lands fell into decay, but modern society set about restoring them.
