Whose city was Koenigsberg? Former Koenigsberg, and now Kaliningrad - history, legends, interesting places of the ancient city

Kaliningrad is a unique city in many ways, with an amazing history, shrouded in many mysteries and secrets. The architecture of the Teutonic Order is intertwined with modern buildings, and today, walking along the streets of Kaliningrad, it is difficult to even imagine what kind of view will open around the corner. This city has more than enough secrets and surprises - both in the past and in the present.

Koenigsberg: historical facts

The first people lived on the site of modern Kaliningrad back in the first millennium BC. Remains of stone and bone tools were discovered at tribal sites. A few centuries later, settlements were formed where artisans who knew how to work with bronze lived. Archaeologists note that the finds most likely belong to Germanic tribes, but there are also Roman coins issued approximately in the 1st-2nd centuries AD. Until the 12th century AD These territories also suffered from Viking raids.

But the settlement was finally captured only in 1255. The Teutonic Order not only colonized these lands, but also gave the city a new name - King's Mountain, Königsberg. The city first came under Russian rule in 1758, after the Seven Years' War, but less than 50 years later, Prussian troops recaptured it. During the time that Königsberg was under Prussian rule, it was radically transformed. A sea canal, an airport, many factories, a power plant were built, and a horse-drawn horse was put into operation. Much attention was paid to education and support of the arts - opened Drama Theater, Academy of Arts, began accepting applicants to the university on Parade Square.

Here in 1724 the famous philosopher Kant was born, who did not leave his beloved city until the end of his life.

World War II: battles for the city

In 1939, the city's population reached 372 thousand people. And Koenigsberg would have developed and grown if World War II had not begun. Hitler considered this city one of the key ones; he dreamed of turning it into an impregnable fortress. He was impressed by the fortifications around the city. German engineers improved them and equipped concrete pillboxes. The assault on the defensive ring turned out to be so difficult that for the capture of the city, 15 people received the title of Hero Soviet Union.

There are many legends telling about the secret underground laboratories of the Nazis, in particular about Konigsberg 13, where psychotropic weapons were developed. There were rumors that the Fuhrer's scientists were actively studying the occult sciences, trying to exert an even greater influence on the consciousness of people, but there was no documentary evidence of this.

During the liberation of the city, the Germans flooded the dungeons and blew up part of the passages, so it still remains a mystery - what is there, behind tens of meters of rubble, maybe scientific developments, and maybe untold riches...

It is there, according to many scientists, that the legendary amber room, taken from Tsarskoye Selo in 1942, is located.

To avoid possible protest sentiments, new town It was decided to populate it with a population loyal to the Soviet regime. In 1946, more than twelve thousand families were “voluntarily and forcibly” transported to the Kaliningrad region. The criteria for selecting migrants were specified in advance - the family must have at least two adults, able-bodied people, it was strictly forbidden to relocate “unreliable” people, those who had a criminal record or family ties with “enemies of the people.”

The indigenous population was almost completely deported to Germany, although they lived for at least a year, and some even two, in neighboring apartments with those who had recently been sworn enemy. Clashes happened often, cold contempt gave way to fights.

The war caused enormous damage to the city. Most agricultural land was flooded, and 80% of industrial enterprises were either destroyed or seriously damaged.

The terminal building was seriously damaged; all that remained of the grandiose structure were the hangars and the flight control tower. Considering that this is the first airport in Europe, enthusiasts dream of reviving its former glory. But, unfortunately, funding does not allow for a full-scale reconstruction.

The same sad fate befell the Kant House Museum; a building of historical and architectural value is literally falling apart. It is interesting that in some places the German numbering of houses has been preserved - the counting is not by buildings, but by entrances.

Many ancient churches and buildings are abandoned. But there are also completely unexpected combinations - several families live in the Taplaken castle in the Kaliningrad region. It was built in the 14th century, since then it has been rebuilt several times, and is now recognized as an architectural monument, as stated on the sign on the stone wall. But if you look into the courtyard, you can find a children’s playground and modern double-glazed windows installed. Several generations have already lived here and have nowhere to move.

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.

Basic information

Story

It was founded on September 1, 1255. The beginning of the modern city was the 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. Others were rapidly growing around settlements. 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 , and in 1862 a railway connection with Russia was built. In May 1881, a new type of transport appeared - 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, a flag was raised over the Der Dona Tower (the modern Amber Museum), marking 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 warehouses for food and household goods, and tank and aircraft factories.

Also, the underground city is a repository for many valuables, including the Amber Room. There are two versions of the ending of the legend:

1. During the assault on the city by Soviet soldiers, the Germans collapsed and partially flooded several passages.
2. 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 in the lower city are working 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, 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 of the Supreme Council M.I. Kalinin 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 in 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.

the 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:

1. books;
2. paintings;
3. 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 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, and 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 from 27 different regions. 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:

1. a newspaper was published;
2. training was conducted in German;
3. 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.. Some German specialists were 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 took up the task of restoring them.

Western outpost of Russia: On April 7, 1946, the Königsberg region was formed as part of the RSFSR, today - the Kaliningrad region Russian Federation

The westernmost point of Russia, an enclave surrounded by the territories of Poland and Lithuania, which are not very friendly to us, a military trophy received by right of the winner in World War II...

It would be a mistake to call part of the former East Prussia, which became the Kaliningrad region first of the USSR, and later of Russia, exclusively a trophy - lands taken, albeit by right of the winner, but by force. For two centuries formerly Königsberg already managed, although not for long, to be part of Russian Empire, and of their own free will: during the Seven Years' War in 1758, the townspeople swore allegiance to Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, the city and the surrounding area became the Russian General Government.

Later, when a turning point in the course of World War II had already taken place at the Kursk Bulge, and the defeat of Germany became inevitable, during a meeting on December 1, 1943 at the Tehran Conference, Joseph Stalin justified the allies the need to transfer this territory to the USSR: “The Russians do not have ice-free ports on the Baltic Sea . Therefore, the Russians would need the ice-free ports of Königsberg and Memel and the corresponding part of the territory of East Prussia. Moreover, historically these are primordially Slavic lands.”

“The Russians have a historical and well-founded claim to this German territory,” Churchill agreed, “(even during the First World War) the soil of this part of East Prussia was stained with Russian blood.” Anti-Hitler coalition recognized Russia's right to Königsberg and adjacent lands in absentia. All that was left to do was to recapture East Prussia from Germany.

The assault on the Königsberg fortifications began on April 6, 1945. There was only a month left before victory, German forces were running out, but the city, considered a first-class fortress, did not give up without a fight. Tempered for long years wars Soviet army, having lost about 3,700 people killed against 42,000 enemy losses, took Königsberg “not by numbers, but by skill.” On April 9, the garrison of the fortress capitulated on the square, today named after Victory, and the red banner of the winners was raised on the Der Dona tower (now the Kaliningrad Amber Museum is located there).

Consolidating the results of World War II, the Potsdam Conference first transferred the north of East Prussia to the temporary administration of the USSR, and soon, during the signing of the border treaty, it finally legitimized the Soviet Union’s right to this territory. On April 7, 1946, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Koenigsberg Region was formed in the territory of the district as part of the RSFSR.

It was necessary to rename the conquered city in order to finally close the page of its German history. Initially, it was planned to name Königsberg with the neutral name Baltiysk, and even a draft of a corresponding decree was prepared. But on July 3, 1946, the “all-Union headman” Mikhail Kalinin died and, although there was already a city in the Moscow region named in his honor (the current Korolev), the decision to rename it was made: so the city became Kaliningrad.

In the post-war years, Kaliningrad became one of the most militarized regions of the Soviet Union. The ice-free ports of the region remained the largest base of the Baltic Fleet of the USSR, and later of Russia. During the collapse of the Union, the Kaliningrad region, although cut off from the rest of the country by the territory of Lithuania and Poland, remained part of Russia: unlike Crimea, which was transferred to Ukraine in 1991, Kaliningrad always remained part of the RSFSR.

The creation of the Schengen zone, the gradual deterioration of relations with EU countries, and international sanctions have complicated the life of the “Russian island on the map of Europe.” Against the backdrop of the annexation of Crimea to Russia, some European politicians Lately allow themselves to come up with a proposal to “reconsider the provisions of the Potsdam Treaty” and return the Kaliningrad region to Germany. There is only one answer to this: to those who propose to “reconsider” the results of the Second World War, Russia can “re-show” them.

Kaliningrad. The westernmost regional center of the Russian Federation, its “foreign territory”, surrounded by the countries of the European Union... But that’s not what this story is about.

Until July 1946, Kaliningrad was called Königsberg. The city became part of Russia by decision of the Potsdam Conference of the USSR, Great Britain and the USA, held in July 1945. Before that, Koenigsberg was part of Germany and was actually the “second capital” after Berlin.

In my opinion, the history of Königsberg began not in 1255 (the year the Königsberg fortress was founded), but a little earlier. In 1190, the Teutonic Order was founded in Palestine. The Order was officially approved by Pope Innocent III in 1198.

Knights of the Teutonic Order

After the end of the Crusades, the Order received some lands in Germany and southern Europe. IN central Europe the land had long been divided and therefore the gaze of the knights of the Order turned to the east.
At that time, Prussian tribes lived on the territory of the Kaliningrad region and part of present-day Poland. This group of tribes was related to the Latvian, Lithuanian and Slavic peoples. The ancient Greeks traded with the Prussians - they bought amber in exchange for weapons. Also, mentions of the Prussians can be found in the works of Pliny the Elder, Tacitus and Claudius Ptolemy. In IX - XIII centuries Christian missionaries visited Prussian lands more than once.

The conquest of Prussia by the Teutonic Order took a long time. In 1255, the crusaders founded the Königsberg fortress on the site of the Prussian village of Tvangeste (according to other sources - Tuvangeste or Twangste). There is a legend that the knights witnessed solar eclipse. They considered this a sign, and therefore the Königsberg (Royal Mountain) fortress was founded on the site. The honor of founding the city is attributed to the Bohemian king Ottokar II Przemysl. However, there is an opinion that the name is more of a tribute to the knights' respect for royalty.

Ottokar II Przemysl (1233 - 1278)

Königsberg Castle. Pre-war years

Three cities were founded around the Königsberg fortress: Altstadt, Kneiphof and Löbenicht. The cities were part of the Hanseatic Trade League.

Interestingly, the city of Königsberg appeared only in 1724, when Altstadt, Kneiphof and Löbenicht united. Therefore, some historians consider 1724 to be the year of the founding of Königsberg. The first burgomaster of the united city was the burgomaster of Kneiphof, Doctor of Laws Zacharias Hesse.

The most ancient building of those preserved in Kaliningrad is the Juditten Church. It was built in 1288. The building successfully survived the Second World War, but was destroyed by settlers from the USSR. Only in the 1980s was the church actually rebuilt and now the Orthodox St. Nicholas Cathedral is located there.

Juditten-Kirch. Modern look

The main symbol of the city of Kaliningrad is the Cathedral. It was founded in 1325. The first version of the cathedral was realized in 1333 - 1345, and was subsequently rebuilt many times. Initially it was just a church, and the name Cathedral was given only in the 17th century, possibly due to the presence of local church authorities there. The cathedral was very badly damaged by the British air raid on Königsberg on August 29-30, 1944 and the fighting in April 1945. External part It was restored only in 1994 - 1998, now there is a museum there.

Cathedral. Modern look


One of the attractions of the cathedral is the large organ.

Since 1457, Königsberg was the residence of the masters of the Teutonic Order. At this time, the Order waged a war with Poland, which ended in 1466 with the signing of the Second Peace of Torun. The order was defeated and until 1657 was a vassal of Poland. The Order was already greatly weakened and already in 1525 Albrecht Hohenzollern secularized the lands of the Order and founded the Duchy of Prussia.

Duke Albrecht (1490 - 1568)

Before taking such a step, Albrecht consulted, among other things, with Martin Luther. It is interesting that Luther's son Johann (Hans) is buried in Altstadt, in the Church of St. Nicholas (which was demolished in the 19th century). The daughter of the great reformer Margarita married the Prussian landowner Georg von Künheim and settled on the Mulhausen estate (now the village of Gvardeyskoye, Bagrationovsky district). She died in 1570 and was buried in the local church.

The history of the Teutonic Order did not end with the secularization of its lands. The order was dissolved in 1809, restored in 1834 in Austria, existed until the Anschluss of Austria and the seizure of Czechoslovakia by Germany in 1938 - 1939. After the Second World War, the Order was restored and now the residence of the master is in Vienna.

In addition to the Masters of the Order in Cathedral one of the figures of German classical philosophy, Immanuel Kant, whose name is also associated with the city, is buried. Nowadays the newly formed Baltic Federal University bears his name.

Immanuel Kant (1724 - 1804)

The name of Albrecht Hohenzollern is associated with the founding of the Albertina University of Königsberg. Albrecht began his reign as Duke of Prussia in 1525 by ordering the collection of all the necessary books for the university library. Among those who helped Albrecht found the university was the Belarusian pioneer printer Francis Skaryna. A monument to him can now be seen in front of one of the buildings of the Baltic Federal University. I. Kant.

Monument to Francis Skaryna (left)

IN different years Johann Hamann, Johann Herder, Friedrich Bessel, Carl Jacobi, Ferdinand von Linderman, Adolf Hurwitz, David Hilbert, Hermann Helmholtz worked and gave lectures at Albertina; studied theology, the founder of Lithuanian fiction Kristionas Donelaitis; listened to lectures on philosophy by the writer and composer Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann. It is also worth mentioning that Immanuel Kant worked here.

The Albertina tradition is continued by the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, which was founded in 2010 on the basis of the Russian State University them. I. Kant by decree of the President of the Russian Federation.

After the Thirty Years' War, another war followed - the Northern War (1655 - 1660). In it, Sweden fought against Poland for the Baltic territories and dominance in the Baltic Sea. During this war, Prussia's dependence on Poland was ended. The Brandenburg-Prussian state was created, with Berlin as its capital. Elector Frederick III declared himself King Frederick the First of Prussia. During his reign, Peter I visited Königsberg several times, to whom Frederick presented the famous Amber Room and the pleasure yacht "Liburica". Frederick I himself, among other things, was very fond of tall soldiers and collected them throughout Europe. Therefore, Peter, as a return courtesy, presented the king with 55 selected grenadiers of the tallest stature.


The Amber Room. Restored view

The Amber Room remained in Pushkin until 1942. Retreating, the Germans took the room to Königsberg, where it was mounted for display to a narrow circle of people. In 1945, it was hidden in the castle cellars. The further fate of the room is unknown. According to one version, it is still located under the ruins of the castle. According to others, she could have ended up on board the Wilhelm Gustloff or somewhere in Germany. For the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg, the Amber Room was restored (including with the involvement of German capital) and is now available for visiting in the Catherine Palace.

Many people know Frederick II the Great. Interestingly, he settled the empty lands of Prussia, trying to increase the number of taxpayers. To increase employment, the king sharply opposed machine technology. In addition, the king believed that roads should be in poor condition to impede the movements of the enemy army. The Prussian army was one of the best in Europe.
In 1758 - 1762 Koenigsberg was part of the Russian Empire. At that time, the city was governed by a governor. One of the governors was Vasily Ivanovich Suvorov - the father of the great commander Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov. After V.I. Suvorov, Pyotr Ivanovich Panin (1721 - 1789), who participated in the suppression of the Pugachev uprising, became governor. By the way, Emelyan Pugachev took part in the Seven Years' War and could well have visited Königsberg.

Vasily Ivanovich Suvorov (1705 - 1775)

We should also remember Queen Louise, the wife of King Frederick William III. Her life is continuously connected with the dramatic events of Prussia's struggle against Napoleon. She died in 1810, before the victory over Napoleon.

Queen Louise (1776 - 1810)

A city alley was named in her honor, and there was a Queen Louise shelter for poor women (the building has not survived). Also in 1901, the Queen Louise Church was built (nowadays a puppet theater is located there). In the village of Nidden (now Nida, Lithuania) on the Curonian Spit there was a boarding house for Queen Louise and a monument in her honor.

Church of Queen Louise. Modern look

According to the Peace of Tilsit, Prussia had to pay a huge indemnity. Of this amount, Königsberg owed 20 million francs (later the amount was reduced to 8 million). It is interesting that the city paid this amount to France until 1901.

During the Napoleonic wars, Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov visited Koenigsberg while passing through. The famous writer Stendhal visited Königsberg twice - first on his way to Moscow, captured by Napoleon. And then Stendhal had to flee Moscow. Moreover, he was in such a hurry that he overtook the retreating French army. Denis Vasilievich Davydov was also in Königsberg.

In the 19th and 20th centuries the city grew and developed. Until the mid-19th century, Königsberg bore the imprint of a typically medieval city - there were very few trees on the streets. It was only in 1875 that the Landscaping Union was created. In 1928, the green area of ​​Königsberg was approximately 6,303,744 m2. Unfortunately, the city's green attire is now experiencing an increasingly persistent attack by industrial and residential buildings.

I have covered only a small fraction of what can be told about the history of Königsberg. The destinies of many people are connected with this city. To tell about everything, you need a book as thick as several volumes of War and Peace. However, what I told are very bright moments in the history of Koenigsberg that should not be forgotten,


Kneiphof after a British air raid. 1944

Second World War Koenigsberg was not spared. Many unique buildings have been lost forever. The city was not spared by the people who came to develop the new Soviet region. However, a piece of Königsberg is present in today's Kaliningrad, playing a direct role in the history of the new city.

It is worth adding that the Germans show a noticeable interest in the history of Königsberg - Kaliningrad. You can constantly see German tourists on the street. In addition, in Duisburg there is a German center for the study of everything related to the history of Königsberg.

Kneiphof model. The author is a native of Königsberg, Horst Dühring.

To conclude, I will voice the motto of the Year of Germany in Russia: “Germany and Russia - create the future together.” I think this very accurately applies to the history of Kaliningrad - Königsberg.

Rarely a city in Russia can boast such a rich history as Koenigsberg-Kaliningrad. 759 years is a serious date. Komsomolskaya Pravda offers a light version of centuries-old history.

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PRUSSIANS...

A long time ago, Prussian tribes lived on the territory of today's Kaliningrad region. Historians are still arguing whether these Prussians were Slavs, or the ancestors of modern Lithuanians and Latvians, that is, the Balts. Latest version the most preferred and officially recognized.

The Prussians fished, wandered through dense forests in search of game, cultivated fields, mined amber, which they then sold to merchants from the Roman Empire. The Romans paid for sun stones in ringing silver, as evidenced by numerous finds of Roman denarii and sesterces in the Kaliningrad region. The Prussians worshiped their pagan gods - and the main god Perkunas - in the sacred grove of Romov, located somewhere in the area of ​​modern Bagrationovsk.

The Prussians, in general, were real savages and, apart from their amazing gods, did not worship anything or anyone sacred. And therefore they easily crossed the border and invaded neighboring Poland. To rob. Today we go to the Poles for food, and they come to us for gasoline. That is, we carry out a kind of exchange. A thousand years ago, trade relations were not established, local cross-border cooperation did not exist, but the devastating raids of Prussian leaders on Polish villages were an ordinary occurrence. But the Prussians themselves sometimes had a hard time. From time to time, Vikings - stern blonds in horned helmets - landed on the Prussian coast. They mercilessly plundered Prussian settlements, abused Prussian women, and some of these blue eyed people even founded his own settlement on our land. One of these villages was dug up by archaeologists in the current Zelenograd region. It is called Kaup. True, later the Prussians gathered their forces, attacked Kaup and razed it to the ground.

...AND KNIGHTS

But let's return to Prussian-Polish relations. The Poles endured and endured the atrocities of the Prussians and at some point could not stand it. They wrote a letter to the Pope asking him to organize a crusade against the pagans. Dad liked this idea. By that time - and this was in the middle of the 13th century - the crusaders were heavily beaten in the Holy Land, and the crusader movement was rapidly declining. And so the idea of ​​conquering the Prussian savages was continued. Moreover, 300 years earlier, the Prussians brutally dealt with the missionary Adalbert, who peacefully tried to convert them to the Christian faith. Today, at the site of the supposed death of the saint, a wooden cross stands.

Peter the Great visited Königsberg in 1697. What impressed him most were the fortifications. In particular, the Friedrichsburg fortress. “I’ll build the same one for myself,” thought Peter. And he built it.

As a result, in early XIII century, knights of the Teutonic Order with black crosses on white cloaks appeared on the shores of the Baltic, and began to conquer Prussia with fire and sword. In 1239, the first castle was built on the territory of our region - Balga (its ruins on the shore of the bay can still be seen by an enchanted wanderer). And in 1255 Königsberg appeared. At that time, the Teutonic knights offered to lead the campaign to the Bohemian king Ottokar II Przemysl. They say that it was in honor of the king that the city was named, or rather the castle, or even more precisely, the wooden fortress, which appeared on the high bank of the Pregel River a stone's throw from the Prussian settlement of Twangste. It is generally accepted that Königsberg was founded in January 1255, at the end of Ottokar’s campaign, although some historians doubt this: no construction could begin in January, when the Prussian hills and plains were buried in snow! It probably happened like this: in January, Ottokar, together with the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, Poppo von Ostern, climbed the hill and said:

The castle will be built here.

And he stuck his sword into the ground. But actually construction works started already in the spring.

A few years later, near the wooden castle, which was soon rebuilt in stone, civilian settlements appeared - Altstadt, Lebenicht and Kneiphof.

HOW THE MASTER BECAME A DUKE

At first, the Teutonic Order was friends with Poland, but then they quarreled. The Poles, like air, needed access to the sea, and all coastal lands, including the territory of the current Pomeranian Voivodeship, belonged to the brother knights. The matter could not end peacefully, so in 1410 a Great War between the Order and Poland. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which had previously greatly annoyed the crusaders, also took the side of the latter. For example, in 1370, the troops of two Lithuanian princes Keistut and Olgerd did not reach Konigsberg some measly 30 kilometers - they were stopped by knights in the Battle of Rudau (the battlefield is located in the vicinity of the village of Muromskoye). In general, these Lithuanians were formidable guys. Don’t be surprised: Lithuania is now the size of a thimble, but back then it was quite a powerful state. And even with imperial ambitions.

Immanuel Kant loved to walk around the historical center of Konigsberg. It was in these walks that the Critique of Pure Reason was born. And everything else too.

But let's go back to 1410. Then Poland and Lithuania united and defeated the Teutonic Order in the epic Battle of Grunwald. After this blow, where the good and best part of the crusader army, led by Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen, was killed, the Order never recovered. A few decades later, the Thirteen Years' War began, as a result of which the Teutonic Order lost most their lands, including the capital, Marienburg Castle. And then the Grand Master moved to Konigsberg, which accordingly became the capital. In addition, the Order became a vassal of Poland. In this situation, the spiritual state existed for about 75 years, until Grand Master Albrecht Hohenzollern, who had by that time turned from a Catholic to a Protestant, abolished the order and founded the Duchy of Prussia. At the same time, he himself became the first Duke. However, this circumstance did not eliminate dependence on Poland. But it must be said that if this was a burden for Albrecht, it was only in matters of foreign policy. Therefore on foreign policy Albrecht put an end to it and got deeply involved in domestic politics. Under him, the Königsberg Albertina University was created, and under him the growth of education, the development of art and all kinds of crafts was noted.

After Albrecht, John Sigismund ruled. After John Sigismund, Frederick William became duke. Under him, Koenigsberg, as well as all of Prussia, finally got rid of Polish dependence. Moreover, under this duke, Prussia united with the German state of Brandenburg, and Königsberg lost its capital status. The capital of the newly formed state was Berlin, which was gaining momentum. And in 1701, under the next Hohenzollern - Frederick I - the state was transformed into the Kingdom of Prussia. Not long before this, by the way, a very remarkable event occurred. The young Russian Tsar Peter visited Königsberg as part of a diplomatic mission known as the Grand Embassy. He settled in one of the private houses of Kneiphof and was mainly engaged in inspecting fortifications. I looked, studied and moved on - to Holland.

KANT, NAPOLEON AND THE FIRST TRAM

In 1724, Altstadt, Lebenicht and Kneiphof united into one city, and from that moment the history of the city of Königsberg in the full sense of the word begins (before that, only the castle was called Königsberg). This year has generally turned out to be eventful. In 1724, the great philosopher Immanuel Kant was born - the most famous Koenigsberger in his entire history. centuries-old history. Kant taught at a local university, was indifferent to women (as they say) and loved to walk along the narrow streets of the central part of Konigsberg, which, alas, do not exist today. And in 1764, the philosopher even became a subject of the Russian Empire. The thing is that during the Seven Years' War, a good half of Europe took up arms against the Prussian king Frederick the Great. Including Russia. Having defeated the Prussians in the Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf (in the current Chernyakhov region), Russian troops a little later, in 1758, entered Königsberg. East Prussia passed to the Russian Empire and remained under the shadow of the double-headed eagle until 1762, when the Russian Tsar Peter III made peace with Prussia and returned Koenigsberg to the Prussians.

IN early XIX centuries have come for Prussia and Koenigsberg Hard times. And all thanks to Bonaparte! The earth became the scene of fierce battles. At the beginning of February 1807, Napoleon's armies and Russian troops under the command of Bennigsen, reinforced by a 10,000-strong Prussian corps, converged near Preussisch-Eylau (today's Bagrationovsk). The battle was extremely fierce and bloody, lasted many hours and did not bring victory to either side. Six months later, Napoleon clashed with the Russian armies near Friedland (modern Pravdinsk), and this time the French won. After this, the Peace of Tilsit, beneficial for Napoleon, was concluded.

However, there were also positive events in the century before last. For example, in 1807, the Prussian king abolished the personal dependence of the peasants on the landowners, as well as the privileges of the nobles to own land. From now on, all citizens received the right to sell and buy land. In 1808, a city reform was carried out - all the most important city affairs were transferred to the hands of elected bodies. Stronger and public utilities cities, the infrastructure, as they say now, developed. In 1830, the first water supply system appeared in Königsberg, in 1881 the first horse-drawn line opened, and in 1865 the first train ran on the Königsberg-Pillau line. The first one was opened in 1895 tram line. In addition, to end of the 19th century century, a defensive ring of fortifications consisting of 12 forts was built around Königsberg. This ring, by the way, has survived to this day in more or less tolerable condition.

The history of the last century is well known. Koenigsberg survived two world wars, as a result of the second of which it became Kaliningrad in 1946. And shortly before this, perhaps the most tragic event in the history of the city took place - the British bombing. In August 1944, the entire central part ancient city turned to dust and ashes.