Floors in basement and cellar
Shovels in East Prussia and under Koenigsberg. Legends of East Prussia

Shovels in East Prussia and under Koenigsberg. Legends of East Prussia

After in the XIII century, at the request of the Polish prince Konrad of Mazovia and with the blessing of the Pope of Rome, the crusaders, led by the Teutonic Order, completely destroyed the pagan Lithuanian tribe of the Prussians (due to the fact that they did not want to accept Christianity), on the site of their settlement Twangste - the Sudeten king Ottokar II founded the city of Koenigsberg.

In 1410, after the defeat of the Teutonic Order by the Commonwealth, Koenigsberg could become a Polish city. But then the Polish kings limited themselves to the fact that the order became their vassal. When the Commonwealth began to weaken, on the lands of the Teutonic Order arose first the Electorate, then the Duchy of Prussia.

At the beginning of the XVI century. Albrecht from the Hohenzollern dynasty, which established itself in Brandenburg in 1415, was elected grand master of the Teutonic Order, which became its vassal after the Thirteen Years' War with Poland (1454–66) (Prussia's fief dependence on Poland remained until the 60s of the 17th century).

The Duchy of Prussia united with Brandenburg in 1618, which created the core of the future German Empire. In 1701, Elector Frederick III received the title of king from the emperor of the "Holy Roman Empire" (in exchange for a contingent of troops for the upcoming War of the Spanish Succession). The Brandenburg-Prussian state became a kingdom. After Berlin became its capital instead of Koenigsberg, the whole of Germany began new story- imperial.

Under King Frederick II (reigned 1740-86), about 2/3 of the annual regular budget was spent on military needs; The Prussian army became the largest in Western Europe. In Prussia, the militaristic police-bureaucratic regime (the so-called Prussianism) was being strengthened. Any manifestation of free thought was mercilessly suppressed. In order to expand its territory, Prussia waged numerous wars. During the War of the Austrian Succession of 1740-48, Prussia captured most of Silesia. In the Seven Years' War of 1756-63, Prussia intended to seize Saxony, which had not yet been captured by part of Pomerania, Courland and strengthen its influence on the small German states, accordingly weakening Austria's influence on them, but suffered a major defeat from Russian troops at Gross-Egersdorf (1757) and in Battle of Kunersdorf 1759.

Koenigsberg in 1758 for the first time became Russian city. Even the issue of coins of the "Prussian province" was launched. In 1760, Russian troops occupied Berlin, the capital of Prussia. Only disagreements between the main opponents of Prussia (Austria, Russia, France) and the accession to the Russian throne after the death of Elizabeth Petrovna (1761) of Holsteingottorp Duke Peter III saved Prussia from disaster. Peter III concluded peace and alliance with Frederick II, and in 1762 he withdrew Russian troops from East Prussia, and the city returned to Friedrich. As a result, for many years Prussia remained an ally of the Russian tsars, as well as a commercial and technological bridge between Russia and Europe.

PROVINCE OF RUSSIA

The Seven Years' War began in 1756 with several battles between the armies of Austria and France against the Prussian troops. The Russian army under the command of Field Marshal Apraksin set out on a campaign against Prussia in the spring of 1757 from Riga in two directions: through Memel and Kovno. She entered the territory of Prussia, advanced beyond Insterburg (Chernyakhovsk). Near the village of Gross-Egersdorf (now defunct, Chernyakhovsky district) on August 30, in a fierce battle, the Russian army defeated the Prussian troops under the command of Field Marshal Lewald. The way to Koenigsberg was open!

However, the troops unexpectedly turned back and left Prussia through Tilsit. Only the town of Memel remained in Russian hands. The reason for the retreat of the Russian army is still a topic of controversy. But it is believed that the real reasons were the lack of food and loss of people. That summer, the Russian troops had two opponents: the Prussian army and the weather.

In the second campaign against Prussia in the autumn of 1757, General-in-chief Willim Vilimovich Fermor (1702-1771) became the head of the army. The task was the same - at the first opportunity to occupy Prussia. At three o'clock in the morning on January 22, 1758, Russian infantry set out from Kaimen and by eleven o'clock occupied the suburbs of Koenigsberg, which actually ended up in the hands of the Russians. By four o'clock in the afternoon, Fermor at the head of the detachment drove into the city. The route of its movement was as follows: from the side of present-day Polessk, Frunze Street leads to the city center (the former Koenigstrasse, and during the period of the events described - Breitstrasse, in Russian documents of that time this street was translated literally as “Broad Street”). On it, Fermor with his retinue, following through a crowd of curious spectators, drove into the castle. There he was met by representatives of the Prussian authorities, led by Lesving, and presented with the "keys to the city" (rather, of course, a symbol that marks a historical event).

By the way, in Konigsberg, when Russian troops entered it, there were eighteen churches, of which 14 were Lutheran, 3 were Calvinist and one was Roman Catholic. There were no Orthodox, which was a problem for the Russian residents who appeared. Found a way out. The Russian clergy chose the building, later known as the Steindamm Church. It was one of the oldest Königsberg churches, founded in 1256. Since 1526, Polish and Lithuanian parishioners have used it. And on September 15, 1760, the consecration of the church was solemnly held.

But in Russia there is a change of power. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna dies and Peter III ascends the Russian throne, as you know, an ardent supporter of Frederick II. In a treatise dated May 5, 1762, Peter III unconditionally gave Frederick II all the territories previously occupied by the Russians. On July 5, the Königsberg city newspaper was already published, crowned with the Prussian coat of arms. The transfer of power in the provinces began. On July 9, a coup took place in Russia and Catherine II ascended the royal throne, but nevertheless Russian rule in Prussia was ending. Already on August 5, 1762, the last Russian governor of Prussia Voeikov F.M. (1703-1778) received an order to finally proceed with the transfer of the province, from now on not to interfere in the internal affairs of Prussia, to allow the Prussian garrisons to occupy fortresses.

September 3, 1762 - the beginning of the withdrawal of Russian troops from Prussia. And on February 15, 1763, the Seven Years' War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Hubertusburg. Frederick II died of a cold on August 17, 1786 in Potsdam, leaving no direct heir. He was therefore succeeded by his nephew Friedrich Wilhelm II, who was born on September 25, 1744, at the time of his coronation he was 42 years old. Under this king, the Friedrich system of government began to collapse and the decline of Prussia began. Under him, Prussia lost its importance as the leading power within Germany. This inglorious king died on November 16, 1797. Friedrich Wilhelm III ascended the throne.

DIE HARD SURRENDED WITHOUT A FIGHT

In the second half of the 18th century, the Pillau fortress was one of the most powerful Prussian fortresses. It had five bastions, was reinforced with ravelins, surrounded by a moat with water and an auxiliary rampart - a counterguard. Inside the fortress, powder magazines, a grain warehouse, an arsenal, a commandant's house, a church, rooms for soldiers were equipped. In general, the fortress was an exceptionally tough nut to crack. It was not by chance that the symbolic keys to it (as well as from the Friedrichsburg Gate in Koenigsberg) were presented on January 21, 1758 to the commander-in-chief of the Russian troops, General Fermor, in the Royal Castle: the Seven Years' War was going on ...

Russian troops entered Pillau on January 24 without encountering armed resistance. The burgomaster and members of the magistrate, with swords, went out to meet a small detachment of Major Wigant ... The bell ringing was heard in the city. And soon all the citizens already swore allegiance to the Russian Empress Elizabeth, daughter. It is interesting that in Russia only nobles swore allegiance to emperors, while in Prussia this right was granted to everyone. And history has not recorded cases of evasion of the oath.

The first Russian commandant of Pillau was Major Engineer Rodion Gerbel, a well-known builder of fortifications. His father, Nicholas Gerbel, came to Russia from Switzerland in the times of Peter the Great and participated in the construction of St. Petersburg. Russified as much as it was possible. He baptized his son according to the Orthodox custom.

Rodion Nikolaevich Gerbel studied for two years (1731-1732) in Koenigsberg, at an engineering school, then - in 1744 - visited East Prussia as part of Russian embassy, heading in a roundabout way to Stockholm. By the way, together with his classmate at the engineering school Larion, the father of the future field marshal. Rodion Gerbel participated in all the key battles of the Seven Years' War: at Gross-Egersdorf, Zondorf, Kunersdorf, the siege and capture of Memel and Koenigsberg.

Subsequently, the name Gerbel will be inscribed in the history of Russia more than once: the grandson of Rodion Nikolaevich, Karl Gustavovich Gerbel, the Knight of St. George, will distinguish himself in 1807 in the battle of Preussisch-Eylau, and in December 1812 - January 1813 he will triumphantly pass through Tilsit and Koenigsberg to Hamburg. And the great-grandson - Nikolai Gerbel - will become a famous Russian writer.

Gerbel commanded at Pillau for a year. He managed to organize a customs service and control over navigation through the strait. Then - departed with the troops for the Vistula, to solve the next military task. He was replaced as commandant by Colonel Freiman, after whom Major Wigant was appointed. Wigant was replaced by Colonel Khomutov, and from 1760 to 1762 this duty was performed by Colonel Girshgend. At this time, thanks to the Governor-General of Corfu, a Russian dam appeared in Pillau. It was a very important project. The harbor that existed in Pillau was small for Russian ships. Therefore, a new, wider one was built on the site, which was called Maulshillen (i.e. "slap in the face"). A number of icebreakers stood here, and the coast was fortified with 10,000 fascines, i.e. special bundles of brushwood. The length of the dam was 450 meters (today this place is called the Russian Embankment). Prussian peasants were involved in the construction, but they were released during the harvest. By the way, the Russian army was provided with food through supplies from Russia. Such was the strange occupation. Not at all burdensome for the occupied territories. However, local residents still made attempts to resist.

King Frederick the Great, being outside of East Prussia, incited people loyal to him to fight the "occupiers". Communication was maintained through Pillau's postmaster Ludwig Wagner. Using his postal channels, Wagner passed on news and money collected by like-minded people to the king. He was sure that he was beyond suspicion: according to some reports, the Russian governor of Prussia, von Korf, was very interested in his, Ludwig, sister Maria. In addition, Wagner himself made friends with a couple of Russian officers.

But... at the beginning of 1759, several residents of Pillau (in particular, the inspector for construction and licenses Lange and Captain von Hambeau, under whose command the prisoners were in the fortress) drew up a plan on how to free the fortress from Russian "usurpation". The plan was ridiculous - if only because fifty people knew about it. Both in Pillau and in Koenigsberg. Naturally, someone reported on the "Pillau conspiracy" of the Russian administration.

That same evening, Wagner learned that Lange and Hambeau had also been arrested. All the conspirators were sent to Koenigsberg. June 28, 1759 Ludwig Wagner was sentenced to death by quartering. But Empress Elizabeth pardoned Wagner, and he was "only" exiled to Siberia. Having passed through Moscow, Solikamsk, Tomsk, Yeniseisk and other cities, Wagner ended up in Tobolsk - exactly at the time when, after the death of Elizabeth Petrovna, her nephew Peter III, an ardent admirer of Frederick the Great, inherited the Russian throne.

Peter III immediately made peace with the adored Prussian king, returned Prussia to him - and Wagner, no longer considered an exiled conspirator, set off on his return journey. He did not find his sister alive. The cause of her death remained unknown. But it was rumored that the beautiful Maria, in her turn, not indifferent to the governor-general of Corfu, withered away after she turned into the "sister of the conspirator."

Wagner sent a "Memorandum" to the king. Having listed in detail everything that he had lost, he presented Frederick with a bill of 6,000 thalers. The king received Wagner in Potsdam, lined up a guard of honor, drew his sword, solemnly said "Welcome from Siberia!", But did not give money. But he again appointed Wagner postmaster at Pillau.

Subsequently, Wagner will write a book of memoirs about his Siberian misadventures, and a street in Pillau will be named after him (now it is a lane named after A.S. Pushkin). And in memory of the time when East Prussia belonged to Russia, a monument to Empress Elizabeth was erected in Baltiysk. For some reason - an equestrian statue ...

Interestingly, the fortress of Pillau, which surrendered to the Russians without firing a shot, in 1807 became one of the three Prussian fortresses that fiercely resisted Napoleon's troops. The commandant of the fortress was then 76-year-old Colonel von Herrmann, a most curious personality: for example, he spent his everyday sleep ... in a coffin. Explaining his quirk by the fact that at his venerable age it is time to get used to the "wooden box". When the French demanded that Pillau be handed over to them, Herrmann gathered a garrison in the courtyard of the fortress, ordered the coffin to be brought, and declared to the audience: “Friends! As long as I'm alive, I won't give up the fortress. Here is my coffin. Which of you will survive me, I hope, will put me, your boss and commander, in this coffin. Here, in the presence of all of you, I will once again repeat the oath that I took a long time ago, upon entering military service, to my monarch, to my state. All those in whom military honor lives, I ask you to repeat: "Prussia or death!"

And the garrison held out heroically. The French lost 122 killed and wounded. One cannonball, fired by the defenders of Pillau, fell directly into the mouth of the French cannon, which shattered into pieces, which pretty much cut the Napoleonic artillerymen ... The fortress did not give up for eight days. It is not known how this whole story would have ended, but on June 26, 1807, a truce was concluded in Tilsit.

There may not be an ounce of truth in this legend, but I really like it. Feel free to read it to the end.

In the spring of 1255, after a successful winter campaign against Prussia, the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order (His full and official name- Ordo Domus Sanctae Mariae Teutonicorum "Order of the House of St. Mary of Germany"). Popo von Ostern, Margrave Otto III of Brandenburg, Prince Heinrich von Meissen of Elbing and Bohemian King Ottokar II Premysl, on the advice of the latter, on the banks of the Pregel River, not far from its confluence with the Frischesshaf Bay, a castle was founded.
This was not the first fortification built by the German knights on the land of the Prussians. By 1240, they had already erected twenty-one fortified points, and each stood either on the site of the captured Prussian fortresses - such, for example, were the castles of Balga, Lenzenburg, Kreuzburg - or on a strategically advantageous site, asserting the military positions of the Teutonic Order on this land.
But the castle built on the banks of the Pregel was special.

After the Prussian uprising in 1242 - 1249, when many order fortifications were destroyed, the cities located next to them were burned, and the German colonists who inhabited them were massacred, it became clear that the final and real assertion of the power of Christianity over the pagan Prussians in these lands would not just a military victory. This power had to be reinforced by a special magical act that would change the very ideological foundations of this entire territory, would leave the Prussian gods without their sacred power and thereby weaken the Prussian tribes, deprive them of the martial spirit known to the whole region.
It was this function that the castle on the banks of the Pregel was supposed to perform. It was decided to put it on a hill overgrown with sacred oaks, which the Prussians called Tuwangste and which they worshiped, considering it the dwelling place of their gods.
In the early morning of April 7, 1255, a detachment of ten knights led by Burchard von Hornhausen, who later became commander of the castle, left Balga on the last spring snow and headed for the site of the planned construction.
We drove slowly, enjoying the first spring sun. In the middle of the day we stopped to rest in the old Prussian fortress, captured by the order fifteen years ago and called Lenzenburg (to date this fortress has not survived).
In the morning of the next day, we went further, knowing that they would reach the place only in the evening. Crossing the Frisching River at noon (now it is the Prokhladnaya River), they noted to themselves that the castle planned at the place where it flows into the Frischesshaf Bay is really necessary, and hoped for its speedy construction: it was rumored that it was entrusted by the master of the order to Margrave Otto III of Brandenburg . (In 1266, Otto III actually built a castle in this place and named it Brandenburg "for eternal memory in honor of his margraviate"). In 1267 the castle was captured and burned by the Prussians, but in the same year it was restored by the knights of the order. Here they arranged a daytime halt. Everyone was in high spirits: everyone knew that it fell to him to solve the special task of the order and the holy church of Christ, and this elevated, gave a feeling of exclusivity and even chosenness.
No one suspected that he would become a participant in important, mystical events that would determine the fate of this entire region for centuries to come.
Toward evening we approached the Pregel, or, as the Prussians themselves called this river, the Lipce. On loose ice, carefully leading the horses between dark gullies, we first crossed to a wooded island, from which it was already quite a stone's throw from Tuvangsta, and then to the other side, right to the hill on which, in fact, the castle was supposed to stand.
It was already getting dark. On a hillock to the left, separated from Tuwangste by a small stream, one could see a large Prussian settlement. The brothers sent their horses to him, hoping to find lodging and supper there.
Six years ago, the order was at war with all the Prussian tribes. But everyone was tired of the blood: both the Prussians and the order brothers - and a truce was concluded. It was beneficial primarily to the order. But the Prussians were also satisfied: everyone who was taken captive and converted to Christianity was released on the condition that they not return to paganism. However, many did not keep their promises. Attending church services, they then secretly came to temples in sacred groves and ate boiled meat and drank beer there - this is how, according to them, they made sacrifices to their gods.
The order behaved more insidiously. Having restored his fortifications and increased the garrisons - including at the expense of the Prussians, who remained faithful to Christianity - he proceeded to the further development of the Prussian lands. So, a few months ago, a big campaign against Sambia was made, which made the influence of the order even wider.
With all this, the external peace between the order and the Prussians was still respected. If necessary, in the Prussian settlements, the brothers could find shelter and food for themselves and their horses, but the main and paradoxical thing was the help needed in the construction of fortresses.
Burchard von Hornhausen knew all this and therefore led his detachment to the Prussian countryside with a light heart. Tomorrow, April 9, 1255, in the morning he will gather all able-bodied men to work on laying the castle, and at noon the cutting of oaks on the top of Tuwangste will begin. Everything turned out as well as possible. The work will take place very close to the Prussian village, and the brothers will be able to live there until winter. And there the premises of the fortress will be ready. The felled oaks will be used right there - they will go to the construction of the first walls and towers.
From the village to which Burchard von Hornhausen sent his detachment, inhabited human habitation was far drawn in the icy evening air. There was a delicious smell of smoke, fresh bread, roasted pork, and cow dung that still had the scent of dried summer herbs. Somewhere children were laughing loudly, and a muffled male voice gently soothed them. In the windows of the wooden log cabins, located high, under the very thatched roofs, the reflections of the fire burning in the hearths trembled. And above the roofs the first evening stars lit up.
“This is how peaceful and simple the life of every Christian should be,” Burchard von Hornhausen thought as he drove through the gates of the village, “and the brothers of our order will not spare themselves to keep it that way forever.”
No one expected a warm welcome, but for some reason it turned out to be even colder than expected. The men glumly accepted the horses from their brothers, the women, without raising their eyes and without a word, put on the table a dish of bread, large clay bowls of cheese, mugs and jugs of milk. And everyone dispersed, leaving the brothers alone in this strong, but suddenly turned out to be uncomfortable house with a hearth burning in the corner, with a set table, to which no one invited them. And it was not clear what to do next: either start eating without waiting for the hosts, or wait for their return, fighting hunger and dutifully accepting their rare impoliteness.
Everyone was silent. Sparks flickered and died on the coals of the hearth. A warm heaviness slowly, gradually spread over the body, making the thought of food distant and unimportant. I remembered the recent campaign against Sambia, a few weeks of respite in the castle of Balga. For many, this land has already become their own - this is how the brothers thought about it and talked about it. It was only necessary that the holy faith of Christ spread to all its corners, and it was they, the brothers of the Teutonic Order, who tempered their weapons and faith in Jerusalem itself, who had the high mission to carry it out. It was worth living and dying for!
Someone touched Burchard von Hornhausen on the shoulder. He looked around and saw an old man standing next to him in a light woolen shirt to the heels, with a simple rope belt, in a strange felt cap. In his hand he held a tall staff - a long trunk of a young tree, turned upside down by its roots. Clear, penetrating - not at all senile was his look, but deep pain was seen in this look.
“This is Krive Krivaitis, the high priest of the Prussians,” Burchard von Hornhausen realized unexpectedly for himself. And with this understanding, in some strange way, came the obvious knowledge of what he would say now.
Looking intently into the eyes of Burchard von Hornhausen, Krive suddenly spoke in the Rhenish dialect, but his lips barely trembled:
"It's not too late," Burchard von Hornhausen heard, as if in himself. - Stop. The road that your magician king Ottokar has shown you will lead to trouble. Your foot must not set foot on the ground of Tuwangste. Fear the trampling of our gods - no one can humiliate the sun and sky, youth and maturity, sea and earth. And their revenge is inexorable. You can't go into battle with what life itself is and go unpunished. Tell all this to your Wizard King. And tomorrow return back to your castle to do what you did before and what is destined for you by fate.
Kriva Krivaitis fell silent. The fire in the hearth suddenly flared brightly, illuminating bundles of onions hanging in the corners, bunches of herbs, skins on the walls, wide benches under them, brothers sitting at the table, who, already falling asleep on the go, wearily ate what the owners had put on the table. All this was strange. As if time had changed its course for Burchard von Hornhausen.
He looked back again to object to Kriva Krivaitis, or perhaps to agree with him, saying something very important. But he wasn't. Only a large black raven under a thatched roof, coming from nowhere, started up and, shifting from foot to foot, flapped its wings.
The next day, waking up before sunrise, the brothers ate everything that was left after yesterday's dinner, and went out of the house into the street. The men of the settlement were already standing in a group, waiting for the brothers and discussing something with anxious faces. When Burchard von Hornhausen approached them, they all fell silent, turned to him, and one of them, apparently the most important, stepped forward and spoke in Prussian, choosing his words so that he could be easily understood:
- Knight, no need to go to Tuwangst. We were told that it would be very bad. There are many other places. We will help you build. But you don't need to go to Tuwangsta. Stop, knight.
Burchard von Hornhausen himself, in the depths of his soul, began to feel some kind of unrest. There was no longer any joy from the consciousness of the mission entrusted to him and his comrades. But could he have disobeyed the Grand Master of the Order, Popo von Ostern, and not followed his orders?
He made an effort on himself, and a familiar excitement, the same as before the fight, began to take over him, obscuring both anxiety and doubt. Taking the sword out of its scabbard and taking it by the blade, he raised the resulting cross high above his head.
“The Lord God and the strength of the cross are with us,” he exclaimed, inspiring himself and trying to convey this feeling to all those who were supposed to go to the construction site. Faith will be our banner. Our Lord Jesus said: if you have faith the size of a mustard seed and say to the mountain: “move from here to there,” and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. Let's go with faith, and become stronger, and glorify our Lord and the holy church!
The inspiration of Burchard von Hornhausen was really transferred to those around him. The Prussians, though reluctantly, nevertheless headed out of the settlement in the direction of Tuwangste.
And at the very moment when the detachment was leaving the gate, it seemed to Burchard von Hornhausen that Kriva Krivaitis was standing in their shadow and was silently following him with his eyes. Getting colder and again beginning to feel doomed, he clearly heard the already familiar: “It’s not too late!” But he pulled himself together and saw that in fact there was no one at the gate. And the detachment moved more evenly, more organized, and it was already impossible to stop it.
The sun was rising over the wooded hills in the direction of Tuwangste, and the brothers, along with the Prussians, walked in the direction of the sun. "It good sign. thought Burchard von Hornhausen. - Ex Oriente Lux, Light from the East. He tried to feel light and confident in himself. And the strength that seemed to help him overcome any obstacles.
With this confident ease, everyone entered Tuwangste - and nothing happened. “Well, thought Burchard von Hornhausen, all fears were in vain. The faith of Christ is stronger than paganism. So it has always been and everywhere, so it will be now. Or maybe it’s not even bad that our castle will stand on the holy site of the Prussians…”
In the east, the Tuwangste forest ended in a deep ravine, along the bottom of which a rather wide and deep stream flowed. “But this place is pious,” thought Burchard von Hornhausen again, “and the stream is also pious. So let it be called from now on - Lobebach.
On the edge of the ravine, it was decided to build a fortress.
Everyone stood in a circle, prayed briefly before starting work, Burchard von Hornhausen gave the order to start. But then suddenly something unexpected and inexplicable happened.
From behind a large old oak tree, near which the very sanctuary of the Prussians was located - sacrificial stones, bonfires carved from wood and dug into the ground images of the gods, ritual curtains stretched on poles also with their images - Krive Krivaitis came out, real, living, from the flesh and blood.
He was silent, but each of those present suddenly lacked the strength to carry out the order of Burchard von Hornhausen. Nobody moved.
Burchard von Hornhausen, inwardly praying to the heavenly host, gathered all his will and again, in a broken voice, ordered to begin.
But the Prussians stood in silence, not raising their eyes, languidly clutching axes in their hands. Krive Krivaitis also stood in silence beside the old oak, and the wind easily stirred his long White hair. The sun shone in the sky bright and festive. It was quiet - so quiet that you could hear the snow melting at the tree roots on the south side and the first spring greens breaking through it to the light. And no one raised an ax, swung first, hit a tree, each of which was sacred to the entire Prussian people.
Then the brothers themselves took up the axes. The first strong blows resounded far around.
And something shook in the world. A gust of wind, like a groan, swept through the forest. The sky seemed to shrink in fear. The sun became somehow tired and joyless. Oaks strangely tensed - a threat wafted from them. And that's all: Burchard von Hornhausen, order brothers, the Prussians, doomedly standing right there, Krive Krivaitis himself - felt that something important and irreplaceable was leaving this place and their lives. As if the girl loses her innocence in the presence of strangers, being tormented by someone else's dirty flesh. And it will never be possible to fix it.
From surprise and from the certainty of what was happening, the brothers stopped again.
Krive Krivaitis, with a whitened face and a strange fire in his eyes, stepped forward. An unusual power suddenly surged from him. One of his hands shot up, as if he were catching something descending from heaven, the other reached out to Burchard von Hornhausen and the depressed brothers. Deafly, but at the same time distinctly and distinctly, he uttered the words that fell on the soul of each of them heavily, like stones:
- You who think you've come here forever. You who speak and think of yourself as if you know the truth about the world. You, by cunning and force, forcing us to renounce our gods and worship the cross and the one who died in torment on it. I address you, Krive Krivaitis, High Priest of the Prussians. By the power of Okopirms, Perkuno, Potrimpo and Patollo - the supreme gods who revealed themselves to us and our ancestors and gave irresistible vitality to all that exists, by the power of these gods, overflowing our souls in battle, I river to you.
You have defiled our holy place with your feet, and therefore may it be cursed for you forever. Your days on this earth are numbered. Only seven times the age of the castle you are building will turn around, and the night fire will fall from heaven to turn it and the city around into a sea of fire. Others will come, similar to us and worshiping the same gods through the cross, and they will not leave stone unturned from your castle. This land will be dead. Stone ice will forge it, and nothing will grow on it except wild herbs. After that, another castle will be erected, higher than the previous one, but it will also remain dead and begin to crumble, not yet completed. A crafty spirit of bargaining and deceit will hover over this place. And even a man's immersion of his hands in the land of Tuwangste in an effort to return to the past will not remove my curse. So it will be, and my word is firm.
And only after it is fully fulfilled, the curse can be lifted. This will happen if three priests - one in word, another in faith, the third in love and forgiveness - plant a new oak tree on the land of Tuwangste, bow to it with reverence, light the sacred fire and return our gods by sacrificing to them. And it will again be me, the high priest of the Prussians, Krive Krivaitis, and my priests Herkus and Sikko. But we will have other names and other lives. We will return to accomplish what is written on the tablets of Eternity.
There was another long silence. What were the embarrassed and truly frightened order brothers thinking about? How did the defeated and depressed Prussians feel? Nobody will know about it now.
But the Teutons were the first to come to their senses after these words. In the deep silence that filled the now ordinary oak grove, descending from a high hill down to the waters of the Pregel, there was an uncertain knock of one ax, then another, then a third ...
The knocking became more and more frequent, sure.
The clock of fate began a sad countdown to the moments of the life of the castle under construction and the city - Koenigsberg.

Berestnev Gennady Ivanovich, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor
In general, this legend is called "The Beginning of Koenigsberg. Hypothetical Reconstruction", but I don't like this name.

Kaliningrad. Westernmost regional center Russian Federation, its "foreign territory" surrounded by the countries of the European Union ... But this story is not about that.

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, Königsberg was part of Germany and was actually the "second capital" after Berlin.

In my opinion, the history of Königsberg did not begin 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 was divided long ago and therefore the eyes of the knights of the Order turned to the east.
At that time in the territory Kaliningrad region and parts of present-day Poland were inhabited by Prussian tribes. 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, references to the Prussians can be found in the writings of Pliny the Elder, Tacitus and Claudius Ptolemy. In the 9th - 13th centuries, Christian missionaries visited the lands of the Prussians 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 a solar eclipse. This was considered by them as a sign, and therefore the Königsberg fortress (Royal Mountain) was founded on the site of the parking lot. 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 a tribute to the knights to the kingship.

Ottokar II Przemysl (1233 - 1278)

Königsberg Castle. Pre-war years

Around the Königsberg fortress, 3 cities were founded: Altstadt, Kneiphof and Löbenicht. The cities were part of the Hanseatic trade union.

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

The oldest surviving building in Kaliningrad is the Juditten Church. It was built in 1288. The building successfully survived the Second World War, but was destroyed by immigrants from the USSR. It was only in the 1980s that the church was actually rebuilt, and now the Orthodox St. Nicholas Cathedral is located there.

Juditten Church. Modern look

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

Cathedral. Modern look

One of the attractions of the cathedral is a large organ

Since 1457, Königsberg has been the residence of the masters of the Teutonic Order. At this time, the Order was at 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. Interestingly, 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 in the Mühlhausen 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 capture 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, one of the figures of German classical philosophy, Immanuel Kant, whose name is also associated with the city, is buried in the Cathedral. Now the recently formed Baltic Sea is named after him. Federal University.

Immanuel Kant (1724 - 1804)

The name of Albrecht Hohenzollern is associated with the founding of the Königsberg University "Albertina". Albrecht began his reign as Duke of Prussia in 1525 by ordering the collection of all necessary books for the university library. Among those who helped Albrecht found the university was the Belarusian printing pioneer Francysk 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 Francysk Skaryna (left)

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

The traditions of "Albertina" are 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 I of Prussia. During his reign, Koenigsberg was visited several times by Peter I, to whom Frederick presented the famous Amber Room and the Liburika pleasure yacht. Frederick I himself, among other things, was very fond of tall soldiers and collected them throughout Europe. Therefore, Peter, as a courtesy in return, presented the king with 55 selected grenadiers of the highest stature.

The Amber Room. restored look

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, she was hidden in the cellars of the castle. The further fate of the room is unknown. According to one version, it is still under the ruins of the castle. According to others, she could have been 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 populated the empty lands of Prussia, seeking to increase the number of taxpayers. To increase employment, the king sharply opposed machine technology. In addition, the king believed that the roads should be in poor condition in order to impede the movement of the enemy army. The Prussian army was one of the best in Europe.
In 1758 - 1762. Königsberg 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 the governor. By the way, Emelyan Pugachev took part in the Seven Years' War and could well visit Koenigsberg.

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 the struggle of Prussia against Napoleon. She died in 1810, without waiting for the victory over Napoleon.

Queen Louise (1776 - 1810)

The city alley was named in her honor, there was a shelter of Queen Louise for poor women (the building has not been preserved). Also in 1901, the church of Queen Louise was built (now there is a puppet theater). In the village of Nidden (now the city of Nida, Lithuania) on the Curonian Spit there was a boarding house of Queen Louise and became 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 (then 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. The famous writer Stendhal twice visited Königsberg - first on his way to Moscow captured by Napoleon. And then Stendhal had to flee from Moscow. And he was in such a hurry that he overtook the retreating French army. Also in Königsberg was Denis Vasilyevich Davydov.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the city grew and developed. Until the middle of the 19th century, Königsberg bore the imprint of a typical medieval city - there were very few trees on the streets. It was only in 1875 that the Greening Union was created. In 1928, the green attire of Koenigsberg was about 6,303,744 m2. Unfortunately, now the green outfit of the city is experiencing an increasingly persistent offensive of industrial and residential buildings.

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

Kneiphof after the British air raid. 1944

Second World War did not spare Koenigsberg. Many unique buildings have been lost forever. The city was not spared by the people who came to equip the new Soviet region. However, a part of Koenigsberg 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. Constantly on the street you can see German tourists. In addition, in Duisburg there is a German center for the study of everything related to the history of Königsberg.

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

As a conclusion, I will announce the motto of the Year of Germany in Russia: "Germany and Russia - to create the future together." I think this applies very accurately to the history of Kaliningrad - Koenigsberg.

It should be noted that the victors behaved peacefully in Prussia. They provided the inhabitants with freedom of belief and trade and gave them access to the Russian service. Double-headed eagles replaced the Prussian ones everywhere. An Orthodox monastery was built in Koenigsberg. They began to mint a coin with the image of Elizabeth and the signature: Elisabeth rex Prussiae. The Russians intended to settle firmly in East Prussia.
But in Russia there is a change of power. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna dies and Peter III ascends the Russian throne, as you know, an ardent supporter of Frederick II. In a treatise dated May 5, 1762, Peter III unconditionally gave Frederick II all the territories previously occupied by the Russians. On July 5, the Königsberg city newspaper was already published, crowned with the Prussian coat of arms. The transfer of power in the provinces began. On July 9, a coup took place in Russia and Catherine II ascended the royal throne, but nevertheless Russian rule in Prussia was ending. Already on August 5, 1762, the last Russian governor of Prussia Voeikov F.M. (1703-1778) received an order to finally proceed with the transfer of the province, from now on not to interfere in the internal affairs of Prussia, to allow the Prussian garrisons to occupy fortresses.
September 3, 1762 - the beginning of the withdrawal of Russian troops from Prussia. And on February 15, 1763, the Seven Years' War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Hubertusburg. Frederick II died of a cold on August 17, 1786 in Potsdam, leaving no direct heir.

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, more than 700 years old - seven centuries of rapid growth, rapid seizures and frequent changes of heads of government.

The most western city of Russia is shrouded in ancient legends and surrounded by interesting historical sights.

Basic information

Story

It was founded on September 1, 1255. The beginning of the modern city was a castle erected on the site of the Prussian settlement Twangste in the lower reaches of the Pregel River. The Grand Master of the Teutonic Order Poppo von Ostern and King Premysl Otakar II of the Czech Republic are considered to be the founders.

Tvangste was besieged by the knights, but after the arrival of help from the King of Bohemia, the settlement fell. The first building was made of wood, and in 1257 the construction of brick walls began.

The castle was named Koenigsberg, he was sieged three times (in 1260, 1263 and 1273) by the Prussian tribes, but resisted. In subsequent years, German colonists began to arrive to develop the Prussian lands. Indigenous peoples were assimilated and XVI century only 20% of the total population remained.

On February 28, 1286, the settlement near the castle walls, bearing the same name, was given city rights. Other settlements grew rapidly around. In 1300, another city began to be called - Löbenicht, it was in it that the first printing house was opened in 1523, and in 1524 the first book was printed.

From an administrative point of view, both cities were independent, but in fact formed a single whole. The united cities were named Koenigsberg, and the first and oldest part of it was renamed Altstadt ("old town").

The third settlement to receive official status was Kneiphof, and it also formed part of Königsberg.

In 1466, as a result of the thirteen-year war, the capital of the Teutonic Order was moved from Marienburg to Konigsberg.

In 1525, the theocratic state became known as the Duchy of Prussia, and Grand Master Albrecht proclaimed himself a duke. Since the 16th century, the city has become cultural center, important figures lived in it and the first books in the Lithuanian language were published.

In 1660, the publication of his own newspaper began., copies of it 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, towns and the castle took place. The name remained the same - Koenigsberg.

During the Seven Years' War, the city was captured by Russia and from 1758 to 1762 was part of it. In 1762, it was returned to Prussia under the terms of the St. Petersburg Peace Treaty concluded with it by the Russian Emperor Peter III.

In the 19th century, Koenigsberg grew rapidly and modernized, countless ravelins, bastions and defensive ramparts were built (many of the buildings are still preserved).

In 1857, a railway appeared in Konigsberg, and in 1862 a railway connection with Russia was laid. In May 1881, a new type of transport appeared - horse-drawn carriage (horse-drawn - urban 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 Koenigsberg - Riga - Moscow were organized in 1922. In the XX century, the city expanded significantly, were built:

stations;
residential buildings;
commercial buildings.

The greatest contribution to the architecture of the city was made by Hans Hopp and Friedrich Heitmann. A large place was given to monuments and sculptures, they were created by both graduates and teachers of the Königsberg Academy of Arts. At the same time, research and reconstruction were carried out in the old castle.

In August 1944, during the bombing by Britain, the city was badly damaged and the entire old center of Koenigsberg was destroyed.

In the 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 tower of Der Dona (modern amber museum), marking the end of German rule. During fierce battles, both sides suffered losses of 50 thousand people..

We offer you to watch a video about the assault on Koenigsberg.

Who was given a medal for taking?

On June 9, 1945, the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces ordered the establishment of a medal for the capture of the city-fortress of Koenigsberg.

This the medal was awarded to servicemen of the army, navy and troops of the NKVD who took personal part in the battle for the city, as well as organizers and leaders of hostilities 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 rest were for the liberation and capture of capitals.

Legend of underground Kaliningrad

The essence of the legend is that under the city there is an underground city - an understudy built during the German rule. It has power plants, numerous warehouses of food and household goods, there are tank and aircraft manufacturing plants.

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

During the assault on the city Soviet soldiers, the Germans collapsed and partially flooded several passages.
After the war, an expedition was sent to the dungeon, but it could not 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 in the 1950s, provoked its appearance by numerous artistic and documentary works of those times.

Where is it on the map?

The city is located on the shores of the Baltic Sea. From the south it borders with Poland, and from the east and north - with Lithuania. It has no land borders with Russia.

What does this name mean in German?

The center of the city was the castle, at the foundation it was called the "King's Mountain" (translated from the German Königsberg), in honor of the King of the Czech Republic Premysl Otakar II, who is one of the founders.
According to another version, the word "Kenigsberg" is of Gothic origin: kuniggs is the head of the clan, and berg is the coast.

Which country does it belong to?

In 1945, the Potsdam Conference was held, by its decision, the German province, together with its capital, was annexed to Soviet Union. After the death of the Chairman of the Supreme Council M. I. Kalinin July 4, 1946 the city received a new name - Kaliningrad, and its region became Kaliningrad.

Coat of arms

The modern emblem was approved on July 17, 1996 and finalized on April 28, 1999. The authors of the project are Ernest Grigo and Sergey Kolevatov. The old coat of arms of Koenigsberg was taken as a basis.

On a blue background 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 sheets. Under the ship there are 12 golden bezants laid in the form of a wave.

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 the ribbon of the medal for the capture of Koenigsberg.

the Royal Castle

Story

Founded in 1255 on former Prussian territory. Initially, the building was defensive in nature and was built of wood, later it was reinforced with stone walls. In the 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 coming to power of Duke Albrecht in 1525 the castle turned into 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 "Blutgericht", translated as "Bloody Court". Previously, there was a prison in the restaurant, and a court 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 World War II, meetings were held in it and valuables from plundered countries were stored. One of these booty was the famous Amber Room, transported by the Germans from Pushkin. Its current location is not known.

The castle was badly 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 start rebuilding the castle. Excavations on its territory are periodically renewed, the last ones are dated 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 the former castle. The visit is paid and is possible on any day from 10 to 18.

What other sights are there?

fish village. An ethnographic, craft and trade complex on the banks of the Pregel River, stylized as old Prussia. Was built in 2006.
Kant Island(Kneiphof). It is located in the middle of the Pregel River, in the XIV century there was a whole city with its own coat of arms. In 1944, there were 28 streets, 304 houses on the island, public transport ran, during the bombing in August of that year the city was completely destroyed. Now the only building is the Cathedral, surrounded by alleys and sculptures.
World Ocean Museum. It was opened in 1990 with the aim of preserving and promoting the maritime heritage of Russia. 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 October 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. Inside the church is already decorated in accordance with Orthodox traditions.

forts

Starting from the 19th century, instead of a continuous wall around the city, a network of forts was built (earth fortifications with stone buildings that could accommodate 300 soldiers and a supply of ammunition). The territory between them was shot through 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, having come under fire from the Soviet Army.

Most of the forts were destroyed, and the few that remained until recently were abandoned. Monuments of fortification art are gradually being restored. Two forts are available in tour mode:

No. 5 King Frederick William III;
No. 11 Dönhoff.

Below is a video about the forts of Kenegsberg.

A photo

In the photo below you can see the main historical sights of the city:

When and how did the deportation of the Germans take place?

In 1946, Stalin signed a decree on voluntary resettlement in 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 worked.

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 destroy the hostility between the peoples:

published a newspaper;
teaching was conducted in German;
working Germans were issued food cards.

Due to the impossibility of peaceful coexistence and the increase in cases of violence, in 1947 a decision was made to forcibly deport the German population.

Between 1947 and 1948, about 100,000 German citizens and Prussian Lithuanians were resettled.

The deportation took place peacefully and in an orderly manner, the former residents of East Prussia were allowed to carry any amount of cargo with them, dry rations were also issued and conscientious assistance was provided during the movement.

Receipts were taken from all those departing stating that there were no claims against Soviet government . Some of the German specialists were left to restore agriculture and production, but they also did not receive citizenship and eventually left the country.

The history of Koenigsberg as a Russian city of Kaliningrad is just beginning. Its cultural image has undergone significant changes over the past 15 years:

new museums appeared;
the forts were restored;
built the first Orthodox church.

For a long time, the architectural heritage of the Prussian lands fell into decay, but modern society undertook to restore them.

I advise those who are here for the first time to take excursions. You will be shown the most interesting places, learn the history and legends, and all this information will not have to be searched long and tediously on the Internet. Just choose an excursion to your taste and be sure to look at the reviews and rating of the guide! This is the most convenient way to get to know the city.