Originally posted by chistoprudov at Germany in Russian.
These lands are often called the Koenigsber region. This is the westernmost and smallest region of the Russian Federation. It is located in Central Europe and is separated from the rest of Russia by the territory of other states - Poland in the south and Lithuania in the north and east. A piece former Prussia, and then the former Germany, now it is a semi-exclave, which is located 400-500 kilometers from Russia.
Here they say: “in Russia”, here there are different ideas about distances (which for locals is “very far”, for many Russians it is a daily journey from home to work), here on weekends many go to buy groceries abroad. Everything here seems to be in Russian, but somehow different.
Brief historical background:
“At the end of the 19th century, after the division of the Prussian province, East Prussia became an independent province of the German Empire.
After the defeat of Germany in the First World War, under pressure from the victorious countries (USA, France, Great Britain), the country was forced to cede to Poland a number of its territories in the lower reaches of the Vistula River plus a 71-kilometer stretch of the Baltic Sea coast. Thus, Poland gained access to the Baltic Sea and, accordingly, isolated the territory by land East Prussia, which turned into a German semi-exclave.
After 1945, by decision of the Potsdam Conference, Prussia was liquidated as public education. East Prussia was divided between the Soviet Union and Poland. One third of East Prussia, along with the capital Königsberg (which was renamed Kaliningrad), was given to the Soviet Union. With the collapse of the USSR, this region became a semi-exclave territory of the Russian Federation. A small part, including part of the Curonian Spit, was transferred to the Lithuanian SSR.
All settlements, and many geographical features(rivers, bays of the Baltic Sea) of the former East Prussia were renamed, replacing German names to Russian."
My journey through Kaliningrad region started from Baltiysk - the westernmost city of Russia, where the largest base is located navy on the Baltic Sea. After visiting the destroyer Bespokoiny, I went to a car rental and rented a Skoda Octavia for 1,600 rubles for a day. Bloggers from Kaliningrad helped me create a short route around the region. In Kaliningrad itself I saw almost nothing. Visually, the “scoop” occupied the entire city, and there were almost no beautiful buildings left.
1. Kaliningrad city military registration and enlistment office.
2. Residential building on repair street. One part is German, the other is Soviet.
I took a ride along Pobedy Avenue, Kutuzov Street and neighboring alleys, but I couldn’t find anything special without a guide.
3. Gothic against the backdrop of a scoop. Cathedral Königsberg, built in the Baltic Gothic style (1333), is one of the few Gothic buildings in Russia.
Pre-war photograph of the cathedral ()
4. I decided to spend the night in Sovetsk (this is the former Tilsit). A large town and the second largest town in the Kaliningrad region. 120 km from Kaliningrad.
A single room at the Rossiya Hotel cost me 1,200 rubles, guarded parking - 60 rubles. Someone was crying behind the wall all night.
5. Father Lenin does not understand why his monument stands on the square of a European town. View from my room window.
6. Morning in Sovetsk. Departure from the guarded parking lot in the backyard of the hotel. The very center.
7. I drove to the Neman embankment, left the car at the Sovetsk-Panemune international checkpoint (international road checkpoint between Russia and Lithuania) and went for a walk.
On the left is Russia, on the right, after 300 meters is Lithuania. You can even see the houses.
8. The customs terminal is connected to the Lithuanian coast via the Queen Louise Bridge. Construction of the bridge began in 1904. The width of the river in this place reached 220 meters. The bridge rested on two bulls and with the rise of its three arches became the pride of the city. Unfortunately, on October 22, 1944, Wehrmacht engineering units blew up the bridge to delay the advance of the Soviet army. The spans of the bridge and its northern portal were destroyed. Only the southern portal of the bridge has survived. It is he who is depicted on the coat of arms of Sovetsk and is a symbol of the city.
This is what the bridge looked like before the war:
This is what the main streets of the city looked like:
9. Now the main street of the city looks like this.
10. What a balcony! What a grille! You just need to repair everything.
11. Beauty!
12. Suddenly, under a layer of asphalt - German paving stones. On many streets it has been preserved - it has been laid for centuries. It’s a pity that it’s not pleasant to drive a car on paving stones, so they roll it into asphalt.
13. Some buildings have been restored, but such examples are few. The 1899 house definitely needs to be decorated with a creepy green sign.
15. Unfortunately, instead of restoring the magnificent building and turning it into a tourist attraction (as they do in Europe), people are using the castle as a support for an external pipeline.
17. Almost all old roads in the region are densely lined with linden trees.
18. Even in Gusev local residents They couldn’t give me any advice on what’s best to watch. I had to look for it myself.
A beautiful former people's bank building in neo-Gothic style. Today it is a dormitory for a lighting fixtures factory.
19. An incredibly monstrous addition to a wonderful building. Having found nothing interesting, I go to Chernyakhovsk (formerly Insterburg).
20. I park next to the building of St. Michael's Church, which used to be the Lutheran Church.
22. Church of St. Bruno of Querfurt - a Catholic church in the city center. After World War II, the church building was used as a military warehouse until the early 90s, when the badly damaged structure was transferred to the Ministry of Culture for reconstruction into an organ hall. In July 1993, the temple was returned to the Catholic community.
23. Clothes from Europe. The city of Insterburg was founded as a castle in 1336 by the German knights of the Teutonic Order during the conquest of Prussia.
24. Many interesting German buildings have been preserved in Chernyakhovsk, but it’s a pity that they are not in perfect condition.
25. Window frames in entrances with only one glass (single glazing).
26. Exit from the entrance to the street.
27. In Chernyakhovsk he joined me Vasya Maksimov from Reedus. It became more fun.
28. “Basement” and a swastika on the door.
30. Homeless Volodya.
31. Artifact “Construction company H. Osterreuth” and “greetings from Andrey.” This Andrey, who wrote the miracle inscription, is, of course, incredibly cool.
32. There are three types of buildings in the city:
- old German houses,
- laconic soviet buildings (as in the upper right corner)
33. - and modern freaks.
34. On some streets, bicycle paths are visible under the snow. Nowadays cars are parked there.
35. The quality and elegance of German and Soviet brickwork.
36. Residents are renovating their apartments as best they can. White plastic windows look like false teeth.
37. Old German water tower built in 1898.
Pre-war photographs of the city:
Insterburg Castle. Now there is almost nothing left of him.
38. Not far from the city there are a stud farm and the Georgenburg castle, which was built in 1337 on the high bank of the Inster River. After the War of 1812, the castle was bought by immigrants from Scotland, the Simpsons, who founded a stud farm there. In 1899, the castle and estate were bought by the Prussian state for three million marks.
After the war, all the horses became our war trophies. On the basis of the former German stud farm "Georgenburg" in 1948, the Chernyakhovskaya state stable was formed. Since then, the stud farm has been famous far beyond the region.
After the war, transit camp No. 445 for German prisoners of war was located in the castle; almost 250 thousand people passed through it. After this, the castle was used first as a place of detention, then as an infectious diseases hospital, which existed until the 70s.
39. Territory of the stud farm.
40. Try to translate the inscription...
41. A typical village of a completely non-Russian appearance.
43. The final point of our journey was the city of Gerdauen (now Zheleznodorozhny). It is the best example of a city with medieval buildings preserved intact, although fairly dilapidated and continuing to collapse.
45. Several buildings from the 17th century have survived. But, alas, they don’t have long left.
46. Children ride down the slide against the backdrop of the 15th century Order Church.
48. 15th century!
50. Vasya and I wanted to look at the abandoned Kinderhof brewery, which is now being torn down into bricks, but we were detained by border guards. It turned out that we did not notice the sign that we were entering the border zone. And within two hours we had to return the car at the airport and rush to catch our return flight...
We spent 40 minutes at the border post, received a warning and rushed back to Kaliningrad. On the way, I idiotically flew into a ditch. We were lucky - we were quickly pulled out by a passing Niva. Thanks to the good people!
51. Due to a traffic jam at the local Moscow Ring Road, we barely had time to check in for the flight. In the inspection area they took away my favorite adjustable wrench, although they let me through to Sheremetyevo with it. And so my journey through the Koenigsberg region ended.
Where is Prussia right now? and got the best answer
Answer from Leonid Yaroshevsky[guru]
Prussia is a state, then a state in Germany (until 1945). The main historical core of Prussia is Brandenburg, which united in 1618 with the Duchy of Prussia (which arose in 1525 on part of the lands of the Teutonic Order, captured by it from the Prussians). The Brandenburg-Prussian state became in 1701 the Kingdom of Prussia (capital Berlin). Leadership role in economic and political life Prussia was played by the Junkers. Prussian kings from the Hohenzollern dynasty (Frederick II and others) in the 18th - 1st half of the 19th centuries. significantly expanded the territory of the state. In 1871, the Prussian Junkers, led by Bismarck, completed the unification of Germany on a Prussian-militaristic basis with iron and blood; the Prussian king also became the German emperor. As a result of the November Revolution of 1918 in Germany, the monarchy in Prussia was abolished, Prussia became one of the German states. After the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, the territory of Prussia was divided into separate states (1945); in 1947, the Control Council for Germany adopted a law on the liquidation of the Prussian state as a stronghold of militarism and reaction.
Answer from Cameroonian Mgwanga[guru]
Well, look at the map - Prussia - Western and Eastern - in different time occupied the lands of modern states (from west to east) - East Germany, Poland, Russia (Kaliningrad region), Lithuania
And here is a map of East Prussia within the borders of 1939: 
Answer from Ena Balakireva[guru]
In Russia, and in pieces in other countries
Answer from Victoria Mikhailevskaya[newbie]
part in Poland part in Russia
Answer from Secret[guru]
Prussia (German: Preußen) is the historical name of a number of regions in the eastern and central Europe, namely
A region inhabited by the people of the same name (Prussians) on the southeastern coast of the Baltic Sea, conquered by the Teutonic Knights during the Middle Ages. This region later became known as East Prussia
Kingdom ruled since 1701 German dynasty Hohenzollern. Included (East) Prussia proper, as well as Brandenburg. The capital was first located in Königsberg, and then Thirty Years' War- in Berlin.
A territorial entity within the Weimar Republic that arose after the fall of the Hohenzollerns in 1918, comprising most of the former kingdom. In 1947 as territorial entity Prussia was liquidated by decision of the Allies as part of the post-war reconstruction of Europe.
Answer from Bumako mambuto[guru]
Hello, East Prussia is the Kaliningrad region and part of it went to Poland. idiots - Berlin is Brandenburg
One of the most significant operations carried out by the Red Army in 1945 was the storming of Königsberg and the liberation of East Prussia.
Fortifications of the Grolman upper front, Oberteich bastion after capitulation/
Fortifications of the Grolman upper front, Oberteich bastion. Courtyard.
Troops of the 10th Tank Corps of the 5th Guards Tank Army of the 2nd Belorussian Front occupy the city of Mühlhausen (now the Polish city of Mlynar) during the Mlawa-Elbing operation.
German soldiers and officers captured during the assault on Konigsberg.
A column of German prisoners walks along Hindenburg Strasse in the city of Insterburg (East Prussia), towards the Lutheran Church (now the city of Chernyakhovsk, Lenin Street).
Soviet soldiers carry the weapons of fallen comrades after a battle in East Prussia.
Soviet soldiers learn to overcome barbed wire barriers.
Soviet officers inspect one of the forts in occupied Konigsberg.
An MG-42 machine gun crew fires in the area railway station the city of Goldap in battles with Soviet troops. 
Ships in the frozen harbor of Pillau (now Baltiysk, Kaliningrad region of Russia), late January 1945.
Königsberg, Tragheim district after the assault, damaged building.
German grenadiers are moving towards the last Soviet positions in the area of the railway station in the city of Goldap.
Koenigsberg. Kronprinz Barracks, tower.
Koenigsberg, one of the inter-fort fortifications.
The air support ship Hans Albrecht Wedel receives refugees in Pillau harbor.
Advanced German troops enter the East Prussian town of Goldap, which was previously occupied by Soviet troops.
Koenigsberg, panorama of the ruins of the city.
The corpse of a German woman killed by an explosion in Metgethen in East Prussia.
Belonging to 5th tank division tank Pz.Kpfw. V Ausf. G "Panther" on the street of the city of Goldap.
A German soldier hanged on the outskirts of Königsberg for looting. The inscription in German “Plündern wird mit-dem Tode bestraft!” translated as “Whoever robs will be executed!”
A Soviet soldier in a German Sdkfz 250 armored personnel carrier on one of the streets of Koenigsberg.
Units of the German 5th Panzer Division move forward for a counterattack against Soviet troops. Kattenau region, East Prussia. Ahead is a Pz.Kpfw tank. V "Panther".
Koenigsberg, barricade on the street.
A battery of 88 mm anti-aircraft guns is preparing to repel a Soviet tank attack. East Prussia, mid-February 1945.
German positions on the approaches to Koenigsberg. The inscription reads: “We will defend Koenigsberg.” Propaganda photo.
The Soviet self-propelled gun ISU-122S is fighting in Koenigsberg. 3rd Belorussian Front, April 1945.
A German sentry on a bridge in the center of Königsberg.
A Soviet motorcyclist passes by German StuG IV self-propelled guns and a 105 mm howitzer abandoned on the road.
A German landing ship evacuating troops from the Heiligenbeil pocket enters Pillau harbor.
Koenigsberg, blown up by a pillbox.
Damaged German self-propelled gun StuG III Ausf. G in front of the Kronprinz Tower, Königsberg.
Koenigsberg, panorama from the Don Tower.
Koenisberg, April 1945. View of the Royal Castle
A German StuG III assault gun destroyed in Königsberg. In the foreground is a killed German soldier.
German equipment on Mitteltragheim street in Königsberg after the assault. To the right and left are StuG III assault guns, in the background is a JgdPz IV tank destroyer.
Grolman upper front, Grolman bastion. Before the capitulation of the fortress, it housed the headquarters of the 367th Wehrmacht Infantry Division.
On the street of Pillau port. Evacuated German soldiers throw their weapons and equipment before loading onto ships.
A German 88-mm FlaK 36/37 anti-aircraft gun abandoned on the outskirts of Königsberg.
Koenigsberg, panorama. Don Tower, Rossgarten Gate.
Koenigsberg, German bunker in the Horst Wessel Park area.
Unfinished barricade on Herzog Albrecht Alley in Königsberg (now Thälmann Street).
Koenigsberg, destroyed German artillery battery.
German prisoners at the Sackheim Gate in Königsberg.
Koenigsberg, German trenches.
German machine gun crew in position in Koenigsberg near the Don Tower.
German refugees on Pillau Street pass by a column of Soviet SU-76M self-propelled guns.
Koenigsberg, Friedrichsburg Gate after the assault.
Koenigsberg, Wrangel Tower, fortress moat.
View from the Don Tower on Oberteich (Upper Pond), Königsberg.
On the street of Koenigsberg after the assault.
Koenigsberg, Wrangel Tower after the surrender.
Corporal I.A. Gureev at his post at the border marker in East Prussia.
A Soviet unit in a street battle in Koenigsberg.
Traffic police officer Sergeant Anya Karavaeva on the way to Konigsberg.
Soviet soldiers in the city of Allenstein (currently the city of Olsztyn in Poland) in East Prussia.
Artillerymen of the guard of Lieutenant Sofronov are fighting on Avider Alley in Konigsberg (now Alley of the Brave).
The result of an airstrike on German positions in East Prussia.
Soviet soldiers are fighting in the streets on the outskirts of Koenigsberg. 3rd Belorussian Front.
Soviet armored boat No. 214 in the Koenigsberg Canal after a battle with a German tank.
German collection point for faulty captured armored vehicles in the Königsberg area.
Evacuation of the remnants of the division " Greater Germany» to the Pillau area.
German equipment abandoned in Konigsberg. In the foreground is a 150 mm sFH 18 howitzer.
Koenigsberg. Bridge over the moat to the Rossgarten Gate. Don Tower in the background
An abandoned German 105-mm howitzer le.F.H.18/40 at a position in Konigsberg.
A German soldier lights a cigarette near a StuG IV self-propelled gun.
A damaged German Pz.Kpfw tank is on fire. V Ausf. G "Panther". 3rd Belorussian Front.
Soldiers of the Grossdeutschland division are loaded onto homemade rafts to cross the Frisches Huff Bay (now Kaliningrad Bay). Balga Peninsula, Cape Kalholz.
Soldiers of the Grossdeutschland division in positions on the Balga Peninsula.
Meeting of Soviet soldiers on the border with East Prussia. 3rd Belorussian Front.
The bow of a German transport sinking as a result of an attack by Baltic Fleet aircraft off the coast of East Prussia.
The observer pilot of the Henschel Hs.126 reconnaissance aircraft takes pictures of the area during a training flight.
A damaged German StuG IV assault gun. East Prussia, February 1945.
Seeing off Soviet soldiers from Koenigsberg.
The Germans inspect a damaged Soviet T-34-85 tank in the village of Nemmersdorf.
Tank "Panther" from the 5th Panzer Division of the Wehrmacht in Gołdap.
German soldiers armed with Panzerfaust grenade launchers next to an MG 151/20 aircraft cannon in the infantry version.
A column of German Panther tanks is moving towards the front in East Prussia.
Broken cars on the street of Königsberg, which was taken by storm. Soviet soldiers in the background.
Troops of the Soviet 10th Tank Corps and bodies German soldiers on Mühlhausen street.
Soviet sappers walk down the street of burning Insterburg in East Prussia.
Column Soviet tanks IS-2 on the road in East Prussia. 1st Belorussian Front.
A Soviet officer inspects the German Jagdpanther self-propelled gun that was knocked out in East Prussia.
Soviet soldiers sleep, resting after the fighting, right on the street of Königsberg, which was taken by storm.
Koenigsberg, anti-tank barriers.
German refugees with a baby in Konigsberg.
A short rally in the 8th company after reaching the state border of the USSR.
A group of pilots of the Normandie-Niemen air regiment near a Yak-3 fighter in East Prussia.
A sixteen-year-old Volkssturm fighter armed with an MP 40 submachine gun. East Prussia.
Construction defensive structures, East Prussia, mid-July 1944.
Refugees from Königsberg moving towards Pillau, mid-February 1945.
German soldiers at a rest stop near Pillau.
German quad anti-aircraft gun FlaK 38 mounted on a tractor. Fischhausen (now Primorsk), East Prussia.
Civilians and a captured German soldier on Pillau Street during garbage collection after the end of the fighting for the city.
Boats of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet undergoing repairs in Pillau (currently the city of Baltiysk in the Kaliningrad region of Russia).
German auxiliary ship "Franken" after an attack by Il-2 attack aircraft of the Baltic Fleet Air Force.
Bomb explosion on the German ship Franken as a result of an attack by Il-2 attack aircraft of the Baltic Baltic Fleet Air Force
A gap from a heavy shell in the wall of the Oberteich bastion fortifications of the Grolman upper front of Koenigsberg.
The bodies of two German women and three children allegedly killed by Soviet soldiers in the town of Metgethen in East Prussia in January-February 1945. German propaganda photo.
Transportation of the Soviet 280-mm mortar Br-5 in East Prussia.
Distribution of food to Soviet soldiers in Pillau after the end of the fighting for the city.
Soviet soldiers pass through a German settlement on the outskirts of Konigsberg.
A broken German StuG IV assault gun on the streets of Allenstein (now Olsztyn, Poland.)
Soviet infantry, supported by the SU-76 self-propelled gun, attacks German positions in the Königsberg area.
A column of self-propelled guns SU-85 on the march in East Prussia.
Sign "Motorway to Berlin" on one of the roads in East Prussia.
Explosion on the tanker Sassnitz. The tanker with a cargo of fuel was sunk on March 26, 1945, 30 miles from Liepaja by aircraft of the 51st mine-torpedo air regiment and the 11th attack air division of the Baltic Fleet Air Force.
Bombing of German transport and port facilities of Pillau by Red Banner Baltic Fleet Air Force aircraft.
The German hydroaviation mother ship Boelcke, attacked by an Il-2 squadron of the 7th Guards Attack Aviation Regiment of the Baltic Fleet Air Force, 7.5 km southeast of Cape Hel.
Even in the late Middle Ages, the lands located between the Neman and Vistula rivers received their name East Prussia. Throughout its existence, this power has experienced various periods. This is the time of the order, and the Prussian duchy, and then the kingdom, and the province, as well as the post-war country until the renaming due to the redistribution between Poland and the Soviet Union.
History of the possessions
More than ten centuries have passed since the first mention of the Prussian lands. Initially, the people inhabiting these territories were divided into clans (tribes), which were separated by conventional borders.
The expanses of Prussian possessions covered the part of Poland and Lithuania that now exists. These included Sambia and Skalovia, Warmia and Pogesania, Pomesania and Kulm land, Natangia and Bartia, Galindia and Sassen, Skalovia and Nadrovia, Mazovia and Sudovia.
Numerous conquests
Prussian lands throughout their existence were constantly subject to attempts at conquest by stronger and more aggressive neighbors. So, in the twelfth century, the Teutonic knights - the crusaders - came to these rich and alluring spaces. They built numerous fortresses and castles, for example Kulm, Reden, Thorn.
However, in 1410, after the famous Battle of Grunwald, the territory of the Prussians began to smoothly pass into the hands of Poland and Lithuania.
The Seven Years' War in the eighteenth century undermined the strength of the Prussian army and led to some eastern lands being conquered by the Russian Empire.
In the twentieth century, military actions also did not spare these lands. Beginning in 1914, East Prussia was involved in the First World War and, in 1944, in the Second World War.
And after the victory of the Soviet troops in 1945, it ceased to exist altogether and was transformed into the Kaliningrad region.
Existence between the wars
During the First World War, East Prussia suffered heavy losses. The 1939 map had already had changes, and the updated province was in terrible condition. After all, it was the only territory of Germany that was swallowed up by military battles.
Signing Treaty of Versailles costly for East Prussia. The winners decided to reduce its territory. Therefore, from 1920 to 1923, the city of Memel and the Memel region began to be governed by the League of Nations with the help of French troops. But after the January uprising of 1923, the situation changed. And already in 1924, these lands became part of Lithuania with the rights of an autonomous region.
In addition, East Prussia also lost the territory of Soldau (the city of Dzialdowo).
In total, about 315 thousand hectares of land were disconnected. And this is a considerable territory. As a result of these changes, the remaining province found itself in a difficult situation, accompanied by enormous economic difficulties.
Economic and political situation in the 20s and 30s.
In the early twenties, after the normalization of diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Germany, the standard of living of the population in East Prussia began to gradually improve. The Moscow-Königsberg airline was opened, the German Oriental Fair was resumed, and the Königsberg city radio station began operating.
Nevertheless, the global economic crisis has not spared these ancient lands. And in five years (1929-1933), five hundred and thirteen went bankrupt in Koenigsberg alone various enterprises, and increased to one hundred thousand people. In such a situation, taking advantage of the precarious and uncertain position of the current government, the Nazi Party took control into its own hands.
Redistribution of territory
IN geographic Maps East Prussia underwent a considerable number of changes before 1945. The same thing happened in 1939 after the occupation of Poland by the troops of Nazi Germany. As a result of the new zoning, part of the Polish lands and the Klaipeda (Memel) region of Lithuania were formed into a province. And the cities of Elbing, Marienburg and Marienwerder became part of the new district of West Prussia.
The Nazis launched grandiose plans for the repartition of Europe. And the map of East Prussia, in their opinion, was to become the center of the economic space between the Baltic and Black Seas, subject to the annexation of the territories of the Soviet Union. However, these plans could not be translated into reality.
Post-war time
As Soviet troops arrived, East Prussia also gradually transformed. Military commandant's offices were created, of which by April 1945 there were already thirty-six. Their tasks were a recount of the German population, an inventory and a gradual transition to peaceful life.
In those years, thousands of German officers and soldiers were hiding throughout East Prussia, and groups engaged in sabotage and sabotage were active. In April 1945 alone, the military commandant’s office captured more than three thousand armed fascists.
However, ordinary German citizens also lived on the territory of Königsberg and in the surrounding areas. There were about 140 thousand people.
In 1946, the city of Koenigsberg was renamed Kaliningrad, as a result of which the Kaliningrad region was formed. And later the names of other settlements. In connection with such changes, the existing 1945 map of East Prussia was also redone.
East Prussian lands today
Today, the Kaliningrad region is located on the former territory of the Prussians. East Prussia ceased to exist in 1945. And although the region is part of Russian Federation, they are geographically separated. In addition to the administrative center - Kaliningrad (until 1946 it was named Koenigsberg), such cities as Bagrationovsk, Baltiysk, Gvardeysk, Yantarny, Sovetsk, Chernyakhovsk, Krasnoznamensk, Neman, Ozersk, Primorsk, Svetlogorsk are well developed. The region consists of seven urban districts, two cities and twelve districts. The main peoples living in this territory are Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, Armenians and Germans.
Today, the Kaliningrad region ranks first in amber mining, storing in its depths about ninety percent of its world reserves.
Interesting places in modern East Prussia
And although today the map of East Prussia has been changed beyond recognition, the lands with the cities and villages located on them still preserve the memory of the past. Spirit of the Disappeared great country and to this day is felt in the present Kaliningrad region in cities bearing the names Tapiau and Taplaken, Insterburg and Tilsit, Ragnit and Waldau.
Excursions at the Georgenburg stud farm are popular among tourists. It existed as early as the beginning of the thirteenth century. The Georgenburg fortress was a haven for German knights and crusaders, whose main business was breeding horses.
Churches built in the fourteenth century (in the former cities of Heiligenwald and Arnau), as well as sixteenth-century churches in the area, are still quite well preserved former city Tapiau. These majestic buildings constantly remind people of the past times of prosperity of the Teutonic Order.
Knight's castles
The land, rich in amber reserves, has attracted German conquerors since ancient times. In the thirteenth century, the Polish princes, together with them, gradually seized these possessions and built numerous castles on them. The remains of some of them, being architectural monuments, still make an indelible impression on contemporaries today. Largest quantity Knight's castles were erected in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Their construction sites were captured Prussian rampart-earthen fortresses. When building castles, traditions in the style of orderly Gothic architecture of the late Middle Ages were necessarily maintained. In addition, all buildings corresponded to a single plan for their construction. Nowadays, an unusual thing has been discovered in the ancient
The village of Nizovye is very popular among residents and guests. It houses a unique local history museum with ancient cellars. Having visited it, you can say with confidence that the entire history of East Prussia flashes before your eyes, starting from the times of the ancient Prussians and ending with the era of Soviet settlers.
During the German counterattack on Kragau (East Prussia), artillery officer Yuri Uspensky was killed. A handwritten diary was found on the murdered man."January 24, 1945. Gumbinnen - We passed through the entire city, which was relatively undamaged during the battle. Some buildings were completely destroyed, others were still burning. They say that our soldiers set them on fire.
In this rather large town, furniture and other household utensils are strewn on the streets. On the walls of houses everywhere you can see inscriptions: “Death to Bolshevism.” In this way, the Krauts tried to conduct propaganda among their soldiers.
In the evening we talked with the prisoners in Gumbinnen. It turned out to be four Fritz and two Poles. Apparently, the mood is German troops oh, not very good, they themselves surrendered and now they say: “We don’t care where to work - in Germany or in Russia.”
We quickly reached Insterburg. From the car window you can see a landscape typical of East Prussia: roads lined with trees, villages in which all the houses are covered with tiles, fields surrounded by barbed wire fences to protect them from livestock.
Insterburg turned out to be larger than Gumbinnen. The whole city is still in smoke. Houses are burning to the ground. Endless columns of soldiers and trucks pass through the city: such a joyful picture for us, but so menacing for the enemy. This is retribution for everything that the Germans have done to us. Now being destroyed German cities, and their population will finally know what it is: war!
We drive further along the highway in a passenger car from the headquarters of the 11th Army towards Königsberg to find the 5th Artillery Corps there. The highway is completely clogged with heavy trucks.
The villages we meet along the way are partially heavily destroyed. It is striking that we come across very few destroyed Soviet tanks, not at all like it was in the first days of the offensive.
Along the way we meet columns of civilians who, guarded by our machine gunners, are heading to the rear, away from the front. Some Germans travel in large covered wagons. Teenagers, men, women and girls walk. Everyone is wearing good clothes. It would be interesting to talk with them about the future.
Soon we stop for the night. Finally we got to rich country! Herds of livestock can be seen everywhere, roaming the fields. Yesterday and today we boiled and fried two chickens a day.
Everything in the house is very well equipped. The Germans left almost all their household belongings. I am forced to think once again about what great grief this war brings with it.
It passes like a fiery tornado through cities and villages, leaving behind smoking ruins, trucks and tanks mangled by explosions, and mountains of corpses of soldiers and civilians.
Let the Germans now see and feel what war is! How much grief there is still in this world! I hope that Adolf Hitler does not have long to wait for the noose prepared for him.
January 26, 1945. Petersdorf near Wehlau. - Here, on this section of the front, our troops were four kilometers from Königsberg. The 2nd Belorussian Front reached the sea near Danzig.
Thus East Prussia is completely cut off. As a matter of fact, it is almost in our hands. We are driving through Velau. The city is still burning, it is completely destroyed. There is smoke and German corpses everywhere. On the streets you can see many guns abandoned by the Germans and corpses of German soldiers in the gutters.
These are signs of the brutal defeat of the German troops. Everyone celebrates the victory. Soldiers cook food over a fire. The Fritz abandoned everything. Entire herds of livestock roam the fields. The surviving houses are full of excellent furniture and dishes. On the walls you can see paintings, mirrors, photographs.
Many houses were set on fire by our infantry. Everything happens as the Russian proverb says: “As it comes around, so it will respond!” The Germans did this in Russia in 1941 and 1942, and now in 1945 it is echoed here in East Prussia.
I see a weapon being transported past, covered with a knitted blanket. Not a bad disguise! On another gun lies a mattress, and on the mattress, wrapped in a blanket, a Red Army soldier sleeps.
To the left of the highway you can see an interesting picture: two camels are being led there. A captive Fritz with a bandaged head is led past us. Angry soldiers shout in his face: “Well, have you conquered Russia?” They use their fists and the butts of their machine guns to urge him on, pushing him in the back.
January 27, 1945. Village of Starkenberg. - The village looks very peaceful. The room in the house where we are staying is light and cozy. From a distance the sound of cannonade can be heard. This is a battle going on in Königsberg. The position of the Germans is hopeless.
And now the time comes when we can pay for everything. Ours treated East Prussia no worse than the Germans treated Smolensk region. We hate Germans and Germany with all our hearts.
For example, in one of the village houses, our guys saw a murdered woman with two children. And you can often see killed civilians on the street. The Germans themselves deserved this from us, because they were the first to behave this way towards the civilian population of the occupied regions.
It is enough only to remember Majdanek and the theory of the superman to understand why our soldiers take East Prussia to such a state with such satisfaction. But German composure at Majdanek was a hundred times worse. Moreover, the Germans glorified the war!
January 28, 1945. - We played cards until two o'clock in the morning. The houses were abandoned by the Germans in a chaotic state. The Germans had a lot of all kinds of property. But now everything is in complete disarray. The furniture in the houses is simply excellent. Every home is full of a wide variety of dishes. Most Germans lived quite well.
War, war - when will you end? This destruction of human lives, the results of human labor and monuments has been going on for three years and seven months now. cultural heritage.
Cities and villages are burning, treasures of thousands of years of labor are disappearing. And the nobodies in Berlin are trying their best to continue this unique battle in the history of mankind for as long as possible. That is why the hatred that is poured out on Germany is born.
February 1, 1945. - In the village we saw a long column of modern slaves whom the Germans had driven to Germany from all corners of Europe. Our troops invaded Germany on a broad front. The allies are also advancing. Yes, Hitler wanted to destroy the whole world. Instead, he crushed Germany.
February 2, 1945. - We arrived in Fuchsberg. Finally we reached our destination - the headquarters of the 33rd Tank Brigade. I learned from a Red Army soldier from the 24th Tank Brigade that thirteen people from our brigade, including several officers, had poisoned themselves. They drank denatured alcohol. This is what a love of alcohol can lead to!
On the way we met several columns of German civilians. Mostly women and children. Many carried their children in their arms. They looked pale and scared. When asked if they were Germans, they hastened to answer “Yes.”
There was an obvious stamp of fear on their faces. They had no reason to be glad that they were Germans. At the same time, one could notice quite nice faces among them.
Last night the soldiers of the division told me about some things that cannot be approved at all. In the house where the division headquarters was located, evacuated women and children were housed at night.
Drunken soldiers began to come there one after another. They chose women, took them aside and raped them. For every woman there were several men.
This behavior cannot be condoned in any way. Of course, it is necessary to take revenge, but not like that, but with weapons. Somehow you can understand those whose loved ones were killed by the Germans. But the rape of young girls - no, it cannot be approved!
In my opinion, the command must soon put an end to such crimes, as well as the unnecessary destruction of material assets. For example, soldiers spend the night in a house, in the morning they leave and set fire to the house or recklessly break mirrors and break furniture.
After all, it is clear that all these things will one day be transported to Soviet Union. But for now we live here and, while serving as soldiers, we will continue to live. Such crimes only undermine the morale of soldiers and weaken discipline, which leads to a decrease in combat effectiveness."
