| Revision as of 10:49, 1 November 2005 edit66.74.53.141 (talk) →Famous people from Königsberg/Kaliningrad← Previous edit | Revision as of 23:51, 5 November 2005 edit undo70.73.5.189 (talk) Improved wording , moved info about Konigsberg cathedral to its proper article, Added some disclaimers to the Polish POV of Kaliningrad.Next edit → | ||
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| ===Order's state=== | ===Order's state=== | ||
| ]]] | ]]] | ||
| Around ] a ] settlement called Pregnore was founded near the site of modern Kaliningrad. Pregnore was conquered and destroyed during ] of ]. In its place Königsberg (''"King's Mountain"'' in German) was founded in ] by the ] king ] and named in his honor due to his involvement in the ] against the pagan ] tribes and ] ], which the ] deemed as "schismatic". Over a long period, the ], assisted by various ]s from ], conquered the ] ]. This marked the beginning of the ] of pagan ] culture and ] colonisation of the area. The small remaining population of ] ] eventually became ]. However, the ] did not become ] until the 18th century. | |||
| Kaliningrad stands upon the ] ] river. At Kaliningrad it empties into the ], an inlet of the ]. Until circa ] ships drawing more than seven feet of water could not pass the bar and come into town, so that larger vessels had to anchor at ], for long the port of Kaliningrad, where merchandise was moved onto smaller vessels. In ] a ship canal between Kaliningrad and ] was completed at a cost of 13 million marks, which enables vessels of a 21 foot draught to moor alongside the town. | |||
| Königsberg was originally the ] of ], or Samland, one of the four ]s into which ] had been divided in ] by ] ]. Saint ] became the main ] of the ], one of the main landmarks of the city. | |||
| Königsberg eventually became a member of the ] and an important port for ], ], and ] which had no shoreline. Of its notable structures, the 1815 Encylopaedia Britannica refers to "the magnificent palace in which is a hall 274 feet long and 59 broad without pillars to support it, and a handsome library. The ] tower of the castle is very high (330 feet) and has 284 steps to the top, from where a great distance can be seen". This extensive building enclosed a large quadrangle and was situated almost in the centre of the city. It was formerly a seat of the Teutonic Order. It was altered and enlarged in the 16th - 18th centuries. The West Wing contained the Schloss Kirche, where King Frederick I of Prussia was crowned in 1701, and King William I in 1861. The arms emblazoned upon the walls and columns were those of the Knights of the Order of the Black Eagle. Above the church was the spacious Moscowiter-Saal, one of the largest halls in Germany. Until the latter part of World War II the apartments of the Royal Family and the Prussia Museum (north wing) were open to the public daily. An extensive collection of the Provincial Archives was also housed there. (cf. Baedeker, ''Northern Germany'', London, 1904.) | Königsberg eventually became a member of the ] and an important port for ], ], and ] which had no shoreline. Of its notable structures, the 1815 Encylopaedia Britannica refers to "the magnificent palace in which is a hall 274 feet long and 59 broad without pillars to support it, and a handsome library. The ] tower of the castle is very high (330 feet) and has 284 steps to the top, from where a great distance can be seen". This extensive building enclosed a large quadrangle and was situated almost in the centre of the city. It was formerly a seat of the Teutonic Order. It was altered and enlarged in the 16th - 18th centuries. The West Wing contained the Schloss Kirche, where King Frederick I of Prussia was crowned in 1701, and King William I in 1861. The arms emblazoned upon the walls and columns were those of the Knights of the Order of the Black Eagle. Above the church was the spacious Moscowiter-Saal, one of the largest halls in Germany. Until the latter part of World War II the apartments of the Royal Family and the Prussia Museum (north wing) were open to the public daily. An extensive collection of the Provincial Archives was also housed there. (cf. Baedeker, ''Northern Germany'', London, 1904.) | ||
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| Some have argued that because of Kaliningrad's special position and situation, as an exclave of Russia surrounded by ] territory, it should be given special treatment compared to other regions of the Russian Federation. As both the ] and ], as well as the economies of the other new members of the EU, are expected to continue to grow and benefit from their membership in the biggest economy on the planet, Kaliningrad could prosper as well. The most optimistic see a future where Kaliningrad could become a "] of the ]". | Some have argued that because of Kaliningrad's special position and situation, as an exclave of Russia surrounded by ] territory, it should be given special treatment compared to other regions of the Russian Federation. As both the ] and ], as well as the economies of the other new members of the EU, are expected to continue to grow and benefit from their membership in the biggest economy on the planet, Kaliningrad could prosper as well. The most optimistic see a future where Kaliningrad could become a "] of the ]". | ||
| Polish and Lithuanian nationalists, bolstered by biased media coverage view Kaliningrad as "a headache for Poland and Lithuania, and the rest of the EU," and claim the region suffers from a high crime rate, much organized crime and huge social problems. Media attention is sometimes focused on Kalinigrad's purportedly large HIV problem, although never citing actual figures - in 2004, known HIV cases in Kalinigrad comprised only 0.04 percent of the population, well in line with neighboring countries, or the fact that Kalinigrad has established one of the most effective HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment policies in Eastern Europe. Many critics see this outpouring of untruthful information as being part of an attempt by EU members to tear Kaliningrad away from Russia. | |||
| These bright scenarios, however, are far from being fulfilled. Kaliningrad faces extreme social, economic, medical and environmental problems. A large part of the population lives in poverty (a bigger percentage than the Russian average). The former largest employer in the area, the military, has suspended most of its activities. An ]-epidemic is getting bigger and bigger, particularly among drug-addicts and the ]. Also, the military activities of the last 50 years have left enormous amounts of ], making large areas uninhabitable. | |||
| Instead of being an area with great potential, which could be fulfilled through cooperation with its neighbors, Kaliningrad is a headache for Poland and Lithuania, and the rest of the EU, with a high crime rate, much organized crime and huge social problems. | |||
| ==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
Revision as of 23:51, 5 November 2005
- For other uses, see Kaliningrad (disambiguation) and Königsberg (disambiguation).
Kaliningrad (Russian: Калининград, German: Königsberg, Polish: Królewiec, Lithuanian: Karaliaučius) is a seaport city, capital and main city of the Kaliningrad Oblast, the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania with access to the Baltic Sea. As Königsberg (Latin Regiomontium, Polish: Królewiec) it was the capital of the German province of East Prussia, the earlier Polish fiefs of Ducal Prussia, and before that of the Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights.
History
Order's state
Around 300 BCE a Prussian settlement called Pregnore was founded near the site of modern Kaliningrad. Pregnore was conquered and destroyed during conquest of Prussia. In its place Königsberg ("King's Mountain" in German) was founded in 1255 by the Czech king Ottocar II and named in his honor due to his involvement in the Northern Crusades against the pagan Baltic tribes and Orthodox Russia, which the Roman Catholic Church deemed as "schismatic". Over a long period, the Teutonic Order, assisted by various knights from Western Europe, conquered the Baltic Prussians. This marked the beginning of the extermination of pagan Baltic culture and German colonisation of the area. The small remaining population of Baltic Prussians eventually became germanised. However, the Baltic-Prussian language did not become extinct until the 18th century.
Kaliningrad stands upon the navigable Pregolya river. At Kaliningrad it empties into the Frische Haff, an inlet of the Baltic Sea. Until circa 1900 ships drawing more than seven feet of water could not pass the bar and come into town, so that larger vessels had to anchor at Pillau, for long the port of Kaliningrad, where merchandise was moved onto smaller vessels. In 1901 a ship canal between Kaliningrad and Pillau was completed at a cost of 13 million marks, which enables vessels of a 21 foot draught to moor alongside the town.
Königsberg was originally the capital of Sambia, or Samland, one of the four dioceses into which Prussia had been divided in 1243 by papal legate William of Modena. Saint Adalbert of Prague became the main patron saint of the Königsberg Cathedral, one of the main landmarks of the city.
Königsberg eventually became a member of the Hanseatic League and an important port for Prussia, Province of Prussia, and Lithuania which had no shoreline. Of its notable structures, the 1815 Encylopaedia Britannica refers to "the magnificent palace in which is a hall 274 feet long and 59 broad without pillars to support it, and a handsome library. The gothic tower of the castle is very high (330 feet) and has 284 steps to the top, from where a great distance can be seen". This extensive building enclosed a large quadrangle and was situated almost in the centre of the city. It was formerly a seat of the Teutonic Order. It was altered and enlarged in the 16th - 18th centuries. The West Wing contained the Schloss Kirche, where King Frederick I of Prussia was crowned in 1701, and King William I in 1861. The arms emblazoned upon the walls and columns were those of the Knights of the Order of the Black Eagle. Above the church was the spacious Moscowiter-Saal, one of the largest halls in Germany. Until the latter part of World War II the apartments of the Royal Family and the Prussia Museum (north wing) were open to the public daily. An extensive collection of the Provincial Archives was also housed there. (cf. Baedeker, Northern Germany, London, 1904.)
As a result of the Thirteen Years' War between the Order and the newly combined Polish-Lithuanian federation History of Poland (1385-1569), the Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights was reduced by the Peace of Thorn 1466 to the area of later Ducal Prussia, held by the Order under the feudal overlordship of the Polish crown. The Order saw the action of Poland as a betrayal of their original mission in the north, despite the fact that Polish Duke of Mazovia, who had invited the Order to christanise Prussian tribes, had granted the Order only a small amount of land as a fief, and only for the duration of their crusade.
Ducal Prussia
With the secularisation of the Order's territories (1525), the first Hohenzollern ruler, Albrecht of Prussia, did his obligatory feudal homage to Sigismund I, the King of Poland, and was granted Ducal Prussia with the capital in Królewiec (Königsberg) as a fief.
Królewiec became one of the biggest cities and ports of Ducal Prussia, with considerable autonomy, a separate parliament, and currency, and with German as its dominant language. By 1800 the city was five miles in circumference and had 60,000 inhabitants (including the garrison of 7000). By 1900 this population had grown to 188,000 (garrison 9000).
Anna, daughter of Duke Albrecht Friedrich of Prussia (reigned 1568-1618), married Elector Johann Sigismund of Brandenburg, who was granted the right of succession to Ducal Prussia on his father-in-law's death in 1618. From this time Prussia became ruled by the Electors of Brandenburg.
Brandenburg-Prussia and German Empire
In 1660 the Hohenzollerns negotiated the release of Prussia from the overlordship of the King of Poland for the period of duration of their dynasty, after which it was supposed to return to Polish overlordship. By the act of coronation 1701 in Königsberg, the Hohenzollerns became kings of Prussia, independent from the Polish king, and in 1795 under Napoleon Prussia resigned from the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation.
After the abolition of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation in 1806, Königsberg remained the capital of the Province of Prussia, outside the formal borders of German Confederation (Deutscher Bund) of 1815-66, until German unification, when it was incorporated in the German Empire (1871).
Königsberg (Królewiec) became a centre of education when the Albertina University was founded by Albert of Brandenburg Prussia in 1544. This university, where Kant taught, stood opposite the north and east side of the cathedral. In 1900 it contained the Municipal Library. In 1862 a new university in the Renaissance style, by Stuler, was completed. The facade was adorned by an equestrian figure in relief of Duke Albert of Prussia, the founder. Below it were niches containing statues of Martin Luther and Melanchthon. Inside was a handsome staircase, borne by marble columns. The Senate Hall contained a portrait of the Emperor Frederick III, as Rector, by Lauchert, and a bust of Immanuel Kant in his 80th year, by Hagemann and Schadow. The adjacent hall ("Aula") was adorned with frescoes painted in 1870. The university library was situated in Dritte Fliess Straße and contained over 230,000 volumes. There were 900 students in 1900.
It was the birthplace (1690) of the mathematician Christian Goldbach and the home of the philosopher Immanuel Kant. In 1736, the mathematician Leonhard Euler used the arrangement of bridges and islands at Königsberg as the basis for the Seven Bridges of Königsberg Problem which led to the mathematical branch of topology.
Also in the Dritte Fliess Straße was the Palaestra Albertina, established in 1898 by Dr. Lange of New York, for the encouragement of the higher forms of sport among the students and citizens. Nearby were the government offices, adorned with mural paintings by Knorr and Schmidt.
In the König Straße stood the Academy of Art with a good collection of over 400 pictures. About 50 works were by old Italian Masters; and some early Dutch paintings were also to be found there. (A summary list of some of the paintings can be found in Baedeker's Northern Germany, London, 1904.) At the Königs Tor (King's Gate) stood statues of King Ottocar of Bohemia, Duke Albert of Prussia and King Frederick I. Königsberg had a magnificent Exchange (completed in 1875) with fine views of the harbour from the staircase. In Bahnhof Strasse (Railway Street) were the offices of the famous Royal Amber Works – this district was celebrated as the "Amber Coast". There was also an Observatory fitted up by the astronomer Bessel (d. 1846), a Botanical Garden and Zoological Museum. The "Physikalisch", near the Heumarkt, contained botanic and anthropological collections and prehistoric antiquities.
Königsberg flourished as the capital of East Prussia. An extensive local railway network was established linking the city to Breslau, Thorn, Insterburg, Eydtkuhnen, Tilsit and Pillau. In 1860 the railroad connecting Berlin with St. Petersburg was completed and made Königsberg an even more important commercial centre. Extensive electric tramways were in operation by 1900; and regular steamers plied to Memel, Tapiaum and Labiau; to Cranz, Tilsit and Danzig. There were two principle theatres: the Stadt (City) Theatre and the Appollo.
Weimar Republic
After World War I, the creation of the Polish Corridor had cut off East Prussia land connection from the rest of Germany. The Ostmesse (East European Fair) at the Königsberg Tiergarten was organized every year since 1920, it was intended as a compensation for the geographical distance that handicapped the economic development of East Prussia and its capital Königsberg. In 1922 the first permanent airport and commercial terminal solely for commercial aviation was built at Königsberg-Devau. In 1929, Königsberg amalgamated with some surrounding suburbs.
Third Reich
In 1932, Prussia's legal (Social Democratic) government under Otto Braun was ousted by the Reich Government, and Gauleiter Erich Koch replaced the elected local government from 1933 to 1945. Churchill referred to Königsberg as "a modernised heavily defended fortress". The entire centre of Königsberg was subsequently destroyed by the British Royal Air Force in August 1944 , during the RAF's controversial 'terror raids' on cities.
Many of the population began fleeing the advancing Red Army after October 1944, particularly after the German propaganda claimed of atrocities at Nemmersdorf and Gumbinnen. The city surrendered on April 9, 1945, following a desperate four-day battle. However, all German residents who remained at the end of the war, (includes the few who returned after the Amistice) an estimated 200,000 out of the city's prewar population of 316,000, were subject to evacuation, expelled or executed by Soviet forces from 1945-49. Many people died of hunger during the war's closing stages and the shortages which followed, as well as during the Soviets' arduous expulsion process.
Soviet Union
At the end of World War II, in 1945, the city became part of the Soviet Union as was agreed by the Allies at the Potsdam Conference. It was renamed Kaliningrad in 1946 after the death of Soviet President Mikhail Kalinin, one of the original Bolsheviks. Kaliningrad was extremely important to the USSR (as the westmost part of its territory, for the placement of radio and TV broadcast jammers against western mass media and as the place of the main naval base of Soviet Baltic Fleet). It is now less strategically important to Russia, but still serves as a Baltic port that is ice-free year round.
During the Cold War, Kaliningrad -- with the northern third of former East Prussia now the Kaliningrad Oblast of the Russian Federation -- was so important that it was closed to foreign visitors.
Russian Federation
As a result of independence for Lithuania and Belarus in the early 1990s, the territory became a Russian exclave, separated from the rest of Russia. When Poland and Lithuania became members of the European Union in 2004, the region became completely surrounded by the EU. Special travel arrangements for the territory's inhabitants have been made.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was discussion about giving the city its old name back, as has happened in several Russian cities like St. Petersburg and the city of Tver, which were known as Leningrad and Kalinin, respectively, during the Stalinist period. But the continued use of "Kaliningrad", at least for the next few years, seems certain. "Kenig" (short Russian form of "Königsberg") is often used in advertisements for tourism companies in this region.
Kaliningrad's future
Some have argued that because of Kaliningrad's special position and situation, as an exclave of Russia surrounded by EU territory, it should be given special treatment compared to other regions of the Russian Federation. As both the Lithuanian and Polish economy, as well as the economies of the other new members of the EU, are expected to continue to grow and benefit from their membership in the biggest economy on the planet, Kaliningrad could prosper as well. The most optimistic see a future where Kaliningrad could become a "Hong Kong of the Baltic Sea".
Polish and Lithuanian nationalists, bolstered by biased media coverage view Kaliningrad as "a headache for Poland and Lithuania, and the rest of the EU," and claim the region suffers from a high crime rate, much organized crime and huge social problems. Media attention is sometimes focused on Kalinigrad's purportedly large HIV problem, although never citing actual figures - in 2004, known HIV cases in Kalinigrad comprised only 0.04 percent of the population, well in line with neighboring countries, or the fact that Kalinigrad has established one of the most effective HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment policies in Eastern Europe. Many critics see this outpouring of untruthful information as being part of an attempt by EU members to tear Kaliningrad away from Russia.
Geography
Kaliningrad is located at the mouth of the River Pregel, which empties into the Vistula Lagoon. Geographical coordinates 54°43′N 20°31′E / 54.717°N 20.517°E / 54.717; 20.517. Sea vessels can access Gdansk Bay and the Baltic Sea by way of the Vistula Lagoon and the Strait of Baltiysk.
Economy
Sightseeing
- Königsberg Cathedral
- Sackheim Gate, Royal Gate and Brandenburg Gate
- Dom Sovyetov of Kaliningrad
- Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (Kaliningrad)
- Kaliningrad Zoo (formerly: "Königsberg Tiergarten") and former Ostmesse locality
- Ploshchad Pobedy (city centre)
- Kant University (formerly: "Königsberg Albertina University")
- old fortifications
Famous people from Königsberg/Kaliningrad
- Christian Goldbach (1690-1764), mathematician
- Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), philosopher
- Fanny Lewald (1811-1889), feminist and author
- Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann (1776-1822), author
- Gotthilf Heinrich Ludwig Hagen (1797-1884), physicist
- Gustav Robert Kirchhoff (1824-1887), physicist
- Karl Rudolf König (1832-1901), physicist
- Otto Wallach (1847-1931), chemist
- David Hilbert (1862-1943, Wehlau), mathematician
- Erich von Drygalski (1865-1949), explorer
- Arnold Sommerfeld (1868-1951), physicist
- Agnes Miegel (1879-1964), author
- Hannah Arendt (1906-1975), political theorist
- Lea Rabin (1928-2000), author and wife of Yitzhak Rabin
- Heinrich August Winkler (born 1938), historian
- An unusually large number of cosmonauts lived in Kaliningrad
- Aleksei Leonov, cosmonaut (born 1934), first person to walk in space
- Viktor Patsayev (1933-1971), cosmonaut
- Yuri Romanenko (born 1971)
- Alexander Viktorenko (born 1947)
- Oleg Gazmanov, a popular Russian singer
- Lyudmila Putina (First Lady of Russia since December 31, 1999) was brought up in Kaliningrad
- Sergey Snegov, a science fiction writer
- Eugen Sandow (1867-1925), the first modern bodybuilder was born in Königsberg
External links
- Official site of Kaliningrad City Hall
- Template:Ru icon Kaliningrad Orthodox Cathedral
- Template:De icon Territory's history from 1815 to 1945
- Article about Kaliningrad from BBC
- Photos of East Prussia and Königsberg territory taken by J. Lemmen