A Short History of Königsberg

 

Königsberg was the capital of the east Prussia and it was one of the most prominent cities in the history of Prussia in terms of its economic and cultural influence. The city was founded by the Teutonic Order in 1255 and it was the capital of Prussia between 1525 and 1701. In 1701, the elector Frederick III of Brandenburg was crowned in Königsberg as the first King in Prussia. Königsberg maintained its importance as a royal city and an important trade-center in eastern Prussia throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Königsberg was one of the largest German cities in the Baltic region until its annexation by the Russian at the end of the World War II.

 

Coming into the 13th century, the area of the city was settled by Sambians, who were Old Prussian Baltic people, before the Germans’ colonization of the region through the Crusades of the Teutonic Order. In 1255, the Teutonic Knights built a new castle for the Crusaders to use during the wars in the Baltic region. The castle was named Königsberg, literally meaning “King’s Mountain”, after the King Ottokar II of Bohemia, who funded the Crusade. In the vicinity of this castle, three different establishments were founded; Altstadt, Kneiphof and Löbenicht. Königsberg Castle was briefly besieged by pagan tribes during the Prussian rebellions of 1262-63. After the rebellion was suppressed, expansion of the city to the south of the castle began.

 

In 14th century, Königsberg became the main seat of the Crusader generals and marshals. Königsberg joined the Hansaetic League in 1340 and developed strong trade relations with other important port cities of Europe. As the Teutonic Order strengthened its authority in the Baltic region through successful battles against the Pagan tribes, Königsberg maintained its steady growth. Many Germans came to Königsberg to take part in the Crusade and colonize the newly acquired lands. By the end of 14th century, demographics of Königsberg drastically changed in favor of Germans. Also, the famous Königsberg Cathedral was built in the 14th century. In early 15th century, Teutonic Order suffered a series of defeats against Polish-Lithuanian forces yet Königsberg remained under Order’s control during the whole war. In 1454, many cities of western Prussia rebelled against the Order and asked for help from the Kingdom of Poland. Grand Master of the Order fled the capital Marienburg and moved to Königsberg. With the Second Peace of Thorn in 1466, western Prussia was annexed by Poland, which made Königsberg the new capital of the Teutonic Order.

 

16th century brought a new storm of ideas that shook Europe from the ground: Protestant Reformation. Königsberg, along with other Prussian cities, were deeply influenced by the ideas of Martin Luther very quickly. In 1525 the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, Albert of Brandenburg secularized the Order, converted to Protestantism and formed the Duchy of Prussia. Under the Ducal rule, the city flourished through commerce and stability. Duke Albert founded the University of Königsberg in 1544, which in the later years became a center for Protestant studies. Many theologians and scientists studied at the University öf Königsberg, also known as the Albertina University. In 1618, the two branches of the Hohenzollern dynasty united under a personal union through Elector and Duke John Sigismund. The union between Prussia and Brandenburg started diminishing Königsberg’s importance and increasing that of Berlin. The merchants and burghers of Königsberg showed open signs of disloyalty towards their ruler in Berlin and ignored his demands mostly. Towards the end of the century, the Great Elector Frederick William’s absolutism severely weakened Königsberg’s commercial and financial power which resulted in the rise of a rural aristocratic class, the Junkers.

 

 

On 18 January 1701, Frederick III of Brandenburg got crowned as the King in Prussia in Königsberg and became Frederick I of Prussia. Königsberg, therefore, became the capital of the new province of east Prussia within the Kingdom. In 1709, a terrible plague broke out and killed about 10.000 people out of the town’s population of 40.000. It was a disastrous catastrophe for the city. In 1724, the three towns we mentioned before were finally merged under one single administration under the name Königsberg. Many bridges connected these separate towns, these bridges also gave the name to the famous problem of Seven Bridges of Königsberg.  Another aspect of Königsberg was that it was a garrison town with traditional regiments and these regiments preserved their existence until 20th century.

 

In 18th century, Königsberg was a city with many books and newspapers being printed and sold at bookstores. Especially the professors and lecturers of the University of Königsberg kept the intellectual life and print industry alive during that time. One of these students was the famous Immanuel Kant, who was a Königsberger by birth. Kant changed the course of the history of philosophy with his writings and influenced almost all subsequent philosophers. Königsberg was occupied by the Russians between 1758 and 1761 during the Seven Years’ War. Prussian forces were already so overwhelmed by fighting against Austrian and French forces near Brandenburg that Frederick the Great could not afford to start a campaign against Russians to liberate Königsberg. Despite that, the brief Russian occupation of the city was not necessarily an unpleasant one. Russians brought new trade and business opportunities to the city and they did not hinder the freedom of education and thought. In 5 May 1762, Prussians took the city back.

 

With the First Partition of Poland in 1772, Königsberg finally gained a connection through land with the rest of the territories of the Kingdom of Prussia. At the beginning of the 19th century, the city still had a population of 60.000, making it the fifth most populated German city at the time. After the defeat at the Battle of Jena against Napoleon’s army, King Frederick William III fled to Königsberg from Berlin. During the rest of the occupation, Königsberg organized the strongest resistance against the Napoleonic invasion of Prussia. Königsberg was a stronghold of liberalism in the 19th century. The city sent many important personalities to the Frankfurt Landtag during the Revolutions of 1848. Königsberg became a part of the German Empire after the unification in 1871. As a key stronghold in the eastern parts of the Empire, many new fortifications were built around the city. With the construction of Prussian Eastern Railway, which linked Berlin to St. Petersburg by going through many important Prussian cities, Königsberg gained many new citizens. By 1900, the city’s population almost reached 200.000. However, after the defeat of Germany in World War One, Kingdom of Prussia and the Hohenzollern Dynasty came to an end. Königsberg became a part of the Free State of Prussia, which was separated from the rest of Germany by a Polish corridor.

 

In World War II, Königsberg garrison was used by Wehrmacht as Army HQ to the Eastern front. By the end of the war, Königsberg was severely damaged by the British bombing attacks and almost destroyed by the Soviet army offensive. After the World War Two, Königsberg was annexed by the Soviet Union and was renamed to Kaliningrad. Most of the population of the city fled from the city during the war and the survivors were expelled after the annexation by the Russians. The city lost its almost entire characteristics of German and Prussian heritage under Russian rule and many architectural landmarks were destroyed and redesigned in accordance with Communist approach.

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11 Responses

  1. Nora Avins says:

    Tragic architectural, and cultural loss

  2. jutta says:

    My mother and I left Koenigsbeg Sept. 1945. With the winter coming we could not survive living in the bombed out house with no roof, no third floor, and no attic. We survived because I daily went begging for some soup or bread at the Russian Red Army kitchen at the Schleiermacherstr. Hard of Hearing institution, now occupied by the Russian Army.
    I have bad memories and good memories of Russian occupied Koenigsberg.
    The good memmory was when two Russian Army soldiers lifted my mother and me of the Autobahn into their cart, and then dropped us of outside a school where German POW’s were standing.
    They told us they belonged to the heavenly commando ordered to detonate the mines in the Autobahn. Mother and I thanked the two Russian Army soldiers for saving our lives.
    Wars are horrible especially for women and children. We prayed daily to our Lutheran God, and we made it safely to Berlin and to the Charite’ Clinic. And the best news: my
    father was alive and already in West Germany. He sent a Red Cross nurse to Berlin to pick us up. I was a “Wunderkind” a fortunate child, having a mother and father who both survived the war.
    Many children in the Berlin Home for children who lost their parents during the war, where I resided briefly when my mother was still in the hospital, and we were waiting for the nurse to pick us up, told me. Yes, I was blessed with both parents alive, and continuing my education in first class schools. Jutta

    • Anton says:

      Dear Jutta,
      thank u very much for your interesting comment.
      What you said its just very interesting information to read! My name is Anton (I am Russian 35 y.o., born in Weimar).
      My father was military soldier and all my life I lived in Kaliningrad (Konigsberg). I had finished Immanuel Kant University in Kaliningrad (used to called Albertina).
      All the people who living in Kaliningrad now VERY proud of the city and always watching the pics of old Konigsberg.
      “The city lost its almost entire characteristics of German and Prussian heritage under Russian rule” – Yes it its, but NOT at all.
      We still have a big area of Kaliningrad which is still called “Amalienau”.
      So Amalienau part of a city was NOT destroyed by the war and still have all the German buildings, houses, views, streets and etc.
      Now we think is the best part of the city, just because its just most beautiful part and historical area. And especially prices for the property in that area also most expensive
      In my childhood many friendly German people visited Kaliningrad (1990-2000 period) by bus or cars, those probably people who born and lived there as you are. But now no anymore tell the truth, looks like the history gone and only Polish or Lithuanian people coming, and many Russians for sure from Moscow and other big cities.
      In 2018 we had a couple of games of FIFA World Cup in Kaliningrad and many tourist from EU visited as well during summer time. In addition to Kaliningrad, the city of Kranz (now called Zelenogradsk) has been almost completely preserved in its architecture. This is a very beautiful resort town on the Baltic Sea. In the days of East Prussia, it was the best resort on the entire Baltic coast. So Cranz Town also very nice place to visit at any time of a year as well.
      Also, since 2019, Kaliningrad become a part of program that allow people from EU register for short Electronic visa to visit Kaliningrad region. Its very easy to apply and let you to stay in Kaliningrad as a tourist for 1 week (I think it is even free of charge or very small money, need to check the info in the web). Also may be some covid restrictions, we all tired from that.

      Jutta, in order to complete my message, I want to say that if you have a desire to visit Kaliningrad for tourism in summer (just most pleasant time) I will be happy to find an opportunity to fly from Moscow (now I live in Moscow) to take a time and fully show the city, everything that has been preserved from Konigsberg and that has appeared new – there are a lot to see in the city. Just let me know and bring you friends if you want as well, no matter.
      I don’t really know if will you have a chance to read this comment or not, but hopefully.
      Thanks and wishing all the best. Staying safe.
      Anton.

    • suze says:

      thank you Jutta, so interesting to read your history.

    • Yvonne says:

      Dear Jutta, what an interesting story, not only about to what once was one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, but also an amazing story about survival. You should write a book. I was born in the 50s, but for some reason I like to see old pictures of Konigsberg, Berlin, and Dresden; the only explanation I have, is that I like the beautiful old architecture, but also history. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing story. Yvonne

  3. Anton says:

    Dear Jutta,
    thank u very much for your interesting comment. What you said its just very interesting information to read!
    My name is Anton (I am Russian 35 y.o. men, born in Weimar. My father was military soldier) and all my life I lived in Kaliningrad (used to be Konigsberg).
    I had finished Immanuel Kant University in Kaliningrad (used to called Albertina in Konigsberg).
    All the people who living in Kaliningrad now VERY proud of the city and always watching the pics of old Konigsberg.

    “The city lost its almost entire characteristics of German and Prussian heritage under Russian rule” – Yes it its, but NOT at all.

    We still have a big area of Kaliningrad which is still called “Amalienau”.
    So Amalienau part of a city was NOT destroyed by the war and still have all the German buildings, houses, views, streets and etc. Now we think is the best part of the city, just because its just most beautiful part and historical area. And especially prices for the property in that area also most expensive 🙂

    In my childhood many friendly German people visited Kaliningrad (1990-2000 period) by bus or cars, those probably people who born and lived there as you are. But now no anymore tell the truth, looks like the history gone and only Polish or Lithuanian people coming, and many Russians for sure from Moscow and other big cities.
    In 2018 we had a couple of games of FIFA World Cup in Kaliningrad and many tourist from EU visited as well during summer time.

    In addition to Kaliningrad, the city of Kranz (now called Zelenogradsk) has been almost completely preserved in its architecture. This is a very beautiful resort town on the Baltic Sea. In the days of East Prussia, it was the best resort on the entire Baltic coast. So Cranz Town also very nice place to visit at any time of a year as well 🙂

    Also, since 2019, Kaliningrad become a part of program that allow people from EU register for short Electronic visa to visit Kaliningrad region. Its very easy to apply and let you to stay in Kaliningrad as a tourist for 1 week (I think it is even free of charge or very small money, need to check the info in the web). Also may be some covid restrictions, we all tired from that 🙂

    Jutta, in order to complete my message, I want to say that if you have a desire to visit Kaliningrad for tourism in summer (just most pleasant time) I will be happy to find an opportunity to fly from Moscow (now I live in Moscow) to take a time and fully show the city, everything that has been preserved from Konigsberg and that has appeared new – there are a lot to see in the city.
    Just let me know and bring you friends if you want as well, no matter 🙂
    I don’t really will you have a chance to read this comment or not, but hopefully.

    My name on Facebook – Anton Augustiner
    Instargram – notify.tony

    Thanks and wishing all the best. Staying safe 🙂

    Anton.

  4. T. Schumacher says:

    My grandparents were born in Königsberg in the 1890’s. They had to leave after the defeat of Germany in WW I (The Great War). The stories of the city were kept alive by them for years. They moved to Leipzig until they found that becoming difficult later before WW II, and moved to the US. I have their documents from East Prussia, as well as their siblings’ and others before that. I have long thought that I should travel to visit Kaliningrad, but with Russian aggression in Ukraine that seems unlikely to be a good thing to do. Not blaming the Russian people, but your leader is just wrong in invading Ukraine. They do not deserve this horrible experience.

    Best wishes!

  5. Jeanine Bowlen says:

    I am currently looking into my ancestry. The road leads me to Konigsberg. I was wandering if you were able to me with a family surname. The name is Rissinich. We know that the spelling is not correct as my grandmother could not read or write. His name was Karl August Rissinich. His father’s name was William. Thank you Jeanine

  6. Tracey says:

    I am very interested in Koenigsberg/Kaliningrad. I had a friend who lost her entire family in the 1945 bombings. She crossed Europe to her husband’s family in Germany pregnant, with a baby & toddler in tow. I am currently writing her amazing story and am keen to know what life was like in Koenigsberg in the 1930/40s and hear others’ stories. Her surname was Broede – just incase anyone knew the family.

  7. Barbara D Layman says:

    Would villages name Julienfelde and Topiollen (Popiollen) have been in the jurisdictional realm of this Konigsberg prior to WWI?

    Someone in Nebraska is attempting to locate both places. Grandparents were born in ‘Topiollen’ in 1877 & 1881, were married in Konigsberg in 1899 at Konigsberg.

    I have been unable to locate the villages on a map.

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