Kyonigsburg was founded as the castle by german knights of Teutonic order in the place of prussian old town Tvangste in Junaury, 1255. First the castle was wooden, but in
1257 the construction of stone one began. The castle was named as «King's mountain» in honour to czech king Ottokar Ptjemysel II. In 1260 army of several Prussian tribes have surrounded the castle during Great Prussian revolt, but attempt to take it was not success. Attempts of separate Prussian tribes to destroy the castle unsuccessfully have repeated in 1263 and 1273.
German colonists began to arrive next years in the conquered lands, they gradually mixed up with the local (Prussian) population which later has forgotten its language and culture and completely assimilated. In XVI century the Prussians and Lithuanians still made about 20 % of the population in Kyonigsberg.
The settlement has sprang at the walls of the castle which also was named Kyonigsberg. In 1286 this settlement has received the city rights and began to refer to as the city of Kyonigsberg.
Cathedral coбop of Kyonigsberg, the first mention of its construction is dated 1333 year. It is located in city centre, on island of the Kant (was Knaiphoff).
The settlement has sprang at the walls of the castle which also was named Kyonigsberg. In 1286 this settlement has received the city rights and began to refer to as the city of Kyonigsberg.
Cathedral coбop of Kyonigsberg, the first mention of its construction is dated 1333 year. It is located in city centre, on island of the Kant (was Knaiphoff).
The third Kyonigsberg settlement that has received the city rights became Knaiphoff in 1327. It has been separated from Altstadt by branch of the river Pregoli (in German it referred to Pregel) and located on the same island. It actually was the part of Kyonigsberg.
After the war of 1454—1466 Teutonic Order has moved the capital in Kyonigsberg from Marienburg (nowadays Malbork in Poland). In 1525 the Great master of the Teutonic Order Albrecht has transformed the theocratic state to secular Prussian Duchy, and became a duke. Kyonigsberg became the capital of the new state. In 1544 the university named later after duke Albrecht Albertin has opened in city.
Since XVI century the city became the important center of the Lithuanian culture, here there was the first book in the Lithuanian language, the important figures of Lithuanian culture Martinas Majvidas, Kristionas Donelaitis, Ludvikas Reza and others once lived here.
Such «threefold» city which actually was uniform, but consisted of three administratively independent parts (each of three Kyonigsberg cities had the town hall, the burgomaster, own court, etc.) has existed till 1724.
Up to the end of the Second World war, in August, 1944 the city Kyonigsberg has been strongly destroyed by the British bombers during operation «punishment». The city centre where practically there were no military objects has undergone to bombardments basically. The set of peace inhabitants was lost, the old city and set of ancient monuments has burned down, the castle has strongly suffered. Later the city has been taken by storm by the Soviet armies.
Assault began on 6 April, battle for the fifth fort was characterized
by special bitterness. In the course of of this assault Soviet troops
under the command of marshal Vasilevsky was for the first time used
the tactics of the beginning of infantry assault to the end of
artillery preparation, which made it possible to avoid the fire of
enemy on the approach to the strengthenings and to find the garrison
of strengthenings unaware. The significant losses of the their own
troops (continuous artillery preparation) storming from the fire were
the reverse of medal; in addition selected guards units carried losses
, memory about them later was
immortalized in the monument to «1200 guardsmen», located in the
center of city on the Guard avenue. And on the 9th of April above the tower
of «Der Don», where is now located the museum of amber, was
raised the Red Banner, which designates the end of the German history
of city.
On the decision of Potsdam conference the northern part of the German
province East Prussia together with its capital — Kyonigsberg — was
temporarily transmitted to the Soviet Union. Later at the signing of
the treaties about borders Kaliningrad region was completely acknowledged
as the possessions of the Soviet Union.
On July, 4th, 1946 in honour of «all-Union head» Michael Ivanovich Kalinin Kyonigsberg have been renamed into Kaliningrad though Kalinin beared no relation to this city, and on a card of the country already there were cities Kalinin (nowadays Tver) and Kaliningrad near Moscow (nowadays Korolev).
After the war there remained only 20 000 of 370 000 German inhabitants. Though right after war work on adaptation of Germans to new authority has begun — there was a newspaper «New time» in German, schools where teaching was in German have been organized, the decision on eviction of the German population to Germany was accepted. Almost all of them have been sent to Germany by 1947, only some experts helped to restore work of the enterprises down to 1948 and even till 1949, but they had not opportunity to receive the Soviet citizenship and later have been deported to Germany. Instead of them the Soviet citizens have been moved in city
.
After the war the city began to settle by fast rates, manufacture was restored. But the city had the half-closed status in communication with strategic position and an abundance of armies. The city has been closed completely for foreigners, except for rare visits of friendship from the next Poland by foreigners practically it was not visited.
However it was not given any attention to a heritage of German culture by authorities. The old city was not restored, and thecastle has been taken down at the end of 1960, despite of protests of architects, historians, regional specialists and city dwellers.
