Overview

Situated at the Baltic Sea shore Kaliningrad city (originally Konigsberg) is the center of top West region of the Russian Federation. First of all Konigsberg is well known as city of Kant. Great scientist, father of German idealism philosophy Immanuel Kant was born in Konigsberg, there he lived and worked. In January 1758 during the Seven Years' War city was occupied by Russian troops and all its citizens including Immanuel Kant swore allegiance to the Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna. As the result of war Prussian Kingdom kept East Prussia region and Konigsberg city but King of Prussia Frederick the Great had never visited Konigsberg any longer. In XIX c. a lot of defenses (bastions, towers) was built in Konigsberg and city became unassailable fortress. During the WW II the most part of city was destroyed as the result of extensive bombing of Soviet and British Air Forces. In accordance with decision of Potsdam Conference (1945) territory of the historical East Prussia was divided between Poland and the USSR. The Northern part with Konigsberg city was given to the USSR. Next year city was renamed into Kaliningrad in the honor of Mikhail Kalinin, one of the Stalin's Politburo members who died shortly before. Restoration of historic buildings which began in Soviet period is continued up to now. The city is gradually taking its historical appearance.