MILESTONES
OF BALTIC PRUSSIAN HISTORY
ca. 98 B.C.
name of the West Baltic tribes Aestiorum gentes
mentioned for the first time by Cornelius Tacitus in his
GERMANIA, XLV (the name Hesti(s), Aesti/ Aisti, Estum
being mentioned afterwards ca. 524 by Cassiodorus, ca. 550 by
Jordanes, ca. 831 by Einhardt, ca. 890 by Wulfstan)
ca. 180 A.D.
(Galindai) and Soudovians (Soudinoi)
mentioned for the first time by Claudius Ptolemaeus
ca. 5th-9th c.
the Prussians develop trade (mostly with their
amber and its products) down the "Amber Way" up to
Pannonia; Truso (Drūsō) - the main center of the Prussian
trade in the North
6th c.
religious and legal patriarchal reforms in Prussia by
Widewuto (Wīdewutis) and Brudeno (Prutenis)
ca. 523
The Ostrogoth king Theodoric addresses the Aestian (West
Baltic) people in a letter, thanking them for gifts of amber
and establishing further trade.
9th-10th c.
Swedish and Danish vikings in Prussia - trade and military
centers in Truso (Drūsō), Wiskiauten (Wiskjautāi), Russ;
Prussian warriors in vikings' military marches forming
Novgorod Rus (Russia - the Prussian Street in Novgorod from
1185)
9th c.
the name Bruzzi 'Prussians' mentioned for
the first time by a Bavarian Geographer
965
the name 'Prussians' (Burūs) for the
second time mentioned in Arabic by Ibrāhīm ibn-Ya'qūb,
Jewish traveller from Spain
997
the Prussians kill Adalbert of Prague, the first
Christian missionary, not because of his preaching but because
of his having profaned Prussian forest sanctuary
11th-13th c.
Prussian-Polish wars
ca. 1075
Adam of Bremen names the Prussian Samlandians homines
humanissimi "a most humane people"
("History of the Bishops of Hamburg"; IV) and
mentions their trade by sea with Sweden
12th c.
misfortunes of the Poles in their wars against the
Prussians
1201, 1202
founding of Riga and of the Order of Brothers of
the Sword in Livonia (Latvia); beginning of German conquering
of Latvians, Livians (Livonians) and Estonians
1215
the Pope Innocentus III names Christian the Monk
the first bishop of Prussia
1225
Konrad, the Polish Duke of Mazovia invites the
Teutonic Order of St. Mary to fight against Prussians
1230
the Pope Gregorius IX charges the Order with the
Crusade and conquest of Prussia; Konrad the Duke presents the
Polonized Prussian land of Kulm to the Order thus predestining
centuries of disaster for Polish, Prussian, Lithuanian,
Latvian, Estonian and other Central European nations
1231
founding of Thorn in the land of Kulm by the
Germans under the Great Master Hermann von Salza
1236, 11.22
the defeat at Saule (Šiauliai) of the Brothers of
the Sword in their attempt to raid the Lithuanian lowlands
(Samogithia); hereinafter the Lithuanians prevent uniting of
the Brothers of the Sword with the Teutonic Order, thus saving
the Baltics from total Germanization
1236, 1237
the German knights conquer the Prussian lands of
Pomesania (Pamedē) and Pogesania (Pagudē with the towns of
Truso (Drūsō) and Elbing (newly founded as German)
1237
unification of the Brothers of the Sword in the
North and the Teutonic Order in the South into one common
Teutonic Order
1240
the Germans conquer Varmia (Warmē) and attack
Notangia (Nōtangō) and Bartha (Bartō)
1241
Prussian parrying of an attack by Mongols at
Liegnitz
1242
help of the Southern branch of the Teutonic Order to
its Northern branch and defeat of the Brothers on the Ice of
the Lake Peipus (Estonia) in the battle against Orthodox
Russian Duke Alexandre of Neva
1242-1249
as a result, the first revolt of the subdued Prussians
1249
the peace of Christburg, Notangia and Bartha become
German
1251
in order to escape the German-Catholic aggression,
Mendocus (Mindaugas, Mendog), the Grand Duke of Lithuania,
accepts the Catholic faith
1252
the Germans, while attacking Lithanian Samogithia from
Livonia, fortify on the Curonian sea coast by founding the
fortress of Mümmel (future Memel) near the Curonian site
Klaipėda
1253
Mindaugas is crowned the King of Lithuania and
acknowledges vassalage to the Roman Pope; for the sake of
peace he presents part of ethnic Lithuanian lands, Scalovia
and Nadrovia (future parts of the Duchy of Prussia) and the
Samogithian lowlands to the Germans.
1255
violating the peace of Christburg, the German knights
attack Samlandia where Königsberg is founded in the name of
the Bohemian king Ottokar near the Prussian fortress of
Twanxta over the river Pregel (Preigara)
1257
the Germans conquer Samlandia and attack Nadrovia
1260, 07.13
the first battle between the Lithuanians and the
Germans of the Southern branch of the Teutonic Order together
with their Northern "Brothers" at Durbe near Libau
(Liepāja in Latvia); historical defeat of the Germans and
crash of the German dream to unite geographically the Northern
and the Southern branches of the Teutonic Order by conquering
all Samogithia and thus to enslave Lithuania and subdue all
the Baltics; the future for the state of Lithuania, as well as
even for the new states of Estonia and Latvia in far 1918,
becomes ensured.
1260-1274
the great Prussian revolt under Henricus (Herkus)
Monte (Montemin) of Notangia, Glande of Samlandia, Glappus of
Varmia, Auctume of Pogesania, Diwanus of Bartha against the
Teutonic Order as a result of the defeat of the Germans at
Durbe; all Prussia liberated except main German fortresses
1261
seeing that his baptism has not stopped the German
aggression, Mindaugas the King of Lithuania abandons
Christianity and returns to Baltic paganism
1262
siege of Königsberg by Herkus Monte
1263
murder of Mindaugas by conspirators; the Pope
organizes a Crusade from all over Europe against the
Prussians; all-European war against the Prussians begins
1273
Herkus Monte falls in Nadrovia
1274
defeat of the Prussians; the internationalized
Teutonic Order attack Nadrovia, Scalovia and Soudovia (the
central land of the Western Balts Yatvingians)
1276
the Lithuanian Grand Duke Traidenis (Troiden) accepts
Prussian and Barthan refugees from Prussia, and settles them
in Southern Lithuania around the areas of Grodno (Gardinas),
Slonim, and Volkovijsk (all of the above now part of Belarus),
and the Pelesa river valley; princes of the Volhynian Rus try
to stop this settlement unsuccessfully. Other Prussian
refugees settle in Central Lithuania.
1283
the Germans conquer the last Western Balts Yatvingians
in Soudovia and deport 1600 of them into so named
"Soudovian Corner" in North-Western Samlandia; the
last Yatvingian chief Scurdo escapes to Lithuania together
with his soldiers
1283-1525
theocratic Catholic state of the Teutonic Order,
Prussia - an independent Baltic state
1295
the last unsuccessful Prussian revolt
13/14 c.
thematic vocabulary of 802 Prussian words, known as
Elbing Vocabulary, appears
1308-1309
Pomerelle ("West Prussia") becomes part of
Prussia
1309-1457
Marienburg is the capital of Prussia
1309
the Grand Master bans Order's officers to speak to
people in Prussian
1370, 02.17
the Lithuanians, led by the Grand Duke Kinstut
(Kestutis) and the Grand Duke Olgierd (Algirdas) are crushed
at Rudau, the Order Marshal Henning Schindekop, 2 Comturs, 23
knights and 200 soldiers being killed at the Order's side
1386
Jagiello (Jogaila), the Grand Duke of Lithuania,
accepts Catholic faith and baptizes Lithuania; he marries
Hedwig, the Queen of Poland and becomes Wladislaw II, King of
Poland
1390
peace and trade treaty between the Order and the
Samogithians is signed in Königsberg
1409-1411
war between Prussia and Poland
1410, 07.15
defeat of the Order in the battle against united
Polish-Lithuanian army under Jagiello (Jogaila), the King of
Poland, and his cousin Witold (Vytautas), the Grand Duke of
Lithuania, at Tannenberg/ Grunwald and the subsequent siege of
Marienburg; collapse of the Order state begins; free Prussians
flee to German towns to escape being sold together with their
land into serfdom to hired military leaders for Order's debts
- beginning of their linguistic assimilation in towns and of
the loss of their Prussian language; mass migration of cheap
Polish peasants from Mazovia - beginning of the formation on
their basis of the Polish-speaking ethnic group of Prussian
Mazurs with Prussian, German and Lithuanian elements
1411
the first peace treaty between Prussia and Poland is
signed in Thorn
1422
peace treaty between Prussia and Lithuania is signed
near the lake of Melno; the Grand Duke Vytautas waives
Lithuanian claims to possess the region of Memel while the
Order abandons its policy to conquer Lithuania
1440
an anti-theocratic Prussian Union is set up by
Prussian secular nobility (53 nobles and 19 towns united)
1454
revolt of Prussian nobility against the Order, the
Prussian Union declares the Polish king Sigismund the King of
Prussia
1454-1466
the Thirteen-Years War between the Order and Poland
1457
the Grand Master flees from Marienburg to Königsberg,
Marienburg goes under the Polish crown
1466
the second peace treaty between Prussia and Poland is
signed in Thorn
1473-1543
life of the great Prussian Nicolaus Coppernicus
(Niklas Kapperniks)
1485-1548
life of Dantiscus/Dantyszek, poet and patron of the
arts; was granted a doctorate degree and a title of nobility
and by Emperor Maximilian I for his literary work; in 1530 he
took the position of bishop in Kulm, and in 1537 - of Varmia.
1491
Coppernicus immatriculates himself at the University
of Krakow as a Prusso
1511
margrave Albrecht Hohenzollern of Brandenburg-Ansbach
becomes the last Grand Master of the Teutonic Order
1517
Reformation starts in Wittenberg
1520-1521
the last unsuccessful war of the Order (Northern
Prussia) against Poland
1523, 09.27
the first Lutheran sermon at the Cathedral of Königsberg
1525
peace treaty between the Order and Poland; Albrecht
Hohenzollern abandons Catholicism and becomes a Lutheran Grand
Duke of secularized Lutheran Duchy of Prussia, a vassal state
of the King of Poland; the rest of Prussia remains in the
possession of the Polish king under the name Royal Prussia;
remnants of the Teutonic Order are expelled from Prussia; the
district of Lithuania (Lithuania Minor) is formed in the Duchy
of Prussia
1525-1568
immigration of Dutchmen into the liberal Duchy of
Prussia
1525-1528
peasants' uprising in the Duchy of Prussia
1529
the epidemic of "English Sweat" carries off
25000 lives in the Duchy
1544, 08.17
on the initiative of the Duke Albrecht the university
of Königsberg (future Albertina) is inaugurated, the Lutheran
staff having been invited from Germany and Lithuania Proper
1545
two versions (first - with linguistic and dogmatic
Arianic mistakes) of the Catechismus in Prussian appear
1547
the first Lithuanian book is published in Königsberg
1549-1550
a plague epidemic carries off 15000 lives in the Duchy
of Prussia
1552
first translation of the New Testament into Polish is
published in Königsberg; Andreas Osiander, one of the first
Lutheran sectarians, dies during a theological debate in Königsberg
1557
the Valak laws, instituted by Sigismund Augustus, the
King of Poland ensure Barthan freedom from serfdom; the
descendants of the Prussian Barthan refugees in South and
Central Lithuania are given various legal privileges because
of their skill as bridge-builders.
1561
the 3rd Prussian Catechismus - translation of Martin
Luther's "Enchiridion" by Abel Will and Paul Megott
- is published in Königsberg
1566
struggle between believers of Melanchthonian
Lutheranism and the followers of Osiander gains political
character, persecution of the Osiandrismus begins
1568
flight of the Duke Albrecht from Königsberg and his
death in Tapiau; his insane son Albrecht Friedrich becomes the
second Duke of Prussia
1569
in accordance to the Union at Lublin, Poland,
Lithuania and Royal Prussia are united into one state under
the Polish crown; the Duchy of Prussia declares the law of
succession of the ruling over it of Hohenzollerns of
Brandenburg
1577
the Regent Georg Friedrich removes Albrecht Friedrich
and becomes Duke of Prussia
1603-1618
return of Duke Albrecht Friedrich as the ruler of
Prussia
1605-1659
life of the great Prussian poet Simon Dach
1618
the Elector Johann Sigismund of Brandenburg becomes
the Duke of Prussia; personal Union between the German Duchy
of Brandenburg is established
1618-1648
the Thirty-Years war in the "Holy Roman
Empire" and the intervention of the Swedes; Prussia
declares its neutrality which becomes partly recognized by the
Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus
1619-1640
the Elector of Brandenburg, Georg Wilhelm as Duke of
Prussia (died in Königsberg)
1626-1629
Gustavus Adolphus occupies the harbor of Pillau in
Prussia
1629
Gustavus Adolphus declares an armistice with Poland in
order to attack Germany
1635
defeat of the Swedes at Nördlingen in Germany
1640-1688
the Great Elector, Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg,
as Duke of Prussia
1655-1660
Karl X Gustavus, the King of Sweden, attacks Poland
and Lithuania, occupying near all the territory of the common
state
1656, 01
the Great Elector concludes a treaty of Prussian
neutrality with Sweden, in accordance to which Sweden would
help Prussia to abolish vassalage from Poland and to regain
the Varmian bishopric from it
1657
the Swedes undergoing misfortune, the Great Elector
allies with Germany and seeks peace with Poland
1657, 09.29
the treaty of Wehlau: the Prussian vassalage from
Poland is abolished but the Varmian bishopric remains Polish
1660
peace treaty of Oliva between Sweden, Poland and
Prussia acknowledges the sovereignty of Brandenburg in Prussia
1663
homage of the Prussian nobility to the Great Elector:
peace with the nobility as a start point on the way toward the
absolutism
1678, 11
the Swedes attack Prussia from their occupied Livonia
1679
in a winter battle the Prussian army under the Great
Elector drives the Swedes out from Prussia
1685
Prussia begins to admit refugees Huguenots from France
1688-1701
Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg as the last Duke
of Prussia
1700-1721
the Northern War of Sweden against Denmark, Saxony,
Poland and Russia (later also against Prussia and Hannover)
1701, 01.18
Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg, the Duke of
Prussia, in return for helping the Habsburgs in the War of
Spanish succession, is crowned by the Holy Roman Emperor as
Friedrich I, the "King in Prussia" (died in 1713);
crowned in Königsberg, the title of king acknowledged because
Prussia lies outside geographical Germany, outside the Holy
Roman Emperor's domain; the Duchy of Prussia together with the
Duchy of Brandenburg becomes the first Lutheran kingdom: the
Kingdom of Prussia; hereinafter all kings of Prussia become
crowned in Königsberg and buried in Potsdam in Brandenburg
while the name Prussia begins to be finally associated with
Germany
1709-1711
starvation and the most devastating plague yet carries
off about half of the inhabitants (mostly peasants) in the
Baltic part of Prussia; last serfs, who still spoke Prussian,
dye off - end of the Old Prussian ethnicity in Prussia;
hereinafter only the name, old Baltic traditions and folklore
continue the Baltic Prussian ethnicity merging with Prussian
Lithuanian, Prussian Mazur, Prussian German and other country
elements into a local New Prussian ethnicity dispersed only
after 1945
1713-1740
King Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia
1714
the Retablissement reforms start in the devastated
land
1714-1780
life of the first secular Lithuanian poet Christian
Donelaitis (Doneleitis, Donalitius), classic of the Lithuanian
literature, pastor of Tolmingkehmen (Tolminkiemis) in Nadrovia
1723-1818
Königsberg as center of the Department of East
Prussia
1724-1804
life of the great Königsbergian Immanuel Kant,
founder of the German classical philosophy
1732
first wave of the Swiss colonists, refugees from
Salzburg; foundation of the famous stud-farm in Trakehnen
(Trakėnai)
1736-1815
Gumbinnen (Gumbinė) as center of the Department of
Lithuania (Lithuania Minor in Prussia)
1740-1786
King Friedrich II the Great, period of the French
"Elegance"
1758-1762
first Russian occupation of Baltic Prussia during the
Seven-Years War (1756-1763)
1772
the first partition of Poland (Polish-Lithuanian
state) between Prussia and Austria: the Varmian Bishopric
together with "West Prussia" are ceded to Prussia;
the Baltic part of the state geographically unites with
Brandenburg again after 1457 (Prussia also gets Western Poland
with Gniezno and Poznan; Russia gets Livonia, i.e. Estonia and
Eastern part of Latvia up to the gulf with the port of Riga;
Austria gets the so-called "West Ukraine" with
Lemberg/ Lwow/ Lviv)
1776-1822
life of Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann, classic of
world literature (born in Königsberg, died in Berlin)
1786-1797
King Friedrich Wilhelm II
1793
the second partition of Poland between Prussia and
Russia: Prussia gets Central Poland with Plotsk and Kalish,
Russia gets Central Belarus, Central and Eastern Ukraine
1795
the third partition of Poland between Prussia and
Russia: Prussia gets all remaining part of Poland, Russia gets
Courland and Lithuania Proper
1797-1840
King Friedrich Wilhelm III
1807, II
defeat of Prussia and Russia in the battle at Preußisch
Eylau by Napoleon; King Friedrich Wilhelm III flees to Memel
(Klaipėda)
1807, 09.07
peace at Tilsit between France and Russia; Prussia is
forced to accede to this treaty, giving Central Poland to
Russia.
1807-1809
anti-feudal reforms of Heinrich Fr. K.
vom-und-zum-Stein in Prussia, abolishment of the serfdom
1808-1809
Court of the King and Government of the Kingdom of
Prussia in Königsberg
1808
humanization reform in the Prussian army by Generals
Gerhard von Scharnhorst and Karl W.G. von Grolman, Field
Marshals Neidhart von Gneisenau and Leopold L.H. von Boyen
1809, 04-10
Wilhelm von Humboldt, as Prussian Minister of culture,
invites famous astronomer Friedrich Bessel to Königsberg from
Germany
1812, 12
the army of Napoleon begins its flight from Russia
1812, 12.30
the so-called Conference at Tauroggen (Tauragė) at
the mill of Požerūnai: Prussian General Johann D.L. von
Jork, without an approbation of the King, promises to Russian
General Diebitsch to keep neutrality and to let Russian troops
pass to Prussia to pursue Napoleon's army
1813, 01.8
General von Jork is met as a hero in Königsberg
1813, 02.5-7
Count Alexandre Fr. von Dohna having gathered
representatives of Prussian estates in Königsberg, a bill is
adopted to create Land Guards of 20000 soldiers and 10000
reservists on the initiative of General von Jork. The Kingdom
of Prussia begins to organize liberation of Germany from
Napoleon thus insuring its future role in uniting of German
states into one common German Empire
1815
at the Congress of Vienna, the victorious countries in
wars against Napoleon introduce new order in Europe; Russia
reestablishes the Kingdom of Poland as a Russian protectorate
(until 1830) on the territory of Central and North-Eastern
Poland as well as of Southern part of Central Lithuania
1815
the name Department of Lithuania is substituted
with the name Administrative District of Gumbinnen
without the word "Lithuania"
1825
in Königsberg Ludvicus Rhesa publishes his
"Dainos, or Lithuanian Folksongs" in Lithuanian and
German, reviewed by J.W.Goethe and J.Grimm
1829
setting up of the Province of Prussia in the Kingdom
of Prussia; historical East and West Prussia are united in
this province together
1838-1918
life of Wojciech Ketrzynski (Adalbert Winkler), patron
of Mazurian culture; Prussian historian and ethnographer.
1840-1861
King Friedrich Wilhelm IV
1841
J.C.Wutzke publishes one of the last geographical maps
of the Kingdom of Prussia with the territory of Memel,
Scalovia and Nadrovia still bearing their traditional several
hundred year old name, Lithuania
1844
setting up of the Association for the Antiquity
"Prussia"
1845
"Old Prussian Language", a study by Georg
H.F. Nesselmann, is published in Berlin; the term 'Baltic
languages' for akin Indoeuropean languages Old Prussian,
Lithuanian and Latvian is introduced in this book for the
first time
1848
German revolution, East and West Prussia send their
representatives to German National Assembly in Frankfurt
1849-1860
building of the Ostbahn railway
1851
the first academic Lithuanian Dictionary is published
in Königsberg by G.H.F. Nesselmann
1861-1888
King Wilhelm I (German Kaiser from 1871)
1862, 07.20
inauguration of the new building of Albertina, the
university of Königsberg, created by Friedrich Stüler in the
style of renaissance
1862, 08
Otto von Bismarck becomes Prime Minister of Prussia;
as an ideologist of the leveling of minorities, he creates a
secret foundation of 160 million DM to buy up the land from
non-Germans
1865
the first decree by the Minister of Education to
remove teaching Lithuanian in Prussian schools
1868-1953
life of Wilhelm Vydūnas-Storost , leader of
Lithuanian national rebirth in Lithuania Minor, a philosopher,
writer, poet and playwright, propagator of Baltic cultural
identity, antiquity and pagan traditions.
1870-1871
war between Germany and France, German victory
1871, 01.18
Wilhelm I, the King of Prussia, is proclaimed Kaiser
in Versailles; O. von Bismarck becomes Chancellor of the
Empire
1871-1919
the 2nd German Empire
1872, 1873
complete ban of Lithuanian in Prussian schools
1874
Adalbert Bezzenberger, professor of Albertina,
publishes in Goettingen the first monuments of Lithuanian
literature
1877
G.H.F. Nesselmann publishes the first academic
"Thesaurus of the Prussian Language" in Berlin
1878
the Province Prussia is divided into two provinces:
East Prussia and West Prussia; Königsberg becomes capital of
the Province East Prussia
1879-1964
life of the famous Königsbergian poetess Agnes Miegel
1879
petition of 16400 Prussian Lithuanians to the German
Kaiser to bring back Lithuanian to Prussian schools
1881
Lithuanian language is allowed in two initial classes
only
1882
petition of 19000 Prussian Lithuanians to the German
Kaiser to bring Lithuanian to Prussian schools; A.
Bezzenberger publishes in Berlin the first academic study of
Prussian Lithuanian dialects
1888-1919
Wilhelm II, Kaiser of the German Empire, the King of
Prussia
1901
building of the Sea Canal in Königsberg
1905
setting up of the Administrative District of
Allenstein
1909
creating of the "Native Land Museum" in the
North-Eastern part of the Königsberg Zoo in Hufen on the
initiative of A.Bezzenberger and R.Dethlefsen; this museum
with many original Lithuanian and Mazurian farmhouses and
other exhibits is transferred to Hohenstein (Olsztynek) in
1935 thus becoming saved from the Soviet barbarians for times
after 1945
1909-1999
life of Sigrid von Perbandt, ideologist of the rebirth
of Old Prussian tradition.
1914-1919
the first World War, defeat of Germany
1914, 08-09
the revenge of 1410: Field Marshal von Hindenburg
routs the Russian army at Tannenberg
1914, 09.11
the Russian army, led by General Samsonov is defeated
in Mazurland
1918
saving their power, the Soviet bolsheviks sign up a
peace treaty with Germany at Brest Litovsk thus opening way
for the liberation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from the
Russian yoke
1920, 01.10
the Treaty of Versailles of June 28, 1919, comes into
force: the German Empire gives its place to Weimar Republic,
Prussia becomes a Free State, the Memel/ Klaipėda region
being separated and ruled by French directorate
1920, 07.11
historical plebiscite in the Southern part of East
Prussia and in the district of Marienwerder to recognize the
self-determination of the Prussian Mazurs in respect to German
or Polish citizenship; absolute loss of the Polish party (the
single Soldau in the extreme South goes to Poland)
1923
the Republic of Lithuania annexes the Memel/ Klaipėda
region in a putsch against the French directorate
1924-1939
autonomy of the Klaipėda region in Lithuania
according to the Statute of Memel/ Klaipėda; loss of
Lithuanian inner policy in the region
1932
the German State Chancellor von Pappen abolishes the
existence of the Prussian state
1933-1945
rule of the Nazis in Germany: the so-called 3rd German
Empire under Adolf Hitler
1938
the Nazis substitute almost all Lithuanian (1183) and
a lot of Polish historical geographical names in Prussia with
artificial German; the central synagogue in Königsberg, a
masterpiece of architecture, is destroyed by the Nazis
1939
Lithuania by "free will" returns the Memel/
Klaipėda region to Germany after a German ultimatum; the
monument to S.Dach "Anke von Tharau" in front of the
Theatre in Memel/ Klaipėda is removed to make place to greet
A.Hitler coming in Memel
1939-1945
the second World War
1944, 08.17
Albertina celebrates its 400th anniversary
1944, 08, 29-30
British aircraft demolishes the whole historical
center of Königsberg with phosphoric bombs
1944, autumn
attacks of the Soviet army in East Prussia, Soviet
military crimes and genocide of the civilian population
1945, 04.09
the Soviets capture Königsberg, murder of civilians
1945-1948
the Soviet terror and genocide in Prussia (120000
victims in Königsberg alone)
1946
division of East Prussia into a Russian part in the
North and a Polish part in the South; beginning of the
destruction of monuments of history and culture in the
northern part
1946, 07.04
Königsberg is renamed to Kaliningrad in honor of a
deceased criminal Stalinist statesman Kalinin who had never
been to Königsberg; the region of Kaliningrad becomes part of
Soviet Russia, the Southern part of former East Prussia
becoming part of Poland
1947
the Soviets substitute almost all geographical names
in the region of Kaliningrad with artificial Soviet Russian
names.
1948
deportation to Germany of all remaining former
inhabitants from the region of Kaliningrad and beginning of
deportation of most part of remaining former inhabitants from
Varmia-Mazurland
1948, 10.03
founding of the Countrymanship "East
Prussia" in West Germany
1965
communist authorities decide to blow up the
"fascist" castle of Königsberg; persecution of
Russian intellectuals who protested against this
1969
demolition of rest of the castle of Königsberg
1974
Dr. Olga Krupina becomes director of Kant's museum at
the university of Kaliningrad (in the deformed building of Fr.
Stüler)
1979
moving of Königsberg State Archives, evacuated to
Germany at the end of the war, from Goettingen to Berlin
1981
founding of TOLKEMITA, Association of Germans of the
Old Prussian origin, by Ruth Kauffmann-Tolkmitt and Gerd
Kauffmann in Duisburg
1983
manifest by Letas Palmaitis and Vladimir Toporov on
the revival of the Old Prussian language as modern New
Prussian
1988
founding of the first PRŪSA club in Lithuania
1989
founding of the fellowship PRUTHENIA of
the Lovers of History and Culture of Baltic Prussians in
Olsztyn / Allenstein
1990, 04.06
founding of the Brotherhood PRŪSA, international
association of PRŪSA clubs and groups in various countries
1991
collapse of the Soviet Union; the Baltic states gain
independence; Russia opens Kaliningrad to foreigners
2001
founding of the first officially registered BALTIC PRUSSIAN
ETHNIC COMMUNITY under the leadership of Inia Trinkūniene in
Lithuania
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