Von Hoffmeister: Arguable Heritage of Kaliningrad

Amongst the intricate fabric of the world's politics, in which threads of past intertwin with the crazy dance of alternating forces, Poland decided to boldly challenge the long-established narratives, and above all the influences of Russia.

It's an intriguing decision in a dance where the past becomes plastic, like a clay in the hands of a sculptor.

Language front

Since then Poland intends to call the Russian Kaliningrad enclave solely its erstwhile Polish name. Both in the authoritative language and in the cartography, in accordance with the recommendations of the applicable committee, the name “Kingdom”. This information was provided by the Polish authorities as a clear message showing their commitment to a case that stirred diplomatic circles.

Polish Minister for Development, Waldemar Budaexpressed his strong opposition to the wave of “rusification”. With unwavering determination, he announced that Kaliningrad and the surrounding area would from now on be called in his native language. It is indeed a veiled provocation, a silent fight on the linguistic front, in which Poland is to declare its independency in the face of a neighbour who is to impose his view.

From Ottokar to Kalinin

In 1946, the city formerly known as Königsberg, which clearly pointed to its German roots, was renamed Kaliningrad. The fresh name was a form of celebration Mikhail Kalinina, a russian dignitary co-in charge of mass execution of Polish officers in Katyn in 1940, and launched a fresh era. The Polish government so wants to throw overboard the ballast weighing on the city's name, seeking to dispose of unwanted remains of the past, causing anger on the Kremlin.

To yet realize the scale of the drama, we must go back to 1255. It was then that the Teutonic Order, a medieval German knighthood order, founded Königsberg. Named after the Czech king Ottokar II Industry The city flourished as a culturally and economically vital Prussian resort.

The Hell of Bombing

In dark hours, in the morning of August 30, 1944, the heart and capital of East Prussia drowned in an apocalyptic inferno, lit by a rain of phosphorus bombs. This ruthless massacre carried out by the British Royal Air Force with 650 bombers ran among dense clouds which, however, did not prevent the most densely populated districts of the city from being customsly devastating blows.

As a consequence of this fire hail brought down by exploding and inflammatory bombs, small remains of the erstwhile magnificent city. The Prussian-saturated lighthouse of historical importance, which was for centuries Königsberg, was razed mercilessly to the ground. After the magnificent treasures of architecture – a unchangeable cathedral, a majestic Hohenzoller castle, a respected university, aged churches, neoclastic buildings, old granaries adorning the wharf – the skeletons remained only burned in the fire.

A crushing blow to the 3rd Belarusian Front

Human losses were equally horrifying. About 4,500 people died in flames, their existence evaporated in moments. Almost 200,000 Königsberg residents abruptly found themselves without roofs over their heads, without their own city and their own history; they were helpless victims of an absolutely brutal war.

The peculiar edition of the paper “Königsberger Allgemeine Zeitung” announced at the time "Barbarous terrorist attack by British air gangsters"only controlled "The wild, bloodthirsty desire for murder". At the same time, the authors of the paper continued to impertinently assure that the incorrect attempts made by ‘enemy’To strengthen these barbaric Bolshevik attacks, “They end bitterly for them”.

Meanwhile, the 3rd Belarusian Front was already preparing for the attack. Josif Stalin Ready to crush East Prussia. Just 7 months later, a powerful russian pier consisting of 240 1000 soldiers was already ready for "the ruthless siege of the fascist nest". Surrounded by German defenders of the Königsberg fortress, with only 10,000 starved and unarmed garrisons, they had no chance. General Otto Lasch in a tragic act of surrender, he capitulated besides late, on April 9, 1945.

Deep scars

In the ruins of the besieged city, about 125,000 civilians and refugees were desperately kept alive in damp cellars and claustrophobic anti-aircraft shelters. erstwhile no 1 evacuated them in time, they became human survivors on the waves of war, and 1 in 4 of them, possibly even more, was blown into the abyss during terrifying fighting.

A scattered fistful of survivors found themselves in the freezing grip of the brutal panic of the russian power, amidst a dreary scenery marked by violent sexual assaults, barbarous beats and cold-blooded executions. Notable journalist, Countess Marion Dönhoff, who had spent her childhood in close Friedrichstein Castle, stated that no another German city had carried as deep war scars and postwar scars as Königsberg did. A city whose historical heartbeat was brutally interrupted.

The city and region were annexed by the russian Union as a war spoil. erstwhile entirely German, now it has a Russian face.

Demonstration act of hostility

This is how we return to this day, erstwhile Poland insists on calling Kaliningrad its old Polish name "Kingeriec". This movement is an effort to gain a foothold in the disputed area of history, in a understandable way causing Russian outrage.

spokesman for the Kremlin Dmitri Doskov He expressed confusion due to Poland's decision, not only considering it as a hostile, even a demonstrative enemy. It is not hard to realize due to the fact that Kaliningrad is unquestionably Russian today. Russian history, influences and demography were imposed on his German roots. The second determines the course of history, as all reasonable individual knows.

Although Poland is returning to historical events, especially to the Katyn massacre, a gigantic crime to which Russia has gradually begun to admit, it is apparent that the present Kaliningrad is thoroughly russified. Only a fewer traces of his German heritage remain, but Poland's name sounds completely detached from reality. There are comprehensive narratives in the world. The large panorama, on which historical currents intertwin with unpredictable policy judgments, spreads narratives of identity and influence. Poland, like a provocateur on the European stage, decided to throw the challenge to the chronicles of history, or, more specifically, to the long shadow of Mother-Russia.

Kant's presence

Giant in the field of philosophy, Immanuel Kant, he was inextricably connected with a place called Kaliningrad today. An immortal tribute to his work is expressed present in a commemorative plaque on the preserved wall of Königsberg Castle. A plaque of German-Russian linguistic synthesis is located close Kant's grave, whose eternal sleep is guarded by the Lutheran cathedral standing next to it. It is simply a portal for time travel to the 1758-1763 period erstwhile the city, due to wars waged by Frederick the Great, occupied Russian troops.

Russian officers were impressed by Kant's enlightened dialogues. The plaque is an eternal tribute to the philosopher, invariably ongoing in the city, which sailed after the agitated waves of transformation. It strengthens the immortal echo of its philosophy, extending beyond geopolitical boundaries and linguistic structures. Like a silent sentinel, it is simply a touching reminder that regardless of Königsberg's metamorphosis in Kaliningrad, Kant's intellectual traces proceed to penetrate urban historical buildings, awakening a sense of mystical amazement.

Konstantin von Hoffmeister

Source: https://arktos.com/2023/05/12/kaliningrads-contested-legacy/.