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Konigsberg (Kaliningrad) region formed in the RSFSR
After the end of the World War II at Potsdam conference of three states-winners (USSR, USA and Great Britain) which took place July 17 – August 2, 1945 it was decided to eliminate the Eastern Prussia. One third of its territory, the Northern one including the city of Konigsberg, was given over to the USSR; the other two thirds went to the People’s Republic of Poland.
On April 7, 1946 was issued a decree of the Supreme Soviet Presidium of the USSR ‘On creation of Konigsberg region as a part of the RSFSR’.
On July 4, 1946 in honor to the Soviet statesmen M. I. Kalinin the city of Konigsberg was renamed to Kaliningrad and Konigsberg region – to Kaliningrad region.
As a result of battles for Konigsberg the historical center of the city was destroyed. About 7-9% of the buildings survived, others laid in ruins. Urban water supply, sewage, gas system, transport were not functioning; the streets were blocked up with piles of bricks and debris; the survived industrial enterprises did not work.
In July of 1946 the Soviet Ministries of the Soviet Union adopted two documents: ‘On the activities regarding economical restoration of Konigsberg region’ and ‘On priority tasks for peopling of districts and agriculture development in Kaliningrad region’. The documents determined the essential areas of activity for local authorities and set out the program of the city and region revival. In the summer of 1946 almost all the centers of population, streets and natural properties were renamed.
Beginning from August of 1946 was organized a mass arrival of migrants from 27 Russian regions, 8 Belorussian regions and 4 autonomous republics.
In the end of 1940 the local Germans were deported from Kaliningrad region by force.
According to the state project the industry activity was quickly restored. Its main fields were fishing and processing industries, construction and repair of ships, pulp and paper industry. In 1948 started the operation Kaliningrad amber complex – the largest world enterprise for amber extraction and processing. Also the port sector of the region had been developing.
In 1966 for its successful formation and development Kaliningrad region was awarded with the Order of Lenin. In 1971 the city of Kaliningrad received the Order of the Labor Red Banner.
From 1991 Kaliningrad is open for the international collaboration with foreign states, Germany and Poland in the first place, in the areas of business, culture and education.
Lit.: Ваулина В. Д. Наш край. Калининград, 1988; Ляш О. Так пал Кёнигсберг. М., 1991; То же [Электронный ресурс]. URL: http://militera.lib.ru/memo/german/lasch/index.html; Устав (Основной Закон) Калининградской области [Электронный ресурс] // Калининградская областная Дума. Б. д. URL: http://duma39.ru/region/ustav.php; Фёдоров Г. М. У карты Калининградской области. Калининград, 1986.
Based on the Presidential Library’s materials: