Kaliningrad is a city striking in its beauty andin riddles. Many historians, archaeologists, and simply lovers of ancient architecture annually visit it, study the rich heritage. Amazingly, but still there are finds of historical value. In many ways, this is facilitated by the Konigsberg dungeons. According to legend, it was in them that the famous lost Amber Room was hidden. What are these buildings? Is a real underground city really sprawled near Kaliningrad or is it just single forts and bunkers? We will understand.
The history of Koenigsberg begins in the middle of XIII.century, when on the site of a small settlement was built a fortress. First, wooden, and later rebuilt from stone. Gradually, a town began to form around the castle: people settled because of its advantageous geographical position (proximity to the shipping route), as well as for reasons of protection.
Gradually, the city was joined by three nearby urban settlements, the cathedral was rebuilt, and in the 16th century the first university was opened.
The first time the city became Russian in the reign of Catherine the Great, when it was taken during the Seven Years War.
The first secrets are connected with the XIX century.the dungeons of königsberg. It was at this time that the active construction of fortifications, bastions and other defensive structures began. The city is developing: public transport appears, the tram starts. Königsberg becomes the first settlement in Germany where the airport was opened (1919).
By the beginning of the Second World War, Koenigsberg is a city with already very developed infrastructure.
The history of Koenigsberg during the war is very sad.Without any pity, the great monuments of architecture are being destroyed. So, in the “Crystal Night”, ideologically-minded thugs literally spread the New Synagogue, which has not stood for 100 years.
Destroyed the city and the constant bombing by the British. The historical center suffered greatly.
During their military history, dungeons of Konigsberg are overgrown with a large number of legends and secrets. What kind? Will tell a little later.
The history of the Koenigsberg Soviet period is connected withrestoration of the city. Unfortunately, some monuments were irretrievably lost, others, for example, the Royal Castle, did not begin to be restored for ideological reasons. Its walls were simply blown up, and archaeological groups were occasionally allowed into the territory. But it is believed that it is in the ruins of the castle is the main entrance to the underground Konigsberg.
С окончанием времени существования Союза связана an important milestone in the history of the city: its leadership begins to actively cooperate with Germany in the restoration of historical monuments of the city. Recently, negotiations are underway to recreate the Royal Palace.
Named Koenigsberg Kaliningrad in honor of MI Kalinin. It happened at the beginning of the Soviet period, in 1946.
Königsberg is an old city with a rich history. Of course, it is fanned by many legends and secrets. They were born folk rumor. Although some of them have a real historical background.
Самая распространенная легенда гласит, что во At the time of Nazi Germany, a real underground city was built up near Konigsberg. And it's not just about the tunnel system. Königsberg’s dungeons were bunkers, factories, storage, and even railway stations. Transport routes are laid directly underground in such a way that the guide - and first of all Hitler - could easily get to Poland.
Когда Советская армия была уже на подступах city, the Nazis flooded these buildings. According to legend, there were numerous treasures, seized by the Nazis during the offensive actions. The Amber Room is also located there.
Приверженцы легенды мотивируют свою правоту тем, that the defeated Germans allegedly wanted to completely rebuild the city again, if they were allowed to pick up the treasure. One thing is clear: a large number of diggers are exploring the Konigsberg dungeons, hoping to find at least some jewels from Nazi Germany.
According to the legend, all communications are at a depth of 60 meters. It is difficult to find them, because the Germans destroyed the entrance before the retreat: it detonated it 16 meters deep by an explosion.
What is the reason for such a legend?If we analyze the life of the post-war city, we can see that it was mostly inhabited by people from the countryside. How did they see Koenigsberg? Numerous forts, bunkers, bomb shelters, tunnels ... Naturally, the philistine imagination painted a picture of the fact that it was part of some invisible infrastructure. For them, the usual hatches were an unusual structure.
In addition, the works devoted to the Amber Room, which were published in the 50s, inflame interest. This is the "Mystery of the Amber Room", and the "Secret Fairway" and many others.
There are two points of view regarding the legend: one denies it, the other justifies it. We first analyze the facts that lead to the proof that there is no underground city and cannot be.
Make a reservation right away, these facts deny onlydeveloped infrastructure near Koenigsberg. They do not dispute the presence of various underground utilities (manholes, bomb shelters, bunkers). These elements are not related to each other.
So, the most important argument that leaddenying the reality of the legend, is that the city stands on soils, dotted with underground groundwater. This makes the process of underground construction very laborious and expensive.
Доказывают этот факт многочисленные наземные defense facilities (forts) and defenses (bomb shelters). The first underground are very rare. They are a complex system with protection against water. Most of the forts are buildings lined with a thick layer of earth.
The bomb shelters were built in several floors with thick walls, without windows.
Much more evidence of the veracity of the legend.
Первый связан с активным строительством bomb shelters. Königsberg - a city, probably strategically important for the Germans, - according to the townspeople, should have come under fire sooner or later. In this regard, the leadership and ordinary people begin to equip places where you can save your life.
Along with the buildings described in the previouschapter, the townspeople themselves are trying to determine a place for bomb shelters. The safest is the basement. In order to have more space for people, and also so that it was possible, without exposing themselves to danger, to go to another area during the shelling, the basements united with each other (walls simply broke). In this way, several kilometers of underground passageways appeared. At first, these corridors confused new inhabitants of the city.
Another proof is related to railwaytunnel, which passes under one of the squares of Koenigsberg. If you walk on it - you can see a few walled-in doors. What are these secret passages? By no means. Just this way they took the prisoners to their cells: the prison was located on Handel Street. Thus, local residents of the city did not see crowds of convicts on the beautiful streets of the city. The passages were laid when Kenigsberg became Kaliningrad.
There is one more proof that is not directly connected with the existence of the city: in the prewar period there were many firms in Koenigsberg that were engaged in construction underground.
Thus, the facts say that, on the basis of already existing underground objects, the Nazis could well have developed a network known as Königsberg dungeons.
The history of the masterpiece called "Amber Room"until today, shrouded in many secrets. Firstly, why wasn’t it evacuated along with all the palace decorations? Secondly, according to the NKVD, two copies of the room were made, and the original went as a gift to the United States. One copy was walled up in the cellars of the Catherine Palace, and the second was placed in the place of the original. She and the Germans took.
According to researchers, the masterpiece may bein the bunker of Lyash, commandant of the city. The construction was built in 1944. Historians claim that this underground structure is very large, it has at least two floors and an extensive system of corridors and secret rooms. It is here that the Amber Room is hidden, as well as a large number of ingots of melted gold.
In addition, scientists hope to find in the bunkermaterials research laboratory of the Nazis "Konigsberg-13". It is known that Hitler and his associates developed a "weapon of retaliation." It could well be here.
Research results and other trophies hoped to get not only Soviet intelligence, but also allies. That is why there were fierce discussions about who should be the first to enter the city.
