Rastenburg

Rastenburg, commonly known by its German name *Königsberg* before World War II, was a historic city located in the former East Prussia region of Germany. Situated on the Pregel River, it served as the capital of the province of East Prussia from 1773 until 1945. The city was renowned for its rich cultural heritage, particularly its medieval architecture, universities, and intellectual traditions.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Königsberg was a major intellectual center, home to influential philosophers like Immanuel Kant, who spent much of his life there. The city also played a strategic role in military history, particularly during World War II. In 1944, Adolf Hitler established his eastern headquarters in a large estate complex known as *Wolfsschanze* ("Wolf’s Lair") near Rastenburg. This site became a critical command center for Nazi Germany’s operations on the Eastern Front.

After World War II, the city was divided between Poland and the Soviet Union as part of the Potsdam Agreement. The Polish portion was renamed *Kętrzyn*, while the Soviet section became part of the Kaliningrad Oblast, an exclave of Russia. The Wolf’s Lair was destroyed by the Soviets in 1945, and the ruins were later demolished. Today, the area is part of the Russian exclave, with remnants of Rastenburg’s past preserved in museums and historical accounts.

The city’s legacy endures in its former cultural and educational institutions, though much of its pre-war infrastructure was lost or repurposed. Rastenburg remains a symbol of East Prussia’s complex history, blending intellectual achievement with wartime significance.