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[[File:Kaliningrad 2022.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Kaliningrad in 2022.]]

[[File:Kaliningrad 2022.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Kaliningrad in 2022.]]

'''East Prussia''' in eastern Europe was the original heartland of [[Prussia]]. It is an area rish farmland, lakes and forest bordered to the east and south by the [[Russian Empire]] and to the west by the [[Baltic Sea]]. The main city was [[Konigsberg]] (King's City) the former summer retreat of the [[Kaiser]]s and Prussian monarchs  It was also the home of philosopher [[Immanuel Kant]].  The region featured very large estates controlled by Junker elites and nobles.  

'''Kaliningrad''' is an oblast in the Northwestern Federal District of the [[Russian Federation]].  It's administrative center is the city of Kaliningrad.

 

Modern Kaliningrad consist of the northern half of the former territory of East Prussia, the original heartland of [[Prussia]]. It is an area of rich farmland, lakes and forest bordered to the east and south by the [[Russian Empire]] and to the west by the [[Baltic Sea]]. The main city was Konigsberg (King's City) the former summer retreat of the [[Kaiser]]s and Prussian monarchs  It was also the home of philosopher [[Immanuel Kant]].  The region featured very large estates controlled by Junker elites and nobles.  

The province was a battleground in 1914-15, when, following the outbreak of the [[First World War]] Russian armies invaded the province but were decisively defeated at the [[Battle of Tannenberg]] in 1914 and the Battle of the Masurian Lakes. Following Germany's defeat in 1918, the [[Treaty of Versailles]] divided Germany and the state of Poland re-created, which included the [[Polish Corridor]] to the Baltic Sea and the port city of [[Danzig]] (later Gdansk) declared a "Free City", neither part of Germany or Poland.  East Prussia remained part of [[Germany]] (with the exception of the port of [[Memel]], seized by newly-independent [[Lithuania]]). In 1939 [[Nazi Germany]] forced Lithuania to relinquish Memel.

The province was a battleground in 1914-15, when, following the outbreak of the [[First World War]] Russian armies invaded the province but were decisively defeated at the [[Battle of Tannenberg]] in 1914 and the Battle of the Masurian Lakes. Following Germany's defeat in 1918, the [[Treaty of Versailles]] divided Germany and the state of Poland re-created, which included the [[Polish Corridor]] to the Baltic Sea and the port city of [[Danzig]] (later Gdansk) declared a "Free City", neither part of Germany or Poland.  East Prussia remained part of [[Germany]] (with the exception of the port of [[Memel]], seized by newly-independent [[Lithuania]]). In 1939 [[Nazi Germany]] forced Lithuania to relinquish Memel.

After the [[Second World War]], about 9 million Germans were deported to the West, and East Prussia was divided between the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Poland]]. Memel - renamed [[Klaipeda]] - became part of the Soviet Republic of Lithuania; northern East Prussia, with Konigsberg (renamed [[Kaliningrad]]), became part of the Russian Federated Republic (known as ''Kaliningrad Oblast''), and the southern part was ceded to [[Poland]].  [[Adolf Hitler]]'s wartime headquarters, ''Wolfschanze'' from which hedirected [[Operation Barbarossa]], was in the territory ceded to Poland.

After the [[Second World War]], about 9 million Germans were deported to the West, and East Prussia was divided between the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Poland]]. Memel - renamed [[Klaipeda]] - became part of the Soviet Republic of Lithuania; northern East Prussia, with Konigsberg (renamed [[Kaliningrad]]), became part of the Russian Federated Republic (known as ''Kaliningrad Oblast''), and the southern part was ceded to [[Poland]].  [[Adolf Hitler]]'s wartime headquarters, ''Wolfschanze'' from which he directed [[Operation Barbarossa]], was in the territory ceded to Poland.

Since 1946 Kaliningrad has served as a trip wire in Russian defense strategy against aggression from [[Western Europe]].  Kaliningrad, which is separated from Russia proper, in Soviet and post-Soviet times as been described as the largest military base on the planet.

Since 1946 Kaliningrad has served as a trip wire in Russian defense strategy against aggression from [[Western Europe]].  Kaliningrad, which is separated from Russia proper, in Soviet and post-Soviet times as been described as the largest military base on the planet.