Polessk
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Polessk (Russian: Поле́сск), prior to 1945 known by its German name Labiau (Polish: Labiawa; Lithuanian: Labguva) is a town in and the administrative center of Polessky District of Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia. Population: 7,600 (2004 est.); 7,681 (2002 Census); 6,859 (1989 Census); 4,744 (1885).
Polessk lies between Kaliningrad and Sovetsk at the junction of a main road and a railroad at the Deyma River, shortly before it enters the Curonian Lagoon. The Polessk Canal begins in the town.
The town contains a castle built by the Teutonic Order, who gave it the German name Labiau. It became part of Ducal Prussia and on November 20, 1656 was the location of the Treaty of Labiau. While part of East Prussia within the Kingdom of Prussia and the German Empire, Labiau was a district seat in the administrative region of Königsberg. In 1885, Labiau had 4,744 inhabitants, almost all of whom were Lutherans.
Labiau was overrun by the Soviet Red Army in 1945 near the end of World War II. It was transferred from German to Russian control according to the Potsdam Conference and the following year renamed from Labiau to Polessk. The remaining Germans who had not evacuated were subsequently expelled and replaced with Soviet citizens.
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