Zheleznodorozhny, Kaliningrad Oblast

Coordinates: 54°21′40″N 21°18′42″E / 54.36111°N 21.31167°E / 54.36111; 21.31167

Central part in 2003

Zheleznodorozhny (Russian: Железнодоро́жный; German: Gerdauen; Lithuanian: Girdava; Polish: Gierdawy or Gierdawa), prior to 1946 known by its German name Gerdauen, is an urban locality (an urban-type settlement) in Pravdinsky District of Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located 93 kilometers (58 mi) southeast of Kaliningrad, near the border with Poland. Population: 2,767 (2010 Census);[1] 2,945 (2002 Census);[2] 3,246 (1989 Census).[3]

History

Before the end of World War II, the town was part of Germany (East Prussia). German settlers arrived in the area sometime in the late 13th or early 14th century in connection with the construction of a castle of the Teutonic Order here, but before this it was already in use as a fortification by the Old Prussians, possibly as early as the 9th century. The German castle is mentioned in written sources 1315 and in 1325 its construction was finished. It was partially destroyed in battle in 1455 and after 1672 not in use any more. Its ruins served as the foundation for the construction of a residential building in 1874. The large cellar of the castle was incorporated into the new building. Around this castle the town, a so-called lischke, grew up. It was attacked by Lithuanians in 1336, 1347 and 1366 but prospered and in 1398 received Kulm law, i.e. the status of a city, by the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order Konrad von Jungingen. A town wall was erected in 1406 and in 1409 the town had a school. During the 15th century a Dominican monastery was also established in the town. From 1469 the town was no longer under the overlordship of the Teutonic Order but a fief of the family von Schlieben. The family built a new castle for themselves in the town. In 1809 ceased to be a fief. A railway connection to the town was established in 1871. The town suffered from fire in 1485 (burnt by Polish troops), 1585 and 1665. It was also heavily damaged during fighting in World War I, but later rebuilt with monetary assistance from the municipalities of Wilmersdorf and Budapest in Hungary. Before the Second World War, the town prospered not least in thanks to a malt processing industry and a large brewery. In 1937 it had 5,152 inhabitants. Following the war, the German population was expelled and the town became a part of the Soviet Union. Today it lies in Russia.[4]

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ Russian Federal State Statistics Service (2011). "Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года. Том 1" [2010 All-Russian Population Census, vol. 1]. Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года (2010 All-Russia Population Census) (in Russian). Federal State Statistics Service. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  2. ↑ Russian Federal State Statistics Service (May 21, 2004). "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек" [Population of Russia, Its Federal Districts, Federal Subjects, Districts, Urban Localities, Rural Localities—Administrative Centers, and Rural Localities with Population of Over 3,000] (XLS). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года [All-Russia Population Census of 2002] (in Russian). Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  3. ↑ Demoscope Weekly (1989). "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров" [All Union Population Census of 1989: Present Population of Union and Autonomous Republics, Autonomous Oblasts and Okrugs, Krais, Oblasts, Districts, Urban Settlements, and Villages Serving as District Administrative Centers]. Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года [All-Union Population Census of 1989] (in Russian). Институт демографии Национального исследовательского университета: Высшая школа экономики [Institute of Demography at the National Research University: Higher School of Economics]. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  4. ↑ Weise, Erich, ed. (1981) [1966]. Handbuch der historischen Stätten. Ost- und Westpreussen (in German). Stuttgart: Kröner. p. 64-65. ISBN 3-520-31701-X.

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