Fort number 5 (Kaliningrad) - an important monumentdefense architecture. In addition, it is a famous military-historical complex of the city. In 1878, in its north-western outskirts, a powerful fortification grew - 5th fort. In the second half of the 19th century, Kaliningrad was surrounded by two rings of fortifications, turning the city into a real fortress.
History of the Königsberg Fort Belt
The ancient city of Königsberg on the banks of the river Pregelit was originally built as a castle and retained this status until the end of the Second World War. Already in the middle of the XIII century, the first fortifications appeared here. Earthen ramparts, bastions, powerful walls and barracks for the military - all this accompanied Kaliningrad almost its entire history. One of the most famous and valuable monuments of urban defensive architecture is the fort 5.
Kaliningrad seriously thought about creatingcontinuous belt of forts in the second half of the XIX century, when rifled artillery appeared. They were built at a certain distance from each other, taking into account the range of artillery fire. All 15 forts were connected by a single 43 km ring road.
Alas, the weapons developed and improved in thosetimes faster than the Königsberg forts were built. By the beginning of the last century, they began to hopelessly become obsolete. The First World War bypassed the defenses of the city, including the 5th fort. Kaliningrad during the Second World War was able to hold the storming of the Soviet troops for only four days, despite the widespread campaign “about the invincible power of the Koenigsberg fortifications,” launched on the eve of the Hitler press.
Thus, in April 1945, the history of the city forts as military engineering objects, in fact, ended.
Fort 5, Kaliningrad: history of construction and operation
The complex was built during the years 1872-1878 near the residential area of Charlottenburg. Now it is located in the forest, at the end of the Soviet Avenue.
"King Frederick William III" - in 1894 they called the 5th fort. Kaliningrad (and then still the city of Königsberg) precisely under the leadership of this Prussian monarch defended himself from Napoleon's troops.
The fort was not strictly military and classifiedobject. At certain times and days, it was allowed to visit ordinary citizens as well. And at the beginning of the twentieth century, he was repeatedly used to launch holiday fireworks.
In the spring of 1945, the fort number 5 felt the mainhit the 43rd Soviet Army and offered serious resistance. The siege lasted four days. The stronghold held to the last and fell when the fierce battles were already in the center of the city. During the assault, fort number 5 was severely destroyed.
Fort 5 (Kaliningrad): photos, description and current status
The fortification turned its frontal part tonorthwest. This is a classic hexagonal construction of red brick, covered for greater strength with a layer of concrete. Its length is 215 meters, width - 105 m. It is surrounded by a moat with water, an earthen shaft and a solid wall.
The facility was carefully disguised.vegetation. In the earthen shaft were trenches and firing points for various guns. The fort was connected to the city by a bridge, the approaches to which were covered by a concrete pillbox (preserved in a dilapidated form to this day).
Fort "King Frederick William III" todayconsidered an object of cultural heritage of Russia. The fortress is a branch of the Regional Museum of History and Art, here you can see rare military photographs. The territory is regularly undergoing historical reconstruction, covering the events of the 1945 assault on Koenigsberg.
Near the fort there is a memorial complex,dedicated to Soviet soldiers who died during his siege. Guns, torpedoes, bombs and other guns are installed on the earthen rampart, and near the pillbox you can see a monument with the names of fifteen soldiers (heroes of the USSR) who participated in the storming of the fortress.
Finally…
Do I need to visit the 5th fort? Kaliningrad is a city with a rich and rich history. And you can learn about some of its pages right here, on the territory of Fort No. 5 “King Frederick William III”.
Near the stronghold you can see the exhibition of heavy Soviet guns. Inside the fort itself you will be told about the history of the creation of the defensive structures of Koenigsberg-Kaliningrad.
The museum complex is open daily from 10-00 to 20-00.
