Polessk

Polessk (Russian: Полесск; German: Labiau; Lithuanian: Labguva; Polish: Labiawa) is a town and the administrative center of Polessky District in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located 49 kilometers (30 mi) northeast of Kaliningrad, the administrative center of the oblast, at the junction of a main road and a railroad at the Deyma River, shortly before it enters the Curonian Lagoon. Population figures: 7,581 (2010 census); 7,681 (2002 census); 6,859 (1989 Soviet census); 4,744 (1885). Geography The Polessk Canal begins in the town. History It was founded in the 13th century, by the Teutonic Order who erected a castle there and named it Labiau. Initially it was part of the State of the Teutonic Order. In 1454, King Casimir IV Jagiellon incorporated the region to the Kingdom of Poland upon the request of the anti-Teutonic Prussian Confederation. After the subsequent Thirteen Years' War (1454–1466) the settlement became a part of Poland as a fief held by the Teutonic Knights until 1525 and by Ducal Prussia afterwards. In this town, on November 20, 1656, was signed the Treaty of Labiau. Lithuanian church services were held at the local church. From the 18th century, it was part of the Kingdom of Prussia, and from 1871 it was also part of Germany, within which it was administratively located in the province of East Prussia. 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. After Germany's defeat in the war in 1945, the town was transferred to Soviet Russia and the following year it was renamed Polessk. The German inhabitants were partly evacuated via the coast, or were subsequently expelled in accordance with the Potsdam Agreement and replaced with Soviet citizens. The former Polessk (air base) is nearby. Administrative and municipal status Within the framework of administrative divisions, Polessk serves as the administrative center of Polessky District. As an administrative division, it is, together with two rural localities, incorporated within Polessky District as the town of district significance of Polessk. As a municipal division, the town of district significance of Polessk is incorporated within Polessky Municipal District as Polesskoye Urban Settlement. Notable people Otto Brakat (1916–1978) Wehrmacht soldier Hans von Lehwaldt (1685-1768), Prussian field marshal References Sources Правительство Калининградской области. Постановление №640 от 30 августа 2011 г. «Об утверждении реестра объектов административно-территориального деления Калининградской области», в ред. Постановления №877 от 21 ноября 2011 г «О внесении изменения в Постановление Правительства Калининградской области от 30 августа 2011 г. №640». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Калининградская правда" (вкладыш "Официально"), №170, 15 сентября 2011 г. (Government of Kaliningrad Oblast. Resolution #640 of August 30, 2011 On the Adoption of the Registry of the Objects of the Administrative-Territorial Divisions of Kaliningrad Oblast, as amended by the Resolution #877 of November 21, 2011 On Amending the Resolution of the Government of Kaliningrad Oblast #640 of August 30, 2011. Effective as of the day of the official publication.). Калининградская областная Дума. Закон №260 от 30 июня 2008 г. «Об организации местного самоуправления на территории муниципального образования "Полесский городской округ"», в ред. Закона №370 от 1 июля 2009 г «О составе территорий муниципальных образований Калининградской области». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Калининградская правда", №124, 11 июля 2008 г. (Kaliningrad Oblast Duma. Law #260 of June 30, 2008 On the Organization of the Local Self-Government on the Territory of the Municipal Formation of "Polessky Urban Okrug", as amended by the Law #370 of July 1, 2009 On the Composition of the Territories of the Municipal Formations of Kaliningrad Oblast. Effective as of the day of the official publication.).