V i s i t www.theculturalexperience.com C a l l 0345 475 1815 Cross Periods 78 Kaliningrad: Russia’s forgotten exclave A military history of Konigsberg and East Prussia 2 – 7 September 2018 6 days with Alan Rooney Activity Level 2 Essentials Return flights from London, 4 star hotels, buffet breakfast, lunches, 3-course dinner with drinks each evening, all entrance fees and expert guide throughout. Tour price: £2075 Single supplement: £215 Deposit: £200 Price without flights: £1925 Today Kaliningrad, a city that is still recovering from the ravages and scars from 70 years ago, is gradually re- discovering its past with great efforts being made to restore and open up hitherto abandoned remains of its rich and varied history. Certainly its infrastructure will have benefitted from investments as a result of the World Cup to be held in June 2018. The region still has plenty of echoes of its Teutonic past that the former regime found it impossible to erase. The original German places names are no longer whispered, indeed many of the Russian population embrace that past as their own. Our centrally located hotel is close to the banks of the River Pregel and within easy walking distance of Kneiphof Island, where Kant lays guardian to his seven bridges conundrum. Perhaps you will be the one to solve it? Königsberg, the former capital of Prussia, home to the Teutonic Knights and the great philosopher Immanuel Kant, is today known by its Russian name, Kaliningrad and is now the capital of the isolated exclave of the same name. Due to its proximity to Russia, the former East Prussia has frequently been the scene of conflict between the two nations. During the Seven Years War, a smaller Prussian army was defeated at Gross Jagesdorf in 1757, whilst fifty years later the region played host to the armies of Napoleon and Tsar Alexander at the great battles of Eylau and Friedland followed by the treaty of Tilsit signed on a raft moored on the River Neiman which sealed the fate of Europe in 1807. At the outbreak of the First World War, against specific orders to the contrary, General Prittwitz took the fight to the Russians but was defeated at Gumbinnen in August 1914 and then abandoned Prussia as far as the Vistula. Flattened by the RAF in 1944 and besieged for almost three months in 1945, when Königsberg’s defenders finally surrendered they found themselves some 500 kilometres behind the front line. Of great strategic importance, the region was ethnically cleansed of its German inhabitants after WW2. Day 1 - Depart. Fly London Luton to Gdansk. Drive to Kaliningrad by coach crossing the Russian border at Manonowo. Check-in to our hotel for five nights. Day 2 – Eylau and Friedland 1807. At Eylau Napoleon received the first real check of his career. We travel to the Polish border where we examine this winter battlefield from the French and Russian perspectives; we see where Augereau’s division was destroyed and Murat led his massed cavalry charge, visit the small museum, churchyard and battlefield monuments. Continue to the unspoilt battlefield of Friedland where from the top of the church tower we will gain great views of the surrounding countryside and understand the importance played by the River Alle and its tributary to one of Napoleon’s finest victories. Other than a couple of monuments there is very little evidence that a battle of such importance was ever fought here! Day 3 – Koenigsberg 1945. We visit the command bunker where German General Lasch surrendered to the Russians, the Friedland Gate museum and the impressive model used by the Red Army to plan its assault on the city. It is surprising how much of the 19th century fortifications remain and we will visit many of the strong points which held out against great odds such as Fort Frederich- Wilhelm III and Fort Stein. Day 4 – Kaliningrad and Pillau. We spend the morning exploring modern Kaliningrad including a visit to the outstanding and restored Dom Cathedral before following the route of many of the German evacuees to the Baltic seaport of Pillau, so bitterly fought over during the closing days of the war and where we view its impressive Swedish citadel, authorities allowing. Day 5 – Gumbinnen 1914 and Tilsit 1807. This morning we visit the battlefield monument at Gross Jagersdorf en-route to Gusav to discuss the battle of Gimbinnen and visit the new memorial complex recently erected by the Russians to commemorate their part in the foiling of the Schliefen plan. Thence to Tilsit and the banks of the River Nieman where today stands the Queen Lousia Bridge and an EU funded museum. Day 6 – Home. Return to Gdansk for our return flights to London Luton. "Every tour I have been on with The Cultural Experience has been brilliantly organised and all guides have amazing knowledge" Marbot, Liseete and 14th Ligne at Eylau