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Not a good idea. This block had been originally
intended as a birthday present for my grandparents, who were
both born in Königsberg (East Prussia) in 1927. They
met in the spring of 1944 outside the hippopotamus enclosure
at the zoo. In January 1945, the Red Army approached and everyone
took flight. At the zoo the only survivors were a deer, a
badger, a donkey and a hippo named Rosa. The Russians, having
a sense of humour, called it Hans because it sounded more
German. In 1946 the town was also renamed Kaliningrad and
became a Soviet military no-go area. At the end of the 1960s,
work began on the redesign of the old town centre. The plan
was to create a model Soviet town – buildings were pulled
down and wide avenues hewn through the cityscape. The castle
— which had once been the symbol of Königsberg
— was blown up in 1968. In July 2005, 3-day celebrations
were held to mark the 750th anniversary of the town. There
was an impressive, lively parade. The Russians, again displaying
their sense of humour, selected the motto 750 years Kaliningrad.
My grandparents never went back there. They did not accept
the gift. Sven Johne, 8 September 2007.
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