Fort Dönhoff, Energetikov Street, Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad Region, Russia, 236034
Fort No. 11 was built between 1877 and 1881. Initially, the fort was called “Seligenfeld,” but in 1894 it was renamed in honor of Count Friedrich von Dönhoff (1639–1696), Governor-General of Memel (now the city of Klaipeda, Lithuania) and owner of the Friederichstain estate (now the village of Kamenka). According to other sources, the fort was named after the entire Dönhoff family, which included many members who left a significant mark on Prussian history. Above the entrance to the fort, one can see a well-preserved coat of arms of the Dönhoff family featuring a boar’s head. The fort’s design is typical and represents an elongated hexagon along the front, surrounded by a water-filled moat. Access to the outer field is provided by a low bridge spanning the moat. The fortifications are covered by an earthen rampart and have two symmetrically arranged inner courtyards separated by a central sally port. The main construction material is brick. The garrison was equipped with small arms and artillery, had significant stocks of ammunition, food, and other supplies, and was capable of withstanding a prolonged siege.
Fort “Dönhoff” is an elongated hexagon along the front, surrounded by a water-filled moat, with two inner courtyards symmetrically arranged relative to the central sally port. During the assault on Königsberg, the fort was away from the hottest battles. “The troops fought near the South Station, while here it was quiet and no shells exploded. The commandant, having climbed into the ‘armored cupola,’ watched the burning city. By 1 p.m. on April 7, Soviet soldiers appeared at the fort’s gates. The garrison surrendered without resistance.”
Fort No. 11 was built between 1877 and 1881. Initially called “Seligenfeld,” it was renamed “Friedrich von Dönhoff” in 1984 in honor of the 18th-century Prussian military figure and member of the famous noble family. Above the entrance to the fort, a well-preserved Dönhoff family coat of arms with a boar’s head can be seen. The fort’s design is typical and represents an elongated hexagon along the front, surrounded by a water-filled moat. Access to the outer field is provided by a low bridge spanning the moat. The fortifications are covered by an earthen rampart and have two symmetrically arranged inner courtyards separated by a central sally port. The main construction material is brick. The garrison was equipped with small arms and artillery, had significant stocks of ammunition, food, and other supplies, and was capable of withstanding a prolonged siege.
For a long time, this almost completely preserved defensive structure was used by the military. They only left in 2015. In a certain sense, this example of fortification art was conserved.
However, seven years ago the fort looked good only compared to some of its counterparts. A titanic effort had to be made. After all, “Dönhoff” was literally sinking underwater. The lower floors were flooded, the rooms were damp, and the brickwork was crumbling in places.
This historical period is characterized by rapid development of weaponry, and it often happened that fortifications became obsolete immediately after construction was completed. This fate also befell the Königsberg forts — just after building them, the Germans realized they no longer met the increasing demands of the time. Improvements and experiments with new materials began. Fort No. 11 also underwent several modernizations — some elements disappeared, others appeared, and the brick was reinforced with concrete and steel. Nevertheless, by the beginning of World War I, “Dönhoff,” like the other fortifications of Königsberg, was hopelessly outdated.
On April 7, 1945, Fort No. 11 was captured by a combined assault detachment of the 83rd Guards Rifle Division, commanded by Colonel Bely. It is known that the garrison resisted, and the battle for the fort was quite fierce. This is confirmed by award lists found for Soviet soldiers. Eighty-two Nazi soldiers were taken prisoner. On the fort’s territory are buried Guards Sergeant Elizarov and Guards Private Andrusenko.
In the post-war years, the fort stored captured German weapons and ammunition, and later the military used it as warehouse space. In spring 2014, it was transferred by the Ministry of Defense to the Federal Property Management Agency. Since June 2015, a private company has been engaged in the restoration and development of the fort.
The new owners removed decades of accumulated garbage, restored drainage, and repaired the old mechanisms. It turned out everything still works perfectly. Similar constructions today survive only in a few Dutch cities — for example, a lift built 150 years ago for raising shells.
Sources:
https://day-off39.ru/otdykh-v-kaliningrade-i-oblasti/kaliningrad/2791-fort-11-denhoff
