Mamonovo

Heiligenbeil in the 17th century

Mamonovo (Russian: Мамоново; Polish: Święta Siekierka or Świętomiejsce; Lithuanian: Šventpilis; Prussian: Swintamīstan), prior to 1945 known by its German name Heiligenbeil, is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia. Population: 7,757 (2010 Census preliminary results);^[1] 7,393 (2002 Census);^[2] 7,816 (1989 Census).^[3]

Mamonovo is named after a Soviet Commander, Nikolai Vasilyevich Mamonov (Russian: Николай Васильевич Мамонов), killed in action near Pułtusk on 26 October 1944, who was posthumously given the title Hero of the Soviet Union on 24 March 1945.

Under the Teutonic Knights Heiligenstadt was built near an Old Prussian settlement. It was later renamed Heiligenbeil after a holy axe used by Augustinian monks, established in the area by Grand Master Winrich von Kniprode after the Battle of Rudau, to cut down an oak tree worshiped by pagan Prussians.^[4] It came under the bishoric Warmia, then to the territory of Natangia. As part of the Kingdom of Prussia and Germany it was the province of East Prussia. Towards the end World War II in fierce fighting between January and March 1945 the Heiligenbeil pocket fell to the Red Army. It was captured by Red Army on March 26, 1945 and was soon integrated into the Kaliningrad Oblast. It took its present name in 1946. The defending 4th Army's archives were buried in a forest near the town and found in 2004, in an area still littered with debris from the final battles.^[5]

See also

• History of Prussia
• East Prussia

References

1. ^ Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2011). "Предварительные итоги Всероссийской переписи населения 2010 года (Preliminary results of the 2010 All-Russian Population Census)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2010). Federal State Statistics Service. http://www.perepis-2010.ru/results_of_the_census/results-inform.php. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
2. ^ Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2004-05-21). "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек (Population of Russia, its federal districts, federal subjects, districts, urban localities, rural localities—administrative centers, and rural localities with population of over 3,000)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://www.perepis2002.ru/ct/doc/1_TOM_01_04.xls. Retrieved 2010-03-23. 
3. ^ "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров. (All Union Population Census of 1989. Present population of union and autonomous republics, autonomous oblasts and okrugs, krais, oblasts, districts, urban settlements, and villages serving as district administrative centers.)" (in Russian). Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года (All-Union Population Census of 1989). Demoscope Weekly (website of the Institute of Demographics of the State University—Higher School of Economics. 1989. http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus89_reg.php. Retrieved 2010-03-23. 
4. ^ Urban, William (2006). Samogitian Crusade. Chicago: Lithuanian Research and Studies Center. pp. 158–159. ISBN 0-929700-56-2. 
5. ^ Koenigsberger Express Das Niemandsland gibt ein Geheimnis preis. Koenigsberger Express, ed. 2004/7

Coordinates: 54°27′50″N 19°56′29″E / 54.46389°N 19.94139°E / 54.46389; 19.94139