Salzburger Kirche (Salzburg Lutheran church)

Information about the city

The city of Gusev (known as Gumbinnen until 1946) is situated in the east of Kaliningrad Region, at the confluence of Pissa River and Krasnaya River, at an altitude of 46 metres above sea level. Its geographical coordinates are 54 degrees north latitude and 22 degrees east longitude. The city covers an area of 16.3 sq. km; the total district area is 642.7 sq.km. The population of the region is 38,000 people, including 29,000 city inhabitants and 9,000 rural area inhabitants.

The economy is dominated by industrial activity, with more than 40 businesses located there, as well as services and agriculture.

Archaeological finds show that the territory was first populated ten to twelve centuries B.C., in the Stone Age. Settlements of hunters and anglers grew up at the confluence of the Pissa and Krasnaya rivers on land, which was called Ndroviya.

The first documented reference to a settlement called Gumbinnen dates from the middle of the 16th century, as the first Lutheran church was built in the region. The next period in the history of the city is linked with the names of the King of Prussia, Friedrich I and his son, Friedrich Wilhelm I. Gumbinnen was awarded city status on May 24, 1724, making Eastern Prussia more attractive for settlers. So by invitation of King Friedrich Wilhelm I, more than 12,000 people from Salzburg moved to Gumbinnen between 1732 and 1734.

In 1812, Gumbinnen became an unusual gateway for the invasion by the French Army into the territory of the Russian empire. June 18 to June 21, 1812, Napoleon stayed there in the Zolotaya Lira hotel in order to carry out the last combat review of his troops. Remarkably, it is also through Gumbinnen that the remnants of the routed French Army retreated to their homeland.

There is a legend that the Emperor Alexander I also stayed in the city. He was returning from Europe to St. Petersburg after attending celebrations dedicated to the victory over Napoleon, and stayed in the postmaster’s house. Delighted by his warm welcome, the Emperor gave his host a ring set with an enormous diamond.

In 1914, Gumbinnen found itself at the epicentre of the World War I. On 20th August, a major battle took place near Gumbinnen, weakening the German strike force during the battle on the Marne, and contributing to the breakdown of the German attack on Paris and the collapse of the Schlieffen Plan. The Battle of Gumbinnen entered into the history of the World War I as an example of the courage and heroism of the Russian troops.

During the Great Patriotic War, Gumbinnen was almost completely destroyed. On January 21, 1945, the city was successfully stormed by the troops of the 28th army of the Third Belarusian Front under the command of Lieutenant General A.A. Luchinsky. Those events entered into military history as the Gumbinnen Breakthrough. At the end of the Second World War Eastern Prussia was dismantled. To the north, it became part of the USSR.

An order from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR dated September 7, 1946 established Gusev District with its centre in the city of Gusev. The city was given the name of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Guards Captain Sergei Ivanovich Gusev, who was mortally wounded in the battle near Gumbinnen on January 18, 1945.

Resolution No. 12 of the Ministry of Culture of the RSFSR dated 19.02.1992 added Gusev to the list of Russian heritage cities because of its architectural attractions.