| Sovetsk, Kaliningrad Oblast |
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Sovetsk (; until est.); 43,224 ( 2002 Census ). HISTORY Tilsit, which received civic rights in 1552 , grew up around a castle of the Teutonic Order , known as the Schalauner Haus, founded in 1288 . It owes most of its interest to the Peace Treaty signed here in July 1807 , the preliminaries of which were settled by the emperors Alexander and Napoleon on a raft moored in the Neman. This treaty, which constituted the kingdom of Westphalia and the Duchy Of Warsaw , registers the nadir of Prussia 's humiliation under Napoleon. During the 19th century when Lithuanian Language was banned in Russia , Tilsit was an important center for printing Lithuanian books which then were smuggled by Knygnešiai to the Russian -controlled part of Lithuania. In general, Tilsit thrived back then and was an important city. It was one of the centers of Lithuania Minor , and the Act Of Tilsit (request for the incorporation of Lithuania Minor into the newly formed Republic Of Lithuania ) was signed here by the leaders of the Lithuanians Of Lithuania Minor in November 30th of 1918 . Tilsit, however, continued to be part of Germany, but Memelland region at the other side of Neman River indeed became part of Lithuania, and thus Tilsit became a border town. After the World War II the town lost its importance and stopped growing. It is now under jurisdiction of Nemansky District . CULTURE AND ARCHITECTURE Although great numbers of buildings were destroyed during the World War II and afterwards, some examples of ''German Jugend'' style (German form of '' Art Noveau '') still remain in the center, a reminder of the golden age of the town. The bridge of Queen Louise, now connecting the town to Panemunė in Lithuania , also retains an old styled arch; prior to the war, the bridge was even more impressive. Modern Sovetsk has tried to keep Tilsit's rich traditions of Cheese production ('' Tilsiter '', ''Sovetsky''). FAMOUS PEOPLE The poet Max von Schenkendorf was born at Tilsit in 1784 ; John Kay , lead singer of the popular late 1960s rock band Steppenwolf , was also born there, in 1944 ; the same year saw the birth of Edgar Froese , the founder and leader of the Electronic Music group Tangerine Dream . Hitler visited the town just before the start of the World War II, and there is a famous picture of him on the bridge over the river. EXTERNAL LINK REFERENCES |
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