Historical Memory in the Kaliningrad Region: the common and particular across generations

DOI: 10.33876/2311-0546/2022-2/7-27

Abstract

The paper examines the age-related aspects of the perception of the Kaliningrad region's history by its residents. The study is based on the transcripts of eight focus groups, which included 48 people. The respondents represented four age groups: 18–25 years, 26–39 years, 40–54 years, 55 years or more. The study revealed both common and particular aspects of the historical past perception by different generations of people living in the Kaliningrad region. All age groups are uniform in their interest in particular historical events and personalities of Russian history. However, there are differences in their perception of the significance of the Victory Day, the role of Stalin's personality, and their attitude to the USSR. The respondents mostly criticize the Soviet Period of the Kaliningrad region's history for the lack of attention to the pre-war German cultural heritage. However, they highly appreciate the first settlers’ contribution to the development of the region and approve of the renaming of Konigsberg to Kaliningrad. Age differences manifested in the assessment of the Post-Soviet period of history: older age groups expressed a more critical point of view while younger residents considered the Post-Soviet period in conjunction with modernity. The historical and cultural heritage of the German period is of high value to the residents of the region. At the same time, opinions differ regarding restoring the Royal Castle and styling the Soviet and modern buildings after pre-war German architecture. The authors conclude that, in general, the perception of the historical past is associated with the socio-political situation in which the respondents were brought up.