This complete history of Königsberg is a fascinating read. Fritz Gause, a historian and former director of the City Archive and the City History Museum in Königsberg, shows with all conscientiousness, light style and clearly the development of the city from its founding in 1225 until its end in 1945. Königsberg was the most European of all German cities. For centuries, Königsberg was integrated into political and economic relations that extended beyond Germany. The Pope and the Kaiser, the pious zeal of the order's knights and crusaders were as involved in its formation as the daring of the Hanseatic merchants. All this comes to life again in this chronicle, especially in the fascinating cultural and historical descriptions, which not only Königsbergers will enjoy reading.