Around 1300, German knights built a castle to protect the junction of the

country roads leading from Kőnigsberg (now Kaliningrad) to Schippenbeil and from Friedland to Preussisch Eylau.

 

       Domnau was declared a city in the year 1400. It was the smallest city in East Prussia. Before WW II, Domnau had about 3,000 inhabitants. Now, since it

is part of Russia, the population is only 700. The German name Domnau meant

marshy soil.

 

     Many kind former residents of the German Domnau are helping the

Russians with food, clothing, building materials and reconstruction in general.

 

     Former German Domnau residents and the present Russian inhabitants

celebrated the six hundreds anniversary of Domnau in October of 2,000. Domnau, now Domnovo,  is alive, but barely.

 

 

     The photographs of Domnau and the city map were given to me by Thomas Haase, grandson of  Richard Haase, who was the owner of the pharmacy in Domnau. Thomas kindly allowed me to add this material to my website.

 

Should anyone wish to contact Mr. Haase, here is his phone and fax number in Germany: 011-49-8202-546.

Apotheke (Pharmacy) Haase on the Markt Strasse (Market Street) in Domnau after reconstruction