Acta Historica Universitatis Klaipedensis

The article is dedicated to the dramatic history of the Wallenrodt library – the book repository in Königsberg (modern Kaliningrad) of the 17th-20th centuries. The Wallenrodt library was given space in the Königsberg main cathedral, which was in close proximity to the University. In the 19th century, the library contained about 10,000 books and manuscripts. In 1909, United Library of Königsberg acquired custodianship of this famous book collection. In March, 1945, as fighting approached Königsberg, the books were packed into 200 boxes, but were not taken from the city. On the 6th of April, Königsberg was attacked by the Red Army. It is impossible to give a complete accounting of the post-war fate of this precious book collection. Luckily, Kaliningrad inherited a small, but invaluable, because of its authenticity, part of book treasury of the former Königsberg book repository. Old books are the pearls of the University Museum and the return of this collection to its native town has a very symbolic meaning.