Only 20 percent of the working population, less than half of the German average, were employed in industry, mining and crafts in East Prussia. In Elbing (today Elbląg) in West Prussia and in Königsberg (today’s Kaliningrad), several nationally important mechanical engineering and industrial companies were established, such as the Schichau-Werke, the Union foundry, the Leopold-Steinfurt wagon factory and the agricultural machinery manufacturer Komnick. In Elbing, Loeser & Wolff employed several thousand women in cigar production.
With the construction of the Elbląg Canal and the railway as well as cellulose factories in Tilsit and Ragnit (today Neman), sawmills and timber trading were established in the densely wooded Masuria and the Oberland (today Prusy Górne).
Königsberg developed into a rapidly growing goods distribution centre of goods transshipment, clearly outranking Gdansk and Memel. With the new borders in 1920 Königsberg acquired a seaport. Sea routes became elementary for the province for the connection to the rest of the German Reich.
Illustrations:
1.) The half-timbered warehouses on the "Lastadie" (loading quay) were built in the 16th-18th century. With the expansion of a seaport in the Contienen district, which at that time had the world's largest granaries, the old port became a nostalgic tourist attraction.
Photo: Picture Archive East Prussia
2.) Sailing ships of the type Brigg at Hundegatt (an arm of the Pregel), Königsberg port
Photo: Picture Archive East Prussia