In 1939 the Luftwaffe constructed , later used by the Soviet Air Forces between 1945 and 1992 . A subcamp of Ravensbrück was set up for the enlargement of the airfield . In January 1945 battles of the Vistula – Oder Offensive occurred in and around the town . The German population fled in haste warned about the mass rapes . On 4 February 1945 Kurt Flöter , Königsberg 's then mayor , was condemned to death by hanging by an SS court martial chaired by Otto Skorzeny , because he had fled before issuing a general evacuation order by the military . On the same day the Soviet Red Army occupied the town . The entire city centre with the Church of St. Mary and the town hall was burned to the ground by the Soviets on 16 February 1945 . 80 percent of the entire town was destroyed . After the German capitulation , under border changes promulgated at the Potsdam Conference , the town became part of Poland
Potsdam Conference
Potsdam Conference
Chojna