 It was the scene of a victory over Russian forces by Prussian troops fighting for Napoleon during his invasion of the Russian Empire  and was also the scene of fighting during the Second World War German retreat from the Soviet Union.South of the city centre lies a park around the former manor of Count Peter Ludwig von der Pahlen, of which only the foundation walls and some yard buildings remain.The French General Marshal MacDonald, who commanded the Prussian troops who were fighting as part of the Grand Armée, occupied the Gross-Eckau castle after battle of Ekau during the Napoleonic War with Russia.