construction began in late 1933, using unemployed german workers as part of the state's reforms to counteract the great depression - the construction of the "reichsautobahn" (rab) network. the first 113 km long segment near stettin (now szczecin), stettiner dreieck to stettin-süd, was opened on september 27, 1936. the segment from königsberg to elbing (now elbląg) was opened in 1937. in 1937, beltways near stettin and elbing were built.