- New garrison church opens - Steinmeier expected at the ceremony
Those who take the stairs to the observation platform in the new Garrison Church Tower can read the names of many donors on the mortared brickstones. Among the most prominent is Angela Merkel. However, in 2015, even Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom had taken on the patronage of a stone. At that time, the dispute over the Garrison Church in Potsdam and the question of whether it was permissible to rebuild the house of worship with such a troubled past was already well underway.
It was seen as a symbol of the connection between Prussianism and National Socialism. However, after seven years of construction, the opening of the tower with a Baroque facade and modern interior is now imminent.
On August 22, it will be inaugurated with a ceremonial act, to which Federal President and patron of the reconstruction Frank-Walter Steinmeier is expected. This was announced by the program board of the Garrison Church Foundation, the evangelical pastor Jan Kingreen. The following day, the new building, which shapes the cityscape, will open to the public.
New observation tower with a view over Potsdam
Then, for the first time, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree view from the 57-meter-high observation platform - accessible by stairs or elevator. On a clear day, the view extends to Berlin.
An exhibition titled "Faith, Power, and Military" is to critically examine the difficult history of the former military church and political developments, according to the foundation. There is also a chapel and seminar rooms for educational work in the tower. The Protestant Church wants to create a place for peace work and civic education. "We remember history to learn for today and tomorrow," it says on the website.
Critics fear a meeting place for the right
The reconstruction of the historic Garrison Church has been controversial for years. Critics see it as a symbol of militarism and a meeting place for right-wing forces. They point, among other things, to the historic "Day of Potsdam" in March 1933, when Reich President Paul von Hindenburg shook hands with the new Reich Chancellor Hitler in front of the Garrison Church.
Critics such as the initiative "For a Potsdam without a Garrison Church" and the "Learning Site Garrison Church" of the Christian Martin Niemöller Foundation have been fighting against the rebuilding since the beginning of the plans, fearing that it would once again become a meeting place for the right.
Million-euro construction project funded by federal funds and donations
The construction costs, which amount to around 42 million euros according to the foundation, are mainly funded by the federal government. 30 percent of the construction sum has been raised through donations, the foundation says. However, the Federal Court of Auditors also intervened: In 2022, it criticized that the previous funding had been provided without sufficient evidence of the overall financing of the project.
Interested parties can not only donate for mortared brickstones (100 euros) but also for 365 steps (2,500 euros and 5,000 euros) in the tower. In return, supporters can immortalize themselves on plaques with their names. So far, around 6,000 donated stones have been mortared onto the tower walls, said program director Kingreen.
Construction project continues
However, the tower is not yet complete. A 30-meter-high dome still needs to be manufactured. It is to be placed on the building in 2026, making it almost 90 meters high - the tallest building in Potsdam.
In a way, the eight tower windows, which are currently closed with Plexiglas, also appear provisional. Originally planned wooden louvers were initially too expensive at around 300,000 euros, said Kingreen. There is also hardly any talk of the rebuilding of the church nave from the foundation board.
The Garnisonkirche, constructed between 1730 and 1735 and a notable example of North German Baroque architecture, significantly shaped Potsdam's cityscape. It was severely damaged during World War II and later demolished in 1968 on orders from the DDR leadership. Work on the new tower, which externally replicates the historic original, began in 2017, accompanied by protests from opponents. The initial proposals for the project date back much further.
Admission to the tower, which includes the exhibition and the "Potsdam Panorama" observation deck, costs 12 euros, with reduced tickets priced at 7 euros. The visitor platform can accommodate a maximum of 60 people at a time.
The Commission, in alignment with the ongoing construction project, has decided to honor those who contribute financially to the tower's completion by including their names on the mortared brickstones. This decision, as stated by the program director Jan Kingreen, has already resulted in around 6,000 donated stones being integrated into the tower walls.
Moving forward, the Commission shall adopt the following decision: In recognition of significant donations, supporters will be immortalized on plaques with their names, providing a unique opportunity for individuals to leave a lasting legacy within the tower.
