- The Commencement of the Garrison Church Inauguration, Overseen by Steinmeier
A celebratory occasion will take place on Thursday, marking the renovated Garrison Church's tower's grand reopening in Potsdam. The esteemed Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who serves as the reconstruction's patron, will deliver the speech. Additionally anticipated are the Bishop of the Evangelical Church Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia, Christian Stäblein, and the Mayor of Potsdam, Mike Schubert.
This military church, erected in 1735, met its demise during World War II and was destroyed further in 1968 with explosives. The ceremony occurs amidst opposition. A local group, "Potsdam Without Garrison Church," views the church as a "symbol of oppression." On March 1933's "Day of Potsdam," Reich President Paul von Hindenburg and the newly appointed Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler shook hands, with the church as their backdrop.
The Protestant Church seeks to transform the renovated building into a haven for peace advocacy and democratic learning. An exhibition called "Faith, Power, and Military" intends to scrutinize the church's history with a critical perspective. Steinmeier is expected to tour the exhibition and the observation deck at an elevation of 57 meters on Thursday.
Beginning from Friday, the public will have access to the tower. The construction of the tower cost approximately 42 million euros, with the majority of the funds coming from the federal government.
The Protestant Church has set the closing date for the exhibition "Faith, Power, and Military," allowing visitors to explore the church's history until this date. Despite the grand reopening, the local group "Potsdam Without Garrison Church" has expressed their opposition and views the closing date as a symbolic end to the church's issue in the community.
