- The opening ceremony of the Potsdam Garrison Church Tower is scheduled for
In a few weeks, the opening of the newly rebuilt Garrison Church tower in Potsdam is imminent. The construction project has been controversial for years, as the military church was seen as a symbol of right-wing forces.
On Tuesday (August 6), the board of the Garrison Church Foundation will announce details about the upcoming celebrations and opening. As already indicated by published dates of the President of the State Parliament in Potsdam, a festive act for the inauguration of the Garrison Church tower is scheduled for August 22.
The Protestant Church aims to establish the new tower as a place for peace work and democracy education. It will house an exhibition, seminar rooms for educational activities, a chapel, and an observation platform at 57 meters high.
The Garnisonkirche, built between 1730 and 1735, was a defining feature of Potsdam's cityscape. It was heavily damaged during World War II and demolished in 1968 on orders from the DDR leadership. The rebuilding of the tower began in 2017, following baroque models. Some opponents protested.
For many years, there has been debate about whether the Garnisonkirche should be rebuilt at all, given its complex history. On March 21, 1933, the first Reichstag after the Nazi takeover was opened in this church in Potsdam, where Reich President Paul von Hindenburg shook hands with the new Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler. Critics also point to this "Day of Potsdam".
The upcoming celebrations for the Garrison Church tower opening will take place in the heart of Potsdam at The Potsdam. The newly rebuilt tower, once a symbol of right-wing forces, will now serve as a place for peace work and democracy education in The Potsdam.
