Potsdam

History

Potsdam was probably founded at the 10th century, the city was mentioned for the first time in 993. The village remained small and of no importance until it had been selected like residence by Frederic Guillaume I in 1660. The city was also adopted like residence by the royal family of Prussia. The majority of the prestigious buildings were set up during the regency of Frederic Large the. The Palais of Sanssouci is one of these buildings. While Berlin was the official capital of Prussia and later of the German Empire, the Court remained in Potsdam. The city lost the statute of capital second in 1918, at the end of the First World War and the Emperor Guillaume II abdicated.

It is with Potsdam that on March 21st 1933 took place the first setting in scene of the Propagande Nazi E by Joseph Goebbels, known under the name of Journée of Potsdam.

In April 1945, Potsdam knows a terrible British bombardment which destroys the major part of its historical center. The victorious allies of Reich hold with the Château of Cecilienhof a conference, which gives day to the agreements of Potsdam, thus sealing the transfer of the Prussia in Poland and the U.S.S.R.

The government of GDR destroyed a great number of the symbols of Prussian militarism, much of historical buildings were shaven. Potsdam was at the border of the western part of Berlin and thereafter, the city was cut metropolis.

After the reunification, Potsdam became the capital of new the Land of Brandebourg. One finds there sites important like the Palais of Sanssouci (built by Knobelsdorff for Frederic II; frèle imitation of the Castle of Versailles, this palate has a decoration Rococo) and its garden, the Neuer Garten (New Garden) with the castle of the Cecilienhof where was held, in 1945, the Conférence of Potsdam, just as historical quarters with the style Dutch and a colony (?) of Russian architecture. The old castle of destroyed east city, but there are plans of rebuilding all in the center, close to the church St Nicolas ( Nikolaikirche ).

Moreover, in Potsdam- Babelsberg, the film studios create works of world reputation. Consequently, one founded in Potsdam the only film university and television ( Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen Conrad Wolf ) of Germany.

Today, the city benefits largely from the tourists of Berlin, which come for excursions and which benefit from public transport between Potsdam and the German capital.

Among the monuments to be seen: the turn-observatory of Einstein built in 1920. This tower bears the name of the large scientist Albert Einstein who undertook many studies to it. She is recognized like one of the big boss of work of architecture expressionnist, and thus shows that once more Potsdam attracted some great names of the history.

Personalities

the mathematician Charles Gustave Jacob Jacobi was born in Potsdam.

External bond

Official site of the town of Potsdam

Simple: Potsdam

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