http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Stadtschloss_Potsdam_Gem%C3%A4lde.jpg>
The Castle in 1751
http://www.klemund-potsdam.de/Potsdam/PdmStadtschloss.htm>
View from Long Bridge in 1888
http://www.stadtschloss-potsdam.com/>
Aerial view in the 1930s
http://www.artist-info.com/cgi-bin/search/user_search.cgi?action=show_pic&ARTISTID=80876&ID=2233>
Ruins after the bombing in 1945
http://www.klemund-potsdam.de/Potsdam/PdmStadtschlAbr.htm>
Remains before demolition in 1959 |
Since 1751, the
Potsdam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadtschloss%2C_Potsdam>City Palace
was the official winter residence of the Prussian Kings, and,
starting in 1871, the German Emperors (Kaiser). The location has
been the site of several fortresses and castles since the times of
the Roman Empire.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_peoples>Slavic tribes that
lived in the area until the mid of the 12th century built a
fortress here in 993 to guard a nearby river passage called
Poztupimi. The current name of the city (Potsdam) was derived from
this ford and fortress.
In 1157, the
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Ascania>Ascanians
conquered the area and enhanced the fortress. But at the end of the
Middle Ages,
the fortress decayed until it finally was torn down and rebuilt
1589. However, it wasn't used much and for a while in the early
17th century, it was even turned into a barn.
In 1660,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_William%2C_Elector_of_Brandenburg>Frederick
William, duke of Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg started a
massive reconstruction and eventually moved his entire court into
the new building in 1671. The castle got it's final shape by
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM2858>King Frederick II and
Architect
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Wenzeslaus_von_Knobelsdorff>Georg
Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff in 1751 and until the end of the German
Empire in 1918, the German Emperors resided here at least for parts
of the year.
After 1918, the building was turned into a museum and later also
hosted offices of the city administration. During an allied bombing
attack on 14th April 1945 the City Palace was burned out and in
1959, the remains were pulled down. Most sources today simply state
that Communism and Castles just don't mix and that the East German
communist government ordered the destruction of the castle for
ideological reasons. I think the story is a little bit more
complex:
Prussia, and especially Potsdam was considered to be the cradle
of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militarism#German_militarism>
German Militarism. Dismantling a place that in a sense was the
starting point of two World Wars was supposed to send a signal to
the world that post-war Germany had honestly broken with its past.
However, it is a shame that the crown jewel of Friderizian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rococo>Rococo is lost forever.
There are plans to rebuild the castle by 2012 - we'll see. As of
now, the only remains are the royal stables, now hosting the Film
Museum and one single sculpture group in the former Pleasure
Garden. |