Potsdam will commemorate the 35th anniversary of German reunification with a diverse programme of events that bring history to life. At significant sites such as Glienicke Bridge, key moments of Germany’s division and reunification will take centre stage. Several locations within the UNESCO World Heritage Site also bear witness to the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
A highlight of the programme is the guided tour “Warning. Restricted Zone! Along the Potsdam Border Strip”. Beginning at Glienicke Bridge, famously known as the “Bridge of Spies”, the tour follows the former inner-German border through the New Garden to the former checkpoint at Bertini Enge. Moving stories of border crossers and secret agents offer vivid insights into life during Germany’s division.
As part of Berlin Freedom Week, further thematic events will enhance the programme. On 13 November, additional guided tours will be offered, including one through the former Soviet secret service compound “Military Compound No. 7”. A virtual perspective will be provided by the online lecture “The Soviet Intelligence Prison Leistikowstraße” on 12 November, held via Zoom.
An open-air exhibition along the former border also offers compelling insights into Potsdam’s turbulent past. Starting at Glienicke Bridge, it leads visitors to key historical sites such as Military Town No. 7 and the New Garden, home to Cecilienhof Palace.
