Potsdam Day

ReichskanzlerAdolf HitlerandReichspräsidentPaul von Hindenburgon Potsdam Day

Cover of the special editionDer Tag von Potsdamin the weekly newspaperDie Woche

Potsdam Day,also known as theTag von PotsdamorPotsdam Celebration,was a ceremony for the re-opening of theReichstagfollowing theReichstag fire,held on 21 March 1933, shortly after that month'sGerman federal election.

Selection of site and date

Adolf HitlerandJoseph Goebbelsselected the site ofPotsdam,as it was the centre of the oldKingdom of PrussiaofFrederick the Great,as well as theGerman EmpireofOtto von Bismarck.The date was chosen because 21 March 1871 was when the firstReichstagof Imperial Germany opened.

Attendees

Among the attendees wereCrown Prince Wilhelm,guest of honour and representative of theHohenzollern dynasty,and his three surviving brothersPrince Eitel FriedrichandPrince Oskar,bothDer Stahlhelmmembers, andPrince August Wilhelm,anOberführerin theSA,the Nazi stormtroopers.Prince Adalbertwas the only brother who did not attend the ceremony.

Broadcasting on radio

Broadcast in its entirety on radio, the festivities began with religious services. Protestant members of the Reichstag, includingChairmanHermann Göring,held services at theChurch of Saint Nicholaspresided over byOtto Dibelius.Catholics held services inPeter and Paul Church.Neither Hitler nor Goebbels attended the religious services, instead placing wreaths on the graves of various Nazi "martyrs", includingHorst Wessel,but attended a later state ceremony at theGarrison Church.Speeches were made byReich PresidentPaul von Hindenburgand Hitler, the newReich Chancellor,who had been in office less than two months, after which the two had a solemn handshake, symbolizing the "marriage of the old grandeur and new power". Famously, Hitler, who was dressed in civilian clothes, bowed his head deeply during the handshake with Hindenburg, who was wearing his full military uniform. Hindenburg laid a wreath at the tomb ofFrederick the Great.

Parades

Afterwards, parades were held with the participation of theReichswehr,SA,SS,Stahlhelm, and others. Finally the deputies convened the new Reichstag at theKroll Opera House,as the originalReichstag Buildinghad been rendered unusable by the fire.That evening, celebrations ended with atorchlight paradeand a performance ofRichard Wagner'sDie Meistersinger von Nürnbergat theBerlin State Operawith Hitler in attendance.

Commemorative coins

A year later, two- and five-Reichsmarkcoins showing the church and the date "21 März 1933" were minted. They are not rare, but larger numbers of both denominations were also issued in 1934–1935 without the commemorative date.

See also

• Adolf Hitler's rise to power
• Gleichschaltung
• Enabling Act of 1933
• Reichstag fire

External links

• Der Tag von Potsdam. 21. März 1933propaganda documentary available at theUS Holocaust Museum.