# Potsdam Day > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Potsdam_Day > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Potsdam_Day.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potsdam_Day > Source revision: 1348713559 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Potsdam Day**, also known as the **Tag von Potsdam** or **Potsdam Celebration**, was a ceremony for the re-opening of the [Reichstag](/source/Reichstag_(Nazi_Germany)) following the [Reichstag fire](/source/Reichstag_fire), held on 21 March 1933, shortly after that month's [German federal election](/source/German_federal_election,_March_1933). ## Selection of site and date [Adolf Hitler](/source/Adolf_Hitler) and [Joseph Goebbels](/source/Joseph_Goebbels) selected the site of [Potsdam](/source/Potsdam), as it was the centre of the old [Kingdom of Prussia](/source/Kingdom_of_Prussia) of [Frederick the Great](/source/Frederick_the_Great), as well as the [German Empire](/source/German_Empire) of [Otto von Bismarck](/source/Otto_von_Bismarck). The date was chosen because 21 March 1871 was when the first [Reichstag](/source/Reichstag_(German_Empire)) of Imperial Germany opened.[1][2] ## Attendees Among the attendees were [Crown Prince Wilhelm](/source/Wilhelm,_German_Crown_Prince), guest of honour and representative of the [Hohenzollern dynasty](/source/House_of_Hohenzollern), and his three surviving brothers [Prince Eitel Friedrich](/source/Prince_Eitel_Friedrich_of_Prussia) and [Prince Oskar](/source/Prince_Oskar_of_Prussia), both *[Der Stahlhelm](/source/Der_Stahlhelm,_Bund_der_Frontsoldaten)* members, and [Prince August Wilhelm](/source/Prince_August_Wilhelm_of_Prussia), an [Oberführer](/source/Oberf%C3%BChrer) in the [SA](/source/Sturmabteilung), the Nazi stormtroopers. [Prince Adalbert](/source/Prince_Adalbert_of_Prussia_(1884%E2%80%931948)) was the only brother who did not attend the ceremony.[3] ## Broadcasting on radio Broadcast in its entirety on radio, the festivities began with religious services. Protestant members of the Reichstag, including [Chairman](/source/List_of_Presidents_of_the_Reichstag_(Germany)) [Hermann Göring](/source/Hermann_G%C3%B6ring), held services at the [Church of Saint Nicholas](/source/St._Nicholas'_Church,_Potsdam) presided over by [Otto Dibelius](/source/Otto_Dibelius). Catholics held services in [Peter and Paul Church](/source/Peter_and_Paul_Church_(Potsdam)). Neither Hitler nor Goebbels attended the religious services, instead placing wreaths on the graves of various Nazi "martyrs", including [Horst Wessel](/source/Horst_Wessel),[4] but attended a later state ceremony at the [Garrison Church](/source/Garrison_Church_(Potsdam)). Speeches were made by [Reich President](/source/President_of_Germany_(1919%E2%80%931945)) [Paul von Hindenburg](/source/Paul_von_Hindenburg) and Hitler, the new [Reich Chancellor](/source/Chancellor_of_Germany), 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 of [Frederick the Great](/source/Frederick_the_Great). ## Parades Afterwards, parades were held with the participation of the [Reichswehr](/source/Reichswehr), SA, [SS](/source/SS), Stahlhelm, and others. Finally the deputies convened the new Reichstag at the [Kroll Opera House](/source/Kroll_Opera_House), as the original [Reichstag Building](/source/Reichstag_Building) had been rendered unusable by the fire.[1] That evening, celebrations ended with a [torchlight parade](/source/Torchlight_parade) and a performance of [Richard Wagner](/source/Richard_Wagner)'s *[Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg](/source/Die_Meistersinger_von_N%C3%BCrnberg)* at the [Berlin State Opera](/source/Berlin_State_Opera) with Hitler in attendance.[3] ## Commemorative coins A year later, two- and five-*[Reichsmark](/source/Reichsmark)* coins 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.[5] ## See also - [23 March 1933 Reichstag speech](/source/23_March_1933_Reichstag_speech) - [Adolf Hitler's rise to power](/source/Adolf_Hitler's_rise_to_power) - [Enabling Act of 1933](/source/Enabling_Act_of_1933) - *[Gleichschaltung](/source/Gleichschaltung)* - [Reichstag fire](/source/Reichstag_fire) ## References 1. Zenter, Christian and Bedurftig, Friedeman (1911) *[The Encyclopedia of the Third Reich](/source/The_Encyclopedia_of_the_Third_Reich)* New York: Macmillan. pp.723-724 1. [Shirer, William L.](/source/William_L._Shirer) (1960) *[Rise and Fall of the Third Reich](/source/Rise_and_Fall_of_the_Third_Reich)* New York: [Simon & Schuster](/source/Simon_%26_Schuster). pp.196-7 1. ["Hitler and Hindenburg on 'The Day of Potsdam'"](http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=3771) (March 21, 1933). 1. Ullrich, Volker (2017). *Hitler: Ascent: 1889-1939*. Translated by Jefferson Chase. New York: Vintage. p. 433. ISBN 978-1-101-87205-5. 1. [5 Reichsmark Potsdam Garrison Church](https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces10415.html) ## External links - *[Der Tag von Potsdam. 21. März 1933](https://www.ushmm.org/online/film/search/result.php?titles=Der+Tag+von+Potsdam)* [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170312071646/https://www.ushmm.org/online/film/search/result.php?titles=Der+Tag+von+Potsdam) 2017-03-12 at the Wayback Machine propaganda documentary available at the [US Holocaust Museum](/source/US_Holocaust_Museum). --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Potsdam Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potsdam_Day) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potsdam_Day?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.