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No further federal funding for the nave: Potsdam breathes a sigh of relief!
On July 10, 2025, the federal government announced that no federal funds would be provided for the nave of the Potsdam Garrison Church.
No further federal funding for the nave: Potsdam breathes a sigh of relief!
In Potsdam there is fresh news about the controversial garrison church. According to a report by maz-online.de The Garrison Church Potsdam Foundation will not receive any further federal funding for reconstruction, especially not for the construction of a nave. This information comes from a response from the federal government to a request from Potsdam member of the Bundestag Isabelle Vandre from the Left party. Vandre described the decision as “good news” and made it clear that planning a nave was finally off the table.
The current developments come at a time when the Garrison Church and its history are being discussed more intensively. Vandre criticizes that the more than 24 million euros of tax money used so far to build the tower copy, which has already been financed with public funds, is urgently needed for other social areas such as poverty reduction and education. She is calling on the foundation to stop all planning for a church nave and to make the area on which the data center is located permanently available to the city.
A festive occasion with divided opinions
The discussion about the garrison church is as emotional as it is complex. Proponents see the new building as an opportunity for a culture of remembrance, while critics see the tower as a symbol of militarism and fear that right-wing radicals could be attracted. An exhibition entitled “Faith, Power and Military” will open from August 23rd, which deals with the history of the site. The focus here is on topics such as the dictatorship of the National Socialists, the SED rule and the debate about reconstruction, explains the event page Garrison Church Potsdam.
A look into the future
The future development of the garrison church remains exciting. In particular, the planned 30-meter-high dome, which is scheduled to be completed in 2026, has the potential to further stimulate the discussion about reconstruction. The citizens' initiative “Potsdam without a garrison church” will maintain the kobern and continue to represent its position against the reconstruction.
While the Garrison Church Foundation and the city of Potdam continue to pursue their plans and visions, one thing is clear: the question of the significance and use of the site will continue to concern the city for a long time. One thing is certain - the debate about the garrison church has only just begun and will keep citizens on tenterhooks for a long time.