See Also: Potsdam(tourism)
Potsdam(encyclopedia)
Potsdam monuments(tourism)
Potsdam flights(tourism)
Potsdam car rental(tourism)
Potsdam airports(tourism)
potsdam group(medicine)
Potsdam Agreement, the(dictionary)
Potsdam Conference(encyclopedia)
Potsdam doctors(health)

Potsdam (sh)




City (pop., 2002 est.:130,435), capital of Brandenburg state, Germany.

It is located on the Havel River southwest of Berlin. First mentioned in 993 as a Slav settlement, it was chartered in 1317. It became the electoral residence of the margrave of Brandenburg in 1640 under Frederick William, the Great Elector. It was the Prussian royal residence under Frederick II, during whose reign it was a military and intellectual centre. It was severely damaged during World War II, but many monuments survived and others have been restored. In 1945 it was the site of the Potsdam Conference. Its large, beautifully landscaped parks were named a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1990. Industries include administration, retailing, education, film production, and tourism. It is the site of several scientific and technical institutions.