Living History

We might be rubes from the colonies, but it never ceases to amaze me how history is such a living thing in Europe. It surrounds and envelops you with its frequent reminders of the past. Such was the case when we visited Cecilienhof, the last palace built in Prussian Germany. Emperor Wilhelm II built the palace for his son, Prince William and his wife Cecilia, starting construction in 1914. Construction was interrupted by World War I, but was concluded in 1917.

Entrance to Cecilienhof

Courtyard in front of the entrance

Front entrance

Central courtyard with Russian Red star, normally planted with red flowers.

The princess fled the palace during the 1918 Revolution, but took up residence later on. Wilhelm and Cecelia were granted residence as private citizens after 1923 after promising to stay out of politics. Wilhelm broke this agreement and supported Hitler's rise to power. Both he and Cecilia fled from the place in 1945 as the Russian Army approached. The Soviets seized Cecilienhof. However, it has another historic role to play at the end of the war.

Tudor styling of the palace

Wonderful chimney's grace the palace's 176 rooms.

Cecilia's breakfast room, styled as an ocean liner cabin

One of the garden courtyards

On July 17th, 1945, the Potsdam conference was hosted at Cecilienhof. This was the meeting between the three victorious heads of state after the defeat of Germany. Russia, represented by Josef Stalin; America represented initially by Franklin Roosevelt, then by Harry Truman; and the UK represented initially by Winston Churchill and then Clement Attlee.  They basically decided the shape of post-war Europe, dividing Germany into East and West, and setting the course for the cold war that followed.

Window to the large conference room where the Potsdam meetings were held.

Unlike Megan, I've never been much of a history buff, but this has changed since we started cruising. Visiting these sites has engaged my historical curiosity, and I'm becoming fascinated by the complex history of Europe. We are surrounded by palaces, castles and ancient churches. We stumble across unannounced ruins and find terracotta remains in our anchorage sites. History is all about us and you can feel the gravity of history still impinging on current events. I also wonder how imprisoned Europe is by its history and culture. At least us provincial folk have the open horizons to create a new and different history. I reflect on the multicultural nature of Australia, and how we are not one history, but the fusing of a myriad of pasts. Perhaps something new can be born from this flavoursome melee.

Megan, Yusha and Petra in Potsdam.

From such lofty cultural heights, we are now back in Greece on the boat which is still on the hard. Our days are now filled with the delights of antifouling and fibreglass polishing. Chop wood, carry water.