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All Germany Potsdam Hiroshima-Nagasaki Platz

Hiroshima-Nagasaki Platz

A memorial commemorating the place where Truman gave the order to deploy the first nuclear bombs on Japan.

Potsdam, Germany

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Hiroshima-Nagasaki Platz   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Hiroshima-Nagasaki Platz   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Hiroshima-Nagasaki Platz   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Hiroshima-Nagasaki Platz   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
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About

When strolling through the Potsdam Babelsberg area one can find many places of historical interest, including a square with a large memorial dedicated to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

This may be strange as the Germans, nor the Soviets who controlled this part of Germany at the time had anything to do with the atomic bombs. However, just across the street from this location stands a house once home to President Truman for a short time during the 1945 Potsdam conference, and while peace was discussed here tragedy was planned elsewhere, as Truman gave the order for the deployment of the bombs while here.

The memorial was built in 2005 under the leadership of the Hiroshima-Platz e.V. association led by Hideto Sotobayashi, an eyewitness to the bombing.  

The piece was built under the purvey of the sculptor Makoto Fujiwara, who supervised the building of the monument by exchange students from the affected cities and local students. 

The text reads: "In memory of the victims of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and August 9, 1945, During the Potsdam Conference of the Allied Great Powers from July 17 to August 2, 1945, the then President of the United States of America, Harry S. Truman, lived in the villa opposite."

Related Tags

World War Ii Monuments War History Memorials

Know Before You Go

The place is freely accessible. Don't forget to check out the Truman Villa across the street while you are at it. 

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Added By

CoolCrab

Edited By

meredithp

  • meredithp

Published

July 3, 2023

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  • https://www.potsdam-wiki.de/index.php/Hiroshima-Nagasaki-Platz
Hiroshima-Nagasaki Platz
73 Karl-Marx-Straße
Potsdam, 14482
Germany
52.39545, 13.122606
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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Potsdam

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Places 9

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Truman Villa

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miles away

Griebnitzsee Rauchschwalben (Griebnitzsee Station Swallows)

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Potsdam

Potsdam

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Places 9

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