POTSDAM, a town, the administrative capital of the Prus sian province of Brandenburg, and formerly one of the residences of the German emperor, situated on the river Havel, 16 m. S.W.
of Berlin, on the main line of railway to Magdeburg. Pop. (1925) 64,093. It is also connected with the capital by two local lines and by a steamboat service through the chain of lakes formed by the river. Potsdam, originally Portupimi, a Slavonic fishing village, is first mentioned in 993. A town in the 14th century, it was unimportant until the great elector built a palace here be tween 166o and 1682 ; and even at the close of his reign it only contained 3,00o inhabitants. The elector Frederick William I.
greatly enlarged Potsdam, and his stiff military tastes are re flected in the monotonous uniformity of the streets. Frederick the Great continued his father's work, and is the real creator of the splendour of the town.
The palace, a large quadrangular building of the 17th century, is chiefly interesting for the numerous relics it contains of Fred erick the Great. It also contains reminiscences of Voltaire, who resided here for several years. The principal churches are the Nikolaikirche; the Church of the Holy Ghost, built in 1728; and the Friedenskirche, or Church of Peace, erected in 1845-50, to which is attached a mausoleum. Among other conspicuous build ings are the military establishments ; the town hall ; and the Bran denburg gate. Potsdam has manufactures of chemicals, furniture, chocolate, soap, tobacco and surgical and musical instruments. Market-gardening affords occupation to many of the inhabitants, and the cultivation of winter violets is a specialty. The Havel is well stocked with fish. To the south of the town lies the observatory.