A church linked to Adolf Hitler and his rise to power may be reconstructed, sparking debate about the importance of commemorating Germany's past.
The BBC reports that the Garrison Church, or Garnisonkirche, in Potsdam has received backing from Chancellor Angela Merkel to be rebuilt, complete with exhibitions to document its troubled past.
The church was bombed in WWII by the British army, and was later destroyed by the Communists.
Before then, however, it was the site of a historical moment: when Hitler bowed to and shook hands with then-president Paul von Hindenburg in March 1933 on what became known as The Day of Potsdam.
The Nazi leader's display of humility was expertly used by propaganda expert Josef Goebbels to harness public support, which "legitimised [Hitler] in the eyes of Germany's upper class".
The Austrian-born leader was soon given powers to pass laws without the support of German parliament, which arguably led to the Third Reich and the atrocities of the Second World War.
"This is one of the most extraordinary church buildings from the baroque era, and it is at the same time the most controversial place," Professor Dr Wolfgang Huber, a former bishop and president of the committee in charge of the reconstruction, told the BBC.
"We are confronted with the ambiguities of German history here much more directly than in any other place in the country...It is for me a very important place for the work of peace and reconciliation.
"To leave the place empty would mean to give a victory to Mr Goebbels who orchestrated the Day of Potsdam."
However, Huber's committee has faced significant criticism from locals who are concerned that the new church will signify an attempt to gloss over Germany's past.
"For me, this church is a symbol of evil," Maximilian Dalichow, who was brought up in Potsdam, said.
"It's the place where the Third Reich was born. It's where it came into being."
