Potsdam

Hi, I’m Pastor Lutzer, and many of us are touring Germany. We’re learning a lot about its history, and the impact it has had on the entire world. Today, on this very beautiful day here in Germany, we’re actually in Potsdam. Potsdam is the place where the famous conference was held that decided to divide Europe and find out where all the boundaries would be. And, of course, you have the Soviet Bloc coming out of this; the creation of the western sector with all its complicated history all took place here. Its implications for millions of people, of course, is well known.

I’m actually sitting on a bench very close to the place where there was a very famous picture taken. I’m sure that you’ve seen it. In the picture was Stalin, Truman, and Winston Churchill, and they sat here and they had their picture taken. But inside the CecilienhofCastle, there’s a huge table, and around that table they sat along with their dignitaries. The conference went on for more than two weeks. Something else. When Stalin came here, he did not come by airplane. He came by train and 15,000 soldiers guarded the railroad tracks to make sure that nothing would happen and that Stalin would arrive.

Now, Stalin, Truman, and Churchill did not spend the night in the castle. They all had their private residencies. According to some reports, one of the reasons why Stalin didn’t want to show up until four o’clock in the afternoon was because he was already collecting surveillance, and what he wanted to know was how the discussions between Churchill and Truman were going, so that he knew how much he could get by with, what he could ask for, and how to successfully negotiate.

Now, you and I must recognize that history has boundaries, and it also has consequences. In Potsdam, we’re reminded of the fact that the Second World War had huge implications. Millions of people were affected, and they were affected by the decisions that were made here in Potsdam. And as we look back on it, we see that millions of people were enslaved as a result of the decisions made. The takeaway? Well, leaders can have a great impact on their people, either for good or for evil.

Thank you so much for joining us today.