Glienicke Bridge, Potsdam

The Glienicke Bridge, spanning the Havel River in Germany, connects the Wannsee district of Berlin with Potsdam, the capital of Brandenburg. Named after the nearby Glienicke Palace, the current structure is the fourth bridge at this site, completed in 1907. It underwent significant reconstruction following damage sustained during World War II.

The bridge gained historical significance during the Cold War when it became a crucial point of exchange for captured spies between West Berlin and East Germany, earning it the nickname "Bridge of Spies." Its role in these high-stakes exchanges has been immortalized in various works of fiction, such as John Le Carré's novel Smiley's People and its BBC miniseries adaptation, as well as the 1966 film Funeral in Berlin, based on Len Deighton's novel.

The Glienicke Bridge's association with espionage has permeated popular culture. The British band T'Pau titled the lead track of their debut album "Bridge of Spies," using the metaphor of a "walk to freedom" in the context of a long-desired relationship. In children's media, the bridge is referenced in the animated series Codename: Kids Next Door, in a scene parodying real-life prisoner swaps. Additionally, the bridge is briefly mentioned in the spy-comedy series Archer, in a Cold War-era context.

The bridge’s most notable recent depiction is in Steven Spielberg's 2015 film Bridge of Spies, starring Tom Hanks. The movie centers around the famous Powers–Abel prisoner exchange on the Glienicke Bridge, cementing its place in both history and popular culture as a symbol of Cold War intrigue and espionage.