Bebleplatz, known for its austere appearance, was the centre of an ambitious cultural project envisioned by King Frederick the Great. Its legacy, however, is inextricably tied to its history as the site of the first full-blown public book burning in Nazi Germany. On May 10, 1933, members of the Nazi German Students' League cheered as books written by authors like Brecht, Mann, Marx and other ‘subversive’ writers were set ablaze. The square was originally named Opernplatz, but was changed to Bebelplatz in 1947 in honour of August Bebel, co-founder of the SPD (Social Democratic Party).