Bittschriftenlinde Potsdam, Remarkable tree in Potsdam, Germany

The Bittschriftenlinde is a linden tree at the southern corner of the City Palace site on Humboldtstrasse in Potsdam, now beside the Brandenburg State Parliament. The present tree, planted in 1993 for the city's 1000th anniversary, was moved to a nursery during construction in the early 21st century and returned to the spot at Otto-Braun-Platz in late November 2015, in front of Frederick the Great's former study.

King Frederick II of Prussia regularly received citizen petitions beneath this tree, which was visible from his study window in the City Palace. This practice made the tree a symbol of direct petition between people and ruler during the Prussian era.

The tree's name comes from the petitions (Bittschriften) handed to Prussian kings there; Frederick the Great, who could see the tree from his study in the City Palace, regularly received supplications in person. Later, petitions were simply pinned to its branches. Today a panel beside the tree carries a data code linking by mobile phone to the petitions committee of the Brandenburg state parliament, where a petition can be filed on the spot.

The tree is located in a central area and is easily accessible on foot, positioned next to the Parliament building near other attractions. A modern information panel with a data code allows visitors to access additional historical information through their mobile phones.

The original tree where Frederick II sat no longer exists, but its legacy was preserved by continuously replanting at the same location. This passing of the torch from tree to tree makes the site a living monument to historical dialogue.