Bebelplatz (formerly Opernplatz) is a public square in the center of Berlin, on the south side of the Unter den Linden. It is bounded to the east by the State Opera building (hence its prewar name), to the west by buildings of Humboldt University, and to the south by St. Hedwig's Cathedral. The square is named after August Bebel, a leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany in the 19th century.
The Bebelplatz is best known as the site of the book burning ceremony held on May 10, 1933 by members of the S.A. and Nazi youth groups, on the instigation of the Propaganda Minister, Joseph Goebbels. The Nazis burned around 20,000 books, including works by Thomas Mann, Erich Maria Remarque, Heinrich Heine, Karl Marx and many other authors. Today a glass plate set into the Bebelplatz, giving a view of empty bookcases, commemorates this event. Students of Humboldt University hold a book sale in the square every day of the year.