Heartbreak in Leuben: Old operetta badly damaged after fire!

Heartbreak in Leuben: Old operetta badly damaged after fire!

On Friday morning, June 10, 2025, Dresden experienced a tragic loss: the old operetta in Leuben burned down completely. This means that another piece of our cultural heritage will be irretrievably lost. The former state operetta, which has been empty since 2016, was the target of a committed citizens' initiative that campaigned for the revival of the historic building. The fire not only destroyed the initiative's hopes, but also reignited the debate about securing historical buildings. [Tag24 reports that ...](https://www.tag24.de/dresden/lokales/vielen-dresdnern-blutet-das-herz-haette-das-feuer-in-der-alten-operette-verhindert Werden-koennen-3393312)

Concerned residents and members of the citizens' initiative “Alte Operette – Revitalize Leuben” had already urgently pointed out the increasing vandalism and the dangers of a fire. In a worrying information letter they expressed concerns about break-ins and theft of valuable materials such as copper cables. In December 2023, the initiative documented that the building was defaced with incendiary devices and firecrackers. In fact, a member of the initiative, John Pietzko, found the thick smell of burning and blazing flames in the main hall during an inspection. His quick action prevented anything worse from happening, but the damage to the auditorium and roof structure is enormous. MDR has reported that ...

A cry for help from the citizens' initiative

In view of the dramatic situation, the Leuben district advisory council demanded immediate security measures from the city administration. Kathrin Kondaurow, the director of the State Operetta, expressed her shock at the developments and pointed out that alarm systems had previously been shut down for cost reasons. This left the building unprotected, especially after the CCTV was also stolen. Heike Ahnert, the CDU parliamentary group leader, criticized the administration's inaction and emphasized that the city must do more to protect valuable cultural sites.

The citizens' initiative had contacted the city administration in advance to draw attention to the progressive deterioration and threat to the building. Plans are being made to bring the disused site back to life, but repeated warnings have gone unheeded. The city made promises to improve safety, but sufficient measures were still not taken.

Cultural property in danger

In the discussion surrounding the fire, it quickly becomes clear that the loss of historical buildings not only has a material value, but also an ideal one. Studies show that historical buildings are particularly at risk of falling victim to arson or technical defects. Cultural assets are part of our collective memory and represent the identity of a city. According to Feuertrutz, many such cultural assets in Germany have gone up in flames in recent decades, tragically often due to human error or neglect. Fires in important buildings such as the Anna Amalia Library or Notre Dame are just the tip of the iceberg.

The estimated damage to the historic building in Dresden is likely to be in the six to seven-figure range, although there are voices from the citizens' initiative that want to save parts of the building. Rainer Kempe, a member of the initiative, hopes that despite the destruction, the common goal of reviving the state operetta will be pursued. However, the next steps will depend heavily on insurance and legal issues.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the city will react to these dramatic events. However, one thing is certain: the citizens' initiative's concerns about the preservation of their cultural heritage are justified and must be taken seriously.