Terrible fire destroys old operettas in Dresden-Beuben!

Terrible fire destroys old operettas in Dresden-Beuben!

The old operetta in the Leuben district of Dresden is completely burned out. A dramatic event that not only means the loss of a historical building, but also the worries of many citizens: on the inside calling the plan. On Friday evening, June 7, 2025, at 7:37 p.m., the fire was reported, which broke out in the back of the operetta. Despite the great commitment of the fire brigade, which fought against the flames for over twelve hours, the building could not be saved. The former auditorium, which was in the back of the operetta, collapsed as a result of the nightly fire night.

The police have initiated the investigation into arson, but information about negligent or intentional arson is currently not available. Fire cause investigators have so far not been able to examine the building due to the acute risk of collapse. The condition of the old operetta, which was built in 1889 and was rebuilt after the Second World War, was already worrying before the fire. Safety concerns had made it impossible to use the house. There was always vandalism, including a willful arson in 2022.

The fate of the old operetta

The citizens' initiative "Old Operetta - Auflenben Leuben" has been fighting for the preservation of the building for years. Dr. Rainer Kempe, 81 years old and head of the initiative, sees the old operetta as an important cultural heritage that should not end in decay. "It is tragic that we have wanted to keep the operetta alive for eight years," he says. The initiative emphasizes that the risk of further vandalism increases without restoration and the loss of the operetta could be finally.

The city of Dresden has already raised funds for maintenance and property security, which will be estimated at 32,600 euros by April 2025. In addition, 800,000 euros were planned for the modernization of the old operetta in the household 2023/24, but these funds were used for another project, which caused indignation within the citizens' initiative. "The city's priorities are unacceptable," criticizes Heike Witopil, 61 years old, and instead demands the maintenance of the operetta instead of a new concert hall.

a cultural site for leuben

There have been considerations for a long time to get the building for various uses, including high school or for social housing. A feasibility study from 2022 has shown the potential of the old operetta as a cultural center for leub. Many citizens: inside, including Petra Hering, 68 years old, hope for a revival of the house, which could benefit both dance and sports clubs. sächsische.de reports on the condition of the building, while the website of the citizens' initiative Alte-operette-dresden.de for revival. The preservation of cultural -historical buildings is not only a local affair, but also affects the identity of a city, as is described in wikipedia

This tragic incident shows how important the preservation and maintenance of cultural monuments are. The care in the preservation of such buildings is crucial to preserve the cultural heritage of a city, especially if the risk of vandalism and decay threatens. The future of the old operetta remains uncertain, but one thing is certain: the struggle for your survival continues.