Kaditz

Gazing across the Elbe, can you picture a bustling airship port right here in Kaditz? Kaditz, a charming suburb of Dresden, holds more secrets than its tranquil appearance suggests. First mentioned in 1269 as Kayticz, meaning “people of Kojeta,” Kaditz began as a small village of six farms. Over the centuries, it absorbed the lands of the deserted village of Gleina and the bishop’s estate of Poppewitz, expanding its reach to the Elbe after the plague ravaged nearby Übigau. By the 18th century, Kaditz, under the rule of the Elector of Dresden, attracted artisans and boasted a parish encompassing nine villages, including Trachau and Pieschen. A devastating fire in 1818 reshaped the village, but from the ashes rose the charming Fachwerk houses we see today in Altkaditz. The industrial revolution spurred the growth of Neukaditz, a district of worker’s houses built along what is now Rankestrasse. By the turn of the 20th century, Kaditz’s population boomed to 3,780, and new housing blocks sprang up around Riegelplatz. In 1903, Kaditz became part of Dresden. Between 1918 and 1921, the Kaditzer Flutrinne, a flood channel designed to divert the Elbe’s floodwaters, was constructed by unemployed workers. But let’s return to our airship port. From 1913 to 1926, Kaditz hosted Dresden’s first airport. The grand opening in 1913, attended by King Friedrich August III, marked the arrival of LZ 17 “Sachsen” into its massive hangar, capable of housing two airships. The airfield buzzed with activity, hosting airshows, pilot training, and even a brief stint as a mail carrier. The pioneer Hermann Reichelt used Kaditz for his aircraft production and test flights. Sadly, he met his end here in a fatal crash during a demonstration. World War I saw the airport militarized, and after the war, the Treaty of Versailles mandated the demolition of the airship hangars. The airport eventually closed in 1927, making way for industrial development and allotments. But the spirit of innovation lives on. The Emmauskirche, first mentioned in 1273, still stands tall. The Kaditzer Linde, a majestic linden tree estimated to be 700 to 900 years old, silently watches over the suburb, a living testament to Kaditz’s long and vibrant history.