A chilling photo. A soldier’s last breath. This is the Capa-Haus in Leipzig. Right here on Jahnallee 61 stands a building steeped in history. A building that witnessed the final moments of World War II in Europe. Robert Capa a renowned war photographer captured the infamous “Last Man to Die” image here. It depicts the death of US soldier Raymond J Bowman. The photo was taken just two weeks before the war’s end. It appeared in Life magazine making it internationally known.
The Capa-Haus wasn’t always a memorial. Built between 1909 and 1910 it was originally a grand house for goldsmith Oskar Menzel Jr. Designed by F Otto Gerstenberger in the German Reform Architecture style it is now a listed building. Over the years it housed a confectionery a dance bar and even served as a temporary home for American soldiers.
After the war the house largely sat empty. By the late 1990s it was in disrepair. A New Year’s Eve fire in 2011-2012 threatened its complete demolition. However a citizens initiative saved it from destruction. Investor Horst Langner led a massive restoration project completed in 2016. The Cafe Eigler opened inside the building. In April 2016 an exhibition room commemorated the events of April 18 1945.
American veteran Lehman Riggs an eyewitness to Bowman’s death attended the street renaming ceremony. A commemorative plaque dedicated to Bowman unveiled that day was based on a design by Harald Alff who was involved in the Capa-Haus restoration. In 2019 US Consul Emily Yasmin Norris commemorated the victims of WWII at the Capa-Haus. She also recognized Riggs for his service alongside Bowman. Sadly Riggs passed away at 101 years old in 2021.
Unfortunately Cafe Eigler closed in September 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic forced its closure. However the building was reborn again. On July 1 2023 the Capa-Haus Memorial Site reopened. It is now an exhibition event and meeting place. Not only for Robert Capa but also for his partner Gerda Taro another war photographer who died in 1937. CAPA Culture gGmbH manages events and exhibitions. The Hentrich & Hentrich Publishing House offers support. The Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Leipzig curates the permanent exhibition. The Capa-Haus initiative remains a dedicated project partner. The site’s permanent exhibition “War is Over” tells the story of the final days of the war in Leipzig and the iconic photograph. The Capa-Haus is far more than just a building. It is a poignant memorial a symbol of the past and a window into the future. A place where history is preserved and shared with visitors from around the globe.