Didn’t the street names here once tell tales of battles and rulers? This is the Eü Slevogtstraße in Leipzig. It’s a place with layers of history.
Let’s start with the name itself. Today, we know it as Eü Slevogtstraße. It honors Max Slevogt. He was a famous painter and graphic artist. He was born in 1868 and died in 1932. But this street hasn’t always been named after him.
Before 1950, this street had many names. It was once called Trachenbergstraße. This name came from the Trachenberg War Plan. Before that, parts of it were known as Völkerschlachtstraße. This was around 1905. The planned Völkerschlachtstraße became Trachenbergstraße in 1914. For a time, it was Wettinstraße. This commemorated 800 years of the Wettin dynasty. There was even a time when it was simply Dorfgasse.
The city officially named it Slevogtstraße on October 11, 1950. The name took effect on November 1, 1950.
Around 1680, a notable establishment stood near here. It was a “wüster Hof”. Dr. Horn rebuilt it as a restaurant. This restaurant was called “Goldne Krone”. It lasted until 1938. You would have found it at the corner of Knopstraße, Slevogtstraße, and Bucksdorffstraße. Today, “Lloyd-Eck” stands in its place.
In 1938, the area changed again. A residential complex replaced the “Goldne Krone”. This complex sits at Knopstraße, Slevogtstraße, and Bucksdorffstraße.
During World War II, tragedy struck. In 1943, an American plane crashed in the courtyard of Bucksdorffstraße 31. This happened during the bombing raid on December 3rd and 4th. Flak fire caused further damage to the property.
After the war, another landmark disappeared. In 1951, the Hungerturm on Slevogtstraße was torn down. This demolition was for traffic reasons.
Big changes came in 2003. Construction began on the S-Bahn line to Halle. This included building an underpass on Slevogtstraße beneath the S-Bahn tracks.
More recently, the street has seen new developments. In 2017, new apartment buildings changed the southern part of Slevogtstraße. Houses numbered 10 and 15 gave the street a new urban look.
Today, the Slevogtstraße is also the location for the Leipzig Slevogtstraße station.
So, as you walk along Eü Slevogtstraße, remember its journey. It has transformed from a simple path to a street with a rich history. It is a place shaped by war, industry, and art.