Peeking above the buildings around Augustusplatz is the Kroch-Hochhaus. Have you noticed the striking clock and two buff sentries at the top? This isn’t just another building. The Kroch-Hochhaus is Leipzig’s first high-rise.
Back in 1927, Hans Kroch, a German-Jewish banker, wanted a headquarters for his Bankhaus Kroch. He organized an architectural competition with the Leipzig City Council. German Bestelmeyer won one of the second places. His design was controversial.
For a while, the top four floors were just a wooden mock-up. People weren’t sure about such a tall building. They even used film to simulate how it would look. Finally, on December 16, 1927, they gave the go-ahead. The Kroch-Hochhaus opened on August 1, 1928.
The Kroch-Hochhaus is 43 meters tall. It was modeled after St Mark’s Clocktower in Venice. The clock mechanism on the roof is a landmark. It has three bells and two bellmen who are 3.3 meters tall. The bellmen strike the bells. Below the bells, you will find the Latin inscription “OMNIA VINCIT LABOR”. It means “Work conquers all”.
Below the inscription is a display of moon phases. It is flanked by two relief lions. These take up the entire front of the 12th floor. That is why there are windows only at the back of the 12th floor. The 11th floor has only two windows instead of three. Between them is a tower clock. The dial is 4.3 meters in diameter.
During Nazi Germany, the Kroch bank was aryanized. Hans Kroch was arrested during Kristallnacht in 1938. He was deported to a concentration camp. He died in Israel in 1970.
In 1938, the Industrial and Commercial Bank took over the Kroch-Hochhaus. Later, various institutions used it. From 2007 to 2009, the building was renovated for 5.7 million euros.
Today, the Kroch-Hochhaus houses institutes of Leipzig University. It also houses the Egyptian Museum. You can walk through the Theaterpassage. It goes from Goethestrasse to Ritterstrasse. The Kroch-Hochhaus stands as a reminder of Leipzig’s history. It shows both triumph and tragedy. Its bells still ring. The Kroch-Hochhaus reminds us that work conquers all.