The German Foundation for Monument Protection laments the loss of numerous monuments and historic buildings in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. This is evident from the so-called “Black Book” of the German Foundation for Monument Protection. The second edition of the Black Book lists nine lost properties in Saxony and six each in Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. Some of these involve complete or partial demolitions, some involve the revocation of historic preservation status, and—as in the most prominent case mentioned, the Carolabrücke in Dresden—some involve structures that have collapsed. An additional eleven historically protected buildings in the three states are listed as being at risk. In total, at least 1,077 historic monuments have been irretrievably lost in Germany over the past two years—more than one per day.
The authors attribute the loss of these structures to a backlog of renovation projects, neglect, economic pressure, as well as professional missteps and political failures. In addition, the Black Book criticizes the fact that the federal government’s so-called “special fund” all too often prioritizes demolition and new construction over the renovation of historically protected infrastructure. The Black Book is not a comprehensive collection of lost historic structures. The search for reliable facts and sources regarding the losses of historic structures documented therein has often proven difficult. According to the Black Book, decision-making processes and proposals are sometimes not made public. Press reports often serve as the basis for the cases described.
