Magdeburg City Archives in Danger: Historical files are in danger of falling!

Magdeburg City Archives in Danger: Historical files are in danger of falling!

In Magdeburg there are currently extremely worrying developments surrounding the city archives on Mittagstrasse. Massive static deficiencies were discovered here, which put an entire part of the building in acute danger. The situation is particularly dramatic in the building archive, which houses more than 100,000 historical files, including important original plans for important buildings. A report carried out in September 2025 found alarming signs of rust on the almost 100-year-old steel beams, which are no longer load-bearing. This threat forces the city administration to act quickly; Thousands of construction files have to be relocated because the steel beams in the basement are no longer stable.

The head of the archive, Christoph Volkmar, emphasized that the affected construction files weigh around 120 tons, with the majority of this load lying directly above the dilapidated beams. In order to ensure the safety of employees and the integrity of valuable documents, the affected room is now being cleared. To date, no reliable forecast has been made regarding the remaining lifespan of the room. In addition, an immediate stop to the recording of new files was imposed, which was met with incomprehension by the city and builders, as current construction files were also affected.

Moving valuable files

One of the most valuable holdings, belonging to the German Theater Exhibition of 1927, also has to be relocated. To ensure the continued existence of information, the archive offers digital copies where possible. A fact that underlines the importance of the preservation and accessibility of these historical documents. Unfortunately, when the city archives were inaugurated in 2013, the basement was not renovated, which is now taking its toll. On December 4th, a decision will be made regarding an amount worth millions to stabilize and expand the city archives, and Volkmar is hoping for a long-term solution, as there are currently no funding programs specifically available for archive buildings.

The Magdeburg City Archives are a valuable cultural treasure that the city administration and citizens attach great importance to preserving. Unfortunately, this shows that sometimes it is only acute dangers that lead to the necessary measures being taken and longer-term solutions being found. The current steps are intended not only to counteract the dangers, but also to document the remarkable history preserved in the files, essential data for the building history and the identity of the city.

Meanwhile, regardless of the archive drama, online activity is present in the news. It's no secret that the world of video slots is booming. These modern variants of classic games of chance are very popular and offer a special appeal thanks to their exciting graphics and numerous themes, such as “Book of Dead” or “Grand Slam”. Via the Internet, such as at onlinecasinohex.nl, players can play from the comfort of their own home. These new game mechanics, easy operation and attractive bonus offers make digital slots a popular leisure activity.

Connections between these two topics, the preservation of cultural assets and today's digital world, clearly show how important it is to reconcile tradition with modern developments. Looking back, places like the city archives and the digital entertainment world make it clear how valuable historical documents and technologies are to society.