Liebertwolkwitz - “Zum Schwarzen Ross"

Wednesday – Getting out of bed a bit later today with a delightfully slow breakfast. The plan was to walk around the artists quarter, the horse racing track, the wealthy quarter and the heavily barricaded US Embassy. Along the way we bought focaccia from the French bakery and came home for lunch. It was a good long walk but at times the weather was quite bitter and cold. We had a slow afternoon before going to the Gasthof “Zum Schwarzen Ross” in Liebertwolkwitz. Interestingly this is the area that Brigitte and Andreas come from, and Brigitte’s mother used to help in the restaurant whilst Brigitte would go to the cinema which is upstairs. This was during the post war years of communist east Germany (DDR). Andreas also came from here, went to school here, and his grandfather had two shoe shops in Leipzig. Brigittes family still live in the area. The weather has been particularly cold and threatening snow today.

1813
Liebertwolkwitz has 282 inhabitants.
October/Battle of the Nations. On 11 October, French soldiers bivouac at the windmill of Helm and Altner. They sprinkle the road to Grimma by building redoubts. On the morning of 14 October, a cavalry battle took place near the village between the French and Russian-Prussian, and later also Austrian, units. There is also fighting inside the village in the area of the church and the cemetery. 60 houses go up in flames on this day; with the exception of 5 or 10 people, all Liebertwolkwitz residents leave the place. On 15 October, Napoleon explores the terrain on the heights near Liebertwolkwitz. In the fighting of the following days, the French are forced out of the village, with the Windmühlengasse being particularly affected. The village had to suffer heavy looting by both French infantry and Russian Cossacks. On 19 October, the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied troops, Prince Schwarzenberg, is able to deliver the news of victory to the rulers of Russia, Austria and Prussia, Tsar Alexander I, Emperor Francis I and King Frederick III, who have gathered on the "Leipziger Berg". From 20 October, the return of the residents to the destroyed village begins. By the end of the year, 54 people had died of disease, hunger and deprivation. The total material damage that Liebertwolkwitz suffered in the fighting is estimated at exactly 113817 thalers and 4 groschen.Read more