the earliest discussions about building flood protection barriers took place following devastating floods at the beginning of the 20th century. these envisaged a number of masonry dams being constructed across the tributaries of the bode river. the first concrete plan, however, was to build just one dam but this would have meant sacrificing a number of villages. the eventual project work was completed in 1938 and proposed a plan which avoided flooding any of localities by constructing a number of dams. construction on the rappbode valley dam began in 1938. construction was halted due to the war in 1942. after 1945, the newly founded east germany, the project got under way again and was extended by including the treatment of drinking water, the original layout being retained and the technology being adapted. the foundation stone was laid on 1 september 1952 and, on 7 october 1959, the dam went into service. it was reconstructed between 2000 and 2003 and the national emblems of east germany on the inscriptions at the tunnel exit of the road across the dam were removed. the two inscriptions on the left and on the right read: