When French troops left Mainz in 1930, they left behind more than 500 vacant apartments—and a man with a bold plan. Franz Vlasdeck, a sculptor and building contractor from Mainz, seized the opportunity and bought up the entire portfolio: houses in Mainz, Gonsenheim, and Kastel that had previously housed members of the occupying forces.

It was a risky venture intended to give his company a boost. Things turned out differently. Starting in 1932, the extensive real estate holdings had to be placed under receivership—an economic failure that nevertheless left an unusual legacy for posterity.

In the archives of the City of Mainz lies a detailed report by the receiver, Dr. Hans Gärdes, dating from 1935: complete floor plans, historical photographs, figures, and explanations for every single property in the so-called “Vlasdeck housing portfolio.”

Drawing on these sources, speaker Axel Kiltz takes the audience on a journey through the decades: Where were the buildings located? What became of them during the Nazi era, World War II, and the postwar period up to the present day? 

Speaker Axel Kiltz himself lives in one of the former Vlasdeck houses in Mainz-Gonsenheim. Since his retirement in 2016, he has been working as a volunteer historian, regularly giving lectures and publishing articles on historical topics.

When: Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Wissenschaftliche Stadtbibliothek, Reading Room, Rheinallee 3B, 55116 Mainz. 

Admission is free; donations are welcome.