On the evening of 13 February 1945, air-raid wardens of the firm Koch & Sterzel were on duty at the Mickten Works, as they were at all companies and institutions in Dresden. Since the first air raid of the night did not damage the works, the wardens formed a fire brigade to help further afield. While the fire-fighters were on their way to the Ministry of the Interior, where they had been assigned to help, the sirens sounded for the second air raid and they had to turn back.
This time, too, the company remained undamaged, and the small fire brigade – a lorry with the fire-fighters and medical orderlies, and a passenger car – made its way to the Ministry in the city centre. But as they were crossing Heinrichstraße they were asked to help. After finding a fire hydrant in Haupstraße, the fire-fighters tried to prevent the flames from encroaching on Heinrichstraße using a single portable fire pump. After several hours they succeeded – they were the only fire-fighters in Hauptstraße, which was burning on both sides. Since fuel for the pump was running short, the group returned to the works in the morning hours.

Marked in 2001