on 16 January 1945 destroyed most of the old centre of Magdeburg, including Maenicke's studio. Much of his life's work was destroyed in a single night. War ended, formally in May 1945, leaving the central portion of Germany, including Magdeburg, Leipzig and much of Berlin, administered as the Soviet occupation zone. For the next few years Maenicke stayed away from his art, working till 1949 for a winery at (Naumburg).