The eventual project work was completed in 1938 and proposed a plan which avoided flooding any of localities by constructing a number of dams.

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.

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.

Jahrestages der Deutschen Demokratischen RepublikTranslation: "The Rappbode Dam - a great structure, built by socialism.

Its foundation stone was laid on the Day of Peace in 1952 - it was handed over on 3 October 1959 on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the German Democratic Republic.Die sozialistischen Produktionsverhältnisse unseres Arbeiter- und Bauernstaates/Die grossen Leistungen der am Bau beteiligten Arbeiter, Techniker und Ingenieure waren die Grundlagen der Entstehung dieses Werkes/Anerkennung und Dank den Erbauern.Translation: "The socialist manufacturing system of our workers' and farmers' state, [and]/the tremendous efforts of the workers, technicians and engineers who took part in its construction were the bases for the creation of this edifice./Recognition and gratitude go to its builders".The barrier is a straight gravity dam, which holds the water back by its sheer weight.

There is another good, but more remote viewing point on cliffs overlooking the reservoir at Rappbodeblick about 3 kilometres N of Hasselfelde as the crow flies.