About 1.5 million cubic metres of debris from the World War II bombing of Leipzig was used in the stadium's construction.

After the War of the Fourth Coalition, educators Ernst Moritz Arndt and Friedrich Ludwig Jahn wanted German national sports celebrations to train the Lützow Free Corps to defend against the French.

Leader Walter Ulbricht wanted a national-class stadium to commemorate the 100,000 fallen soldiers in the Battle of Leipzig.

[5] Free German Youth regional leader Heinz Haferkorn was tasked with finding 200 volunteers per day,[6] and work on the stadium began on August 2, 1955.

[2] A small train brought debris to the stadium, which was mixed with ash, soil and water and compressed into bricks.

Germany won the right to host the 2006 FIFA World Cup in 2000, prompting renovation of many German soccer-specific stadiums (including the Olympiastadion).