 In the 1920s, the second track was removed and the line was downgraded to a single-track branch line because it had only achieved regional significance.During the Second World War the line received no major damage, except for the Frieda viaduct, which was demolished in the last days of the war in 1945.The line was closed soon after at the nearby inner German border between Geismar and Schwebda and the viaduct was not rebuilt.