When construction recommenced after the war, completion was planned for 1940. Many navvies came from west Germany and had accommodation in barracks near the works; some of these later settled in Druzhba. Local men were also employed, which stimulated local economy. In 1921, it was again suggested that the canal could be used for hydroelectric power, with a recognised capacity of up to . The following year, hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic again put works on hold. At this point, construction of most of the locks had begun, with one at Allenburg complete.
