diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/briefwechsel/CorrespondenzEmptyState.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/briefwechsel/CorrespondenzEmptyState.svelte
deleted file mode 100644
index b6a3ad64..00000000
--- a/frontend/src/routes/briefwechsel/CorrespondenzEmptyState.svelte
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,120 +0,0 @@
-<script lang="ts">
-import { onMount } from 'svelte';
-import { m } from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
-
-interface RecentPerson {
-	id: string;
-	name: string;
-}
-
-interface Props {
-	onSelectPerson: (id: string) => void;
-}
-
-const { onSelectPerson }: Props = $props();
-
-let recentPersons = $state<RecentPerson[]>([]);
-
-onMount(() => {
-	try {
-		const raw = localStorage.getItem('korrespondenz_recent_persons');
-		if (raw) {
-			// Svelte auto-escapes firstName/lastName — do not use {@html} with these values
-			recentPersons = JSON.parse(raw) as RecentPerson[];
-		}
-	} catch {
-		recentPersons = [];
-	}
-});
-</script>
-
-<div class="mx-auto flex max-w-lg flex-col items-center gap-5 py-12 text-center">
-	<!-- Icon circle -->
-	<div class="rounded-full bg-muted p-5">
-		<svg
-			xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
-			width="36"
-			height="36"
-			viewBox="0 0 24 24"
-			fill="none"
-			stroke="currentColor"
-			stroke-width="1.5"
-			stroke-linecap="round"
-			stroke-linejoin="round"
-			class="text-primary"
-			aria-hidden="true"
-		>
-			<rect x="2" y="4" width="20" height="16" rx="2" />
-			<path d="M2 7l10 7 10-7" />
-		</svg>
-	</div>
-
-	<!-- Heading -->
-	<h2 class="font-serif text-xl font-black text-ink">{m.conv_empty_heading()}</h2>
-
-	<!-- Subtext -->
-	<p class="max-w-sm text-base text-ink-3">
-		{m.conv_empty_text()}
-	</p>
-
-	<!-- Search input placeholder (visual only — clicking focuses Person A typeahead above) -->
-	<button
-		type="button"
-		data-testid="conv-empty-search"
-		aria-label={m.conv_empty_search_placeholder()}
-		onclick={() => onSelectPerson('')}
-		class="flex h-10 w-full max-w-sm items-center rounded border border-line bg-muted px-4 text-sm text-ink-3 italic transition-colors hover:border-primary"
-	>
-		<svg
-			xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
-			width="14"
-			height="14"
-			viewBox="0 0 24 24"
-			fill="none"
-			stroke="currentColor"
-			stroke-width="2"
-			stroke-linecap="round"
-			stroke-linejoin="round"
-			class="mr-2 shrink-0"
-			aria-hidden="true"
-		>
-			<circle cx="11" cy="11" r="8" />
-			<path d="m21 21-4.35-4.35" />
-		</svg>
-		{m.conv_empty_search_placeholder()}
-	</button>
-
-	<!-- Recent persons — only shown when localStorage has entries -->
-	{#if recentPersons.length > 0}
-		<!-- Divider -->
-		<div class="flex w-full max-w-sm items-center gap-2">
-			<div class="flex-1 border-t border-line"></div>
-			<span class="text-xs font-bold tracking-wider text-ink-3 uppercase">oder</span>
-			<div class="flex-1 border-t border-line"></div>
-		</div>
-
-		<div class="flex w-full max-w-sm flex-col items-center gap-3">
-			<span class="text-xs font-bold tracking-widest text-ink-3 uppercase">
-				{m.conv_empty_recent_label()}
-			</span>
-			<div class="flex flex-wrap justify-center gap-2">
-				{#each recentPersons as person (person.id)}
-					<!-- TODO: allow clearing recent history -->
-					<button
-						type="button"
-						onclick={() => onSelectPerson(person.id)}
-						class="flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full border border-line bg-surface px-4 py-2 text-sm font-bold text-ink transition-colors hover:border-primary hover:text-primary"
-					>
-						<span
-							class="flex h-5 w-5 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary text-xs text-primary-fg"
-							aria-hidden="true"
-						>
-							{person.name.charAt(0).toUpperCase()}
-						</span>
-						{person.name}
-					</button>
-				{/each}
-			</div>
-		</div>
-	{/if}
-</div>