Cologne's Nazi Occupation: A Historical Perspective

Cologne, Germany's fourth-largest city, was occupied by Nazi forces in 1933. The city was the centre of the National Socialists in the Rhineland from the very beginning, with the Cologne branch of the NSDAP founded in the summer of 1921. The Cologne National Socialists were characterised by extreme anti-Semitism and a propensity for violence towards political opponents.

The city was the site of the first 1,000-bomber raid of the war in the spring of 1942, with the RAF targeting the city's chemical and machine-tool industries. The Cologne Cathedral, with its twin spires, was an easy navigational touchstone for Allied bombers. The cathedral played a role in the bombardments, enduring 14 bomb hits and heavy damage, but the structure remained, looming above the rest of the ruined city.

Cologne's Jewish population

The Jewish community in Cologne is the oldest in Germany and one of the oldest in Europe north of the Alps. The first record of Jews in the city dates back to 321 CE, when Emperor Constantine I's census recorded their presence. The community quickly established itself in what became known as the Jewish Quarter, building its first synagogue by 1040 CE.

The Jewish community in Cologne flourished during the Middle Ages, benefiting from the city's location on the Rhine and its role as an important trade route between east and west Europe. However, the Crusades in 1096 CE put an end to the peaceful coexistence between Jews and Christians in the city. Despite the Archbishop's protection, many Jews were killed, and their synagogue was destroyed.

The Jewish community in Cologne continued to face persecution and violence throughout the centuries. In 1349 CE, they were used as scapegoats for the Black Death, and a pogrom resulted in the massacre of many Jews. In 1424 CE, they were evicted from the city and were only allowed to return in 1798 CE during the French occupation.

By the early 20th century, the Jewish community in Cologne had grown significantly, and by the 1930s, it consisted of around 19,500 people. However, the Nazi regime brought devastation to the community once again. Over 40% of the Jewish population emigrated before World War II, and those who remained were subjected to deportation, forced labour, and other atrocities. By the end of the war, about 11,000 Jews from Cologne had been killed in Nazi extermination camps.

After World War II, the Jewish community in Cologne slowly rebuilt itself. A new synagogue was consecrated in 1949, and the community centre on Roonstrasse was rebuilt and reopened in 1959. Today, the Jewish community in Cologne has around 5,000 members.

Cologne's NSDAP

Cologne was the centre of the National Socialists in the Rhineland from the very beginning. The Cologne NSDAP was founded in 1921 and was recognised by the Munich Party executive committee in March 1922. Many of its members had previously been part of the 'German Nationalist Protection and Defiance Federation', a right-wing extremist, anti-Semitic force.

The Cologne NSDAP remained an insignificant splinter party for several years, characterised by inner-party fighting and made illegal several times. However, it did achieve a political breakthrough after 1930. In the Reichstag elections of September 1930, the NSDAP's share of the vote in Cologne increased from 1.6% to 17.6%. Membership figures rose to 3,000, and parades and large-scale events with important party members were performed.

The political approach of the Cologne National Socialists was characterised by extreme anti-Semitism and a propensity for violence towards political opponents. Anti-Semitic agitation, propaganda, and violent attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions were an everyday occurrence and dominated political life in Cologne. In 1928, anti-Semitic fervour reached its first climax when the 'Westdeutscher Beobachter' ran a smear campaign against the Jewish family Katz-Rosenthal, and Leonhard Tietz, a department store owner.

In 1933, the seizure of power in Cologne by the National Socialists went without opposition. On 13 March 1933, one day after the local elections, the National Socialists occupied the town hall, thus seizing power in the city. Lord Mayor Konrad Adenauer had to flee the city the day before.

Cologne's Lord Mayor Konrad Adenauer

Konrad Adenauer was born in Cologne on 5 January 1876 and served as the city's Lord Mayor from 1917 to 1933. He was a member of the Catholic Centre Party and was known for his opposition to the nationalism and militarism of Prussia and northern Germany.

Adenauer was removed from his position as mayor of Cologne by the Nazis and spent several months in a concentration camp during World War II. After the war, he was briefly reinstated as mayor by the United States, but was soon dismissed by the British military government. Adenauer then focused on building a new political party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which became known for its anti-communist platform.

During his time as Lord Mayor, Adenauer played a significant role in several notable developments in Cologne. He was responsible for the construction of a road circling the city as a bypass and a "green belt" of parks. He also contributed to the city's recovery after World War I, addressing issues such as social housing and governance.

In addition to his local impact, Adenauer went on to become the first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 1963, playing a key role in rebuilding the country after World War II and establishing close ties with Western powers.

Cologne Cathedral

During World War II, Cologne was the target of 262 Allied air raids, all but one of which were carried out by the Royal Air Force (RAF). The first devastating raid occurred on 17 May 1940, and nearly a quarter of the city's 770,000 residents fled. The cathedral was hit by 14 aerial bombs during the war but remained standing, though heavily damaged. The spires were used as a navigational landmark by Allied bombers, and the building was also used as a reference point by American soldiers when they captured the western part of the city on 6 March 1945.

In the aftermath of the war, the cathedral was protected by an American Catholic chaplain, Philip Hannan, who was later made Archbishop. He established a guard post at the cathedral and attempted to recover any church property that had been taken. The cathedral was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.

Cologne's Gestapo

Cologne was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II. From 1935 to 1945, the EL-DE Haus on Appellhofplatz was the headquarters of the Cologne Gestapo. The building was rented from jeweller Leopold Dahmen by the Nazis, who renamed it after his initials. The Gestapo reconfigured the building for its purposes, including the addition of ten prison cells in the basement.

The EL-DE Haus is now the NS Documentation Center of the City of Cologne, a museum documenting the Third Reich. The Gestapo prison in the basement is preserved as a memorial site, with over 1,800 wall inscriptions from prisoners bearing witness to persecution, torture, and murder. The permanent exhibition in the museum covers political, social, and community life in "Cologne During the Nazi Era", including the seizure of power, propaganda, everyday life, youth culture, racism, genocide, and opposition.

The NS Documentation Center was founded by a resolution passed by the Cologne city council in 1979. It has received numerous awards, including the Best in Heritage award in 2006, and the History Award from TV's History Channel in 2007.

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