Cologne, the days around March 06, 1945. Photos taken at this days compared with photos taken today. In one picture ...
There are three chapters, first chapter Cologne in general, chapter two the advance of the US troops from Gladbacher Straße to the Cathedral, chapter three the advance from Venloer Straße to the Cathedral. For several photos there are links to pictures with higher resolution, just click the bigger photo to close it after watching when you are using Javascript.
The building of the Deutsche Arbeitsfront, today social court. People are waiting for their transport bus on March 7, 1945. Photo 1945 by Johnny Florea.
Intersection Marzellenstraße / Bahnhofstraße / An den Dominikanern on March 07. 1945. In background church St. Andreas, on the street a dead German soldier. Photo 1945 by Johnny Florea.
Cologne panorama. Left side the destroyed bridge Hindenburgbrücke. Photo old by Lt. Colonel Herbert Belin
The destroyed bridge Hindenburgbrücke. Photo old by Lt. Colonel Herbert Belin
US soldier on Trankgasse in front of the Cologne Cathedral. The sign was warning "tourists". The Cologne parts on the other side of Rhine river were still in German hands.
The Cologne Cathedral, northern side, looking from the square in front of the central station.
In front of the house of the Deutsche Arbeitsfront, again the people waiting for their removal. Today people are waiting for the start of their shopping tour. Photo old After the Battle.
Street Gereonstraße, soldiers walking along the street.
The destroyed bridge Hohenzollernbrücke. Photo by Bryan Allen / NARA
US soldier standing in Hohenzollernbridge. Old photo taken by Bryan Allen / NARA
View from Hohenzollenbridge, area what today is Rheingarten. Photo old Archiv Nachtsheim/Betz
The Cologne panorama. Photo old by Lt. Colonel Herbert Belin
Street Friesenstraße, near square Friesenplatz. Photo old NARA
Fortunately only a photomontage - concerning the cathedral which wasn't destroyed in reality. At the end of WWII, after all the bombings, it could also have looked like this ....
The way between Hohenzollernbridge and Cathedral. Photo old Bryan Allen / NARA
US soldier standing in the gateway, guarding access to the Hohenzollernbridge. Old photo Bryan Allen / NARA
Square Alter Markt with Jan von Werth monument. Photo old archive Henry Mace Cockburn
Street Herzogstraße, in background right the Disch-Haus. Photo old by Lt. Colonel Herbert Belin
Black marketeer at the Cologne Cathedral, in front of the building what today is the tourist office. Photo old archive Henry Mace Cockburn
Square Heumarkt with destroyed equestrian monument Friedrich Wilhelm III. . Photo old by Lt. Colonel Herbert Belin
Black marketeer at the Cologne Cathedral. Photo old archive Henry Mace Cockburn
Aerial photo Cologne. Photo old San Diego Air and Space Museum, Photo new f. ermert
Aerial photo Cologne. Photo old David Foster/James "Pop" Beadling, photo new f. ermert
Destroyed bridge Hindenburgbrücke, in background city district Deutz. Photo old archive Henry Mace Cockburn
Square Neumarkt, in background destroyed church St. Aposteln. Photo old NARA
The old opera at square Rudolfplatz. Photo old archive Henry Mace Cockburn
Street Cäcilienstraße, in background right Kaufhof building. Photo old NARA
Road construction on Hohenzollernring. Photo old archive Henry Mace Cockburn
Destroyed bridge Hindenburgbrücke. View from temporary McNair-Bridge. Photo old archive Henry Mace Cockburn
"Headquarters Military Government Regierungsbezirk Köln". Photo old archive Henry Mace Cockburn
Square Rudolfplatz. Photo old archive Henry Mace Cockburn
Streets Cäcilienstrasse und Pipinstrasse. Left side Kaufhof, in background the old market halls, where today the Maritim hotel is located. Right side ruins of church St. Maria im Kapitol. Photo old NARA
Pershing tank on street Christophstraße. Photo old Jim Bates, Pikes Peak Library District
On the Hohe Straße 1945. Photo old Marita Unger / DuMont Verlag
Church Minoritenkirche - 1952. Photo old Dr. Heinz-Gerd Richartz / DuMont Verlag
The Friedrich Wilhelm III. monument on square Heumarkt. Photo old Ingeborg Langmaack / DuMont Verlag
Ship bridge (1822 - 1915). Photo old Rita Tipp / DuMont Verlag