Our Cologne WWII Historical Walking Tour
As the Nazi Regime rose to power, Cologne, today celebrated as the capital of Diversity, Tolerance and Acceptance in Germany, fell to the influence of Adolf Hitler. While the the Third Reich’s strength grew, Cologne was not merely an unwilling host but an active participant in National Socialism, the results of decades of groundwork by a ruthless ideology. On our tour of Cologne’s WWII History, we’ll dive into every aspect of the largest war in human history as it unfolded in this city, the ambitions of the Nazi Regime and how close they came to achieving them at great cost to Europe and the world.
Ticket: 15€
Language: English & German
Time & Date: Wednesdays and Fridays at 15:11h
Meeting Point: Alter Markt, next to the monument of Jan-von-Werth
End of the tour: Gereonstraße, next to the monument of Edith Stein
Group size: 20 people. If you want to join the tour with a group of friends or family, that’s possible for up to 7 people. If you are more, please book a private tour for your group.
Please book in advance!
There’s more to explore! Check out our brewery tour, our Dark Side of the Dom tour and our free walking tours.
What to see on this tour
Long before the Blitzkrieg stormed through Europe, Nazism had already found a foothold in German society. The National Socialist movement drew strength from nationalist and authoritarian currents not unlike those we are seeing around the world today. So how did such a ruthless regime come to power? Was our now open-minded and inclusive city ruled by fear or was there sympathy for the ideology? And what was happening in Cologne and beyond as the bombs began to fall?
From the militaristic traditions of the Prussian Empire to the instability of the Weimar Republic and the rise of the Nazi state, we’ll trace the steps that led to Hitler’s seizure of power. On our Cologne WWII Walking Tour, we’ll visit sites that reveal both the reach of Nazi authority in the city and the brutal legacy left behind.
From the Cologne Cathedral to the Gestapo headquarters, discover the Battle of Cologne, the Allied bombings that scarred the city, the tank warfare that shook its center, and the eventual liberation by Allied forces.
The legacy of World War II has shaped Cologne for generations. From the earliest signs of conflict to the bullets that tore through its streets, to the cultural and physical repercussions still felt today, join us in uncovering Cologne’s past on our Cologne World War II History Tour.
