NS Documentation Centre of the City of Cologne, Documentation center and museum in Altstadt-Nord, Germany.
The NS Documentation Centre occupies the EL-DE House, a building with exhibition spaces spread across multiple floors. Below ground, a preserved prison facility with cells and interrogation rooms remains accessible to visitors.
From 1935 to 1945, the building served as Gestapo headquarters in Cologne, where thousands were arrested and interrogated. The facility became one of the main centers of persecution in the region during this period.
The wall inscriptions left by detainees in the basement cells provide direct testimony about their experiences and what they endured. These handwritten messages remain visible today and offer a personal connection to those who were held here.
The center is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and on weekends from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Plan to spend several hours here, as the exhibition and basement prison require time to explore thoroughly.
The archives house an extensive collection of documents, photographs, and personal items that reveal how the persecution affected everyday life in the city. These materials show connections between local events and broader regional developments.
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