Welcome to the NS-Documentation Centre
The NS-Documentation Centre is the centre for critical research into National Socialism in Cologne and its surrounding area. Being a contemporary history museum and memorial centre, we collect and preserve testimonies and personal histories from the NS era and we also conduct research into it and organise events about it. We also focus on today's society and aim to inform citizens and raise their awareness through advisory, educational and event programmes. We see ourselves as having a special responsibility with regard to the victims of NS persecution and their families.
The building, which houses the NS-Documentation Centre, is named after its builder, Leopold Dahmen, and it was the headquarters of the Secret State Police (Geheime Staatspolizei – Gestapo) in Cologne from 1935 to 1945. The Gestapo used the building's basement as a prison. Around 1,800 inscriptions and drawings by former prisoners can still be seen on the cell walls today and bear witness to the brutality of the Gestapo and the inhumane prison conditions.
What’s on at the NS-Documentation Centre
Events
The NS-Documentation Centre regularly organises panel discussions, lectures, readings and other events covering contemporary and historical topics.
Our services
Guides tours
The NS-Documentation Centre provides guided tours covering the history of National Socialism in Cologne in our building and in the urban areas.
Workshops
We host workshops covering topics such as youth under National Socialism, racism, antisemitism and right-wing extremism.
Learning rooms
Here you will find information about the learning rooms Children’s Museum, Remote Island and the Talking cafés.
Research & Collections
Research into Cologne's NS history and the collection of documents, photos, objects and other sources that provide information about this history are the main focus of the NS- Documentation Centre's work. The NS-Documentation Centre also offers a public reference library that is available to all interested parties for their research.
Consultation
Are you researching the history of your family during the Nazi era or your neighbourhood? You do not want to accept racist and right-wing extremist statements in your private or professional environments and you are looking for advice about this? Are you being confronted with antisemitism or do you want to report an incident? You will find the support you need here.
Digital resources
Since its foundation, the NS-Documentation Centre has conducted research into numerous topics and has made its results accessible online. Here we invite you to browse digitally.
Databases
Here you will find our databases covering the following topics: memorial book for the Jewish victims of National Socialism, Stumbling Stones, forced labour camps and war graves.
Portals
On various online portals and websites the NS-Documentation Centre presents information about specific historical subjects it has worked on in numerous projects.
Visit us!
Here you will find all the important information about your visit. We look forward to seeing you!