Research projects
The NS-Documentation Centre's research profile covers the history of National Socialism in Cologne in its regional relations as well as in its pre- and post-history. The research interests include the structural and administrative history of National Socialism in Cologne as well as everyday- and social history. A permanent focus is on NS persecution and the life stories of the survivors and victims. Since it was founded, the NS-Documentation Centre has carried out numerous research projects and has publicised the results through exhibitions and publications.
Research into Jewish history
Compiling a memorial book for the Jewish victims of National Socialism in Cologne began in the mid-1980s. The memorial book and a database containing the research results were made available in 1995. The research was also continued in the following projects: The story of the persecution of Cologne Jews deported from Cologne to the Litzmannstadt (Łódź) ghetto in autumn 1941; the fate of the 1,163 men, women and children deported from Cologne Deutz-Tief station to Minsk on 20th July 1942; "Life stories of Jewish emigrants from the former Soviet Union in North Rhine-Westphalia" (bilingual video project).
Collecting and evaluating interviews with survivors and witnesses
The NS-Documentation Centre has been collecting interviews and testimonies of surviving witnesses since the mid-1980s. The audio and video interviews, many of which were conducted by the NS-Documentation Centre, are continuously catalogued as part of our documentary work and also made accessible online as well as in the permanent exhibition. A large part is available to external researchers for evaluation.
Forced labour
The NS-Documentation Centre organised and implemented visiting programmes for former forced labourers between 1989 and 2014. This gave the research into forced labour in Cologne a decisive stimulus, especially through collecting testimonies of survivors. A special feature here was the huge number of personal photos that were donated to the collections, during these visits in addition to more than 500 interviews.
Based on this, the NS-Documentation Centre is also conducting research into other camps in Cologne as well as the exploitation of forced labourers in companies. Another aspect is the research into sub-camps of the Buchenwald concentration camp, which were also located in the Cologne urban area. The research takes into consideration both official sources and personal aspects of the former forced labourers.