Cologne, Germany

Our day in Cologne (or Koln as the Germans say), was a highlight of the trip. It was an hour train ride from our host families’ homes in Dinslaken. Not only did the American students go, but a good amount of the German students went on the day trip as well.

As we entered the city, the train crossed over the Rhine River. However, that was nothing compared to the first sight that greeted us as we entered the city; the famous Cologne Cathedral. It is a Roman Catholic Church, and historic landmark to the city. It towered over all the other buildings around it. We were also given the privilege to walk up to the top of the cathedral. In total, we climbed well over one-thousand stairs.

After the Cathedral, we had a tour of the El-De Haus, Documentation Center on National Socialism. This tour was of a building that was once Nazi headquarters. The basement contained jail cells, which held political prisoners. Prior to Nazi use, the building was privately owned. However, the owner got into financial trouble in 1934, and sold it to the Nazis. The building was not completely finished, and therefore made a perfect new, and slightly discrete, headquarters for the Nazis. It allowed them to renovate the building to their liking.

While in Cologne, we were also able to meet the artist Gunter Demnig. He is also the creator of the “Stumbling Block” memorial project. This project helps put a name with a number (a Holocaust victim number that is). A block of concrete is plated with a brass covering. Engraved on the brass is a name of a victim, their birthday, deportation date, and where they were killed. These blocks can be seen throughout six countries in Europe, though most are in Germany.