EL-DE Haus – NS Documentation Centre

Overview

The EL-DE Haus served as the Gestapo headquarters for Cologne from 1935 to 1945. Today it houses the NS Documentation Centre, the largest regional memorial in Germany dedicated to National Socialist history. The basement prison cells with original wall inscriptions by detainees form the most affecting part of the visit.

Highlights

• Prison Cells: Ten basement cells with over 1,800 wall inscriptions in multiple languages — pleas, poems, and farewell messages.
• Permanent Exhibition: Documents Cologne under National Socialism from 1933 to 1945.
• Temporary Exhibitions: Rotating shows on resistance, persecution, and human rights.

History

The building was constructed in 1934–35 as the Gestapo headquarters for the Cologne district. An estimated 8,000 people were detained in its cells. The memorial opened in 1981; the current museum since 1997.

Visitor Tips

• Allow time for the basement cells — they are emotionally intense.
• Audio guide available in English and other languages.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.