One visitor to the ruined city, arriving shortly after the battle, was an American Catholic chaplain (later Archbishop) with the 82nd Airborne Division, Philip Hannan. The cathedral endured 14 bomb hits and was heavily damaged, but the structure remained, looming above the rest of the ruined city. The cathedral played a role in the bombardments, in that its twin spires were an easy navigational touchstone for Allied bombers.

Just days later, American tanks rolled into the city. The exodus from Cologne continued with the bombings until only about 20,000 residents remained, surviving in ruins and in basements until the last of the raids occurred on March 2, 1945. Nearly a quarter of the city’s 770,000 residents fled following this first devastating raid. Only 60 years after the completion of the cathedral, Cologne was pounded by the first of 262 Allied air raids with the RAF bombardment. Work began on the Gothic masterpiece cathedral in 1298, but the cathedral would not be finished for another 600 years until it was completed in 1880. The National WWII Museum, Gift of Nancy and Julie Leary, 2013.221.091.Īmazingly, the cathedral survived the battle and the previous years of Allied bombardment. Cologne Cathedral rising above ruins of the city.

Battle of cologne - tank duel