The story
The U.S. 8th Air Force and the R.A.F. leveled Cologne. They bombed night and day for four years. The final blow was struck by army artillery followed by the 104th Infantry with the 3rd Armor Division “Spearhead”.
The city was alive with German snipers, machine guns, bazookas, and 88mm howitzers with prowling Tiger tanks. After three days of heavy street fighting, they finally captured the third largest city in Germany; complete by March 7.
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.