The Americans capture Cologne

Raw and unedited footage of the American troups advancing across dying nazi-germany int hte spring of 1945, shot by special embedded cameramen.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• world
• war
• two
• ww2
• america
• germany
• army
• cologne
• tanks
• armoured
• divisions

[ams4748]

I live and work right where these tanks are driving through.  It's interesting to wonder what this city would be like had all of this destruction not happened . . . Thanks for posting the vid!

[johnsatyricon]

Indeed, if the Germans in 1944-1945 had the courage to acknowledge that they were defeated and they could impossibly win the war, their beautiful cities would have been spared. I once was in Cologne, and it struck me that the buildings are very recent. It is almost a God-given miracle that the beautiful Cologne cathedral survived the allied bombardments...

[johnsatyricon]

I was in Germany, last august, in the Eiffel. Nature is very beautiful there, but the German towns, f.e. Düren, have these dreary concrete post-war architecture, and most of their age-old historical centres destroyed, which I pitty a lot.

[GregOpera]

Cologne was one of the eldest and most beautiful but unfortunately also the most destroyed german town. The population sank from 800.000 to 104.000. Almost 98 % of the buildings were damaged or blown away.

Although my family lost many members due to bombing, we never hated the Allies. We thanked God, when the Americans arrived and the war was at an end.

Please notice: At Cologne Hitler received less voices than in any other town. And there was more underground resistance than anywhere else.

[sofakingdrunk66]

Fantastic City was there in Feb this year..

[Bearhawke42]

@johnsatyricon Rumor had it that the Allied airmen spared the cathedral since it was a very convenient landmark.

[diramonsky]

Panther got flanked, this footage is very unique. I wish they had more cameras back then. Maybe then we could actually see how terrible war is and not be so eager to repeat our mistakes.

[hombrelubinero]

@ssnakessnake1 you fag

[alexalexlive]

why dont you guys destroyed düsseldorf ? xD

Cologne is beautifull now, but before the war it was beautifuller ^^

[civil42806]

Pershings killed the tank

[corn1971]

@Nogger86Germany Which is why it's always good to see that scaffolding moving around the outside... :-)

[corn1971]

@Nogger86Germany I also have seen versions of this which state two members of the tank crew were later captured inside the cathedral where they took shelter.