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Fascinating Historical Photos of Bonn, Germany From the Early 20th Century

Bonn is a city on the banks of the Rhine in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located on the Rhine River, about 15 miles south of Cologne. Between 1949 and 1990, it was the provisional capital of West Germany, and it was the German federal capital from 1990 to 1999.

During the 13th century, Bonn became the capital of the Electorate and Archbishopric of Cologne, a sovereign state. In 1815, Bonn was awarded to Prussia by the Congress of Vienna. During World War II, Bonn occupied a strategic position on the Rhine that prevented easy entry into the German heartland from the west thanks to its strategic location. German reunification in 1990 restored Berlin as Germany’s nominal capital.

Below are some fascinating historical photos that show Bonn from between the 1920s and 1940s.

#5 The historic inn “Zur Lindenwirtin Ännchen” in the old town of Godesberg, today part of the city of Bonn, 1938

The historic inn "Zur Lindenwirtin Ännchen" in the old town of Godesberg, today part of the city of Bonn, 1938

#7 Overlooking Rolandseck and Nonnenwerth near Bonn with view to the Drachenfels, August 1940

#8 Bonn’s New Rhine Bridge under construction, 1949

#9 The partly frozen waters of the Rhine and Bonn’s old Rhine Bridge, 1927

#10 The partly frozen waters of the Rhine and Bonn’s old Rhine Bridge, 1927

The partly frozen waters of the Rhine and Bonn's old Rhine Bridge, 1927

#11 The partly frozen waters of the Rhine and Bonn’s old Rhine Bridge, 1927

#12 The partly frozen waters of the Rhine and Bonn’s old Rhine Bridge, 1927

#13 Königswinter and Siebengebirge taken from a boat, July 8, 1928

#15 An ancient paddle Steamer pushing upstream past Drachenburg Castle and Drachenfels on the River Rhine near Bonn, 1930

An ancient paddle Steamer pushing upstream past Drachenburg Castle and Drachenfels on the River Rhine near Bonn, 1930

#16 Beethoven’s birthplace in the old town of Bonn, 1930

#20 Kurfürstliches Schloß, May 17, 1931

Kurfürstliches Schloß, May 17, 1931

#21 Members of football club “B.F.V. Bonn” posing on the Rhine Promenade, June 7, 1931

Members of football club "B.F.V. Bonn" posing on the Rhine Promenade, June 7, 1931

#23 A fashionable lady posing on Bonn’s Rhine Promenade on a sunny summer’s day, 1935

#25 Kurfürstliches Schloss, circa 1935

Kurfürstliches Schloss, circa 1935

#29 Alte Rheinbrücke, the old bridge over the Rhine, August 1940

#30 Alter Zoll, August 1940

Alter Zoll, August 1940

#32 Stockentor (City Gate near University in Bonn), August 1940

#35 Baumschuler Wäldchen, August 1940

Baumschuler Wäldchen, August 1940

#38 Destroyed Boeselagerhof and the old bridge over the Rhine, August 12, 1943

#39 On the back “Fußballverein B.F.V. Bonn 1931”, June 7, 1931

#40 Rheinufer, August 1940

Rheinufer, August 1940

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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