On May 8, 2025, the AmerikaHaus NRW and the City of Cologne commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. The ceremony featured remarks from Mayor Dr. Ralph Elster of the City of Cologne, Consul General Preeti V. Shah of the US Consulate General Düsseldorf, as well as Dr. Ingo Wolf, Former State Minister and Chairman of the AmerikaHaus NRW.

This event was also the opening for the exhibit Lee Miller: Cologne 1945 which is on display in the Spanischer Bau at Rathausplatz through May 21. The exhibit features photos taken by US war photographer Lee Miller in Cologne in the final months of World War II. During the ceremony, the three speakers described how Miller’s work provides a unique window into Cologne‘s past, with photos depicting scenes of destruction, liberation by US troops, and everyday life amongst the rubble of the city. The speakers emphasized the importance of May 8, 1945 in both German and American history – a day which marked the end of the war and the beginning of a new era in transatlantic friendship and cooperation.

First, Mayor Elster spoke of Lee Miller’s accomplishments as a photographer, and he highlighted milestones from the last 80 years of diplomacy between the US and Germany. Next, Consul General Shah discussed the end of the war and underlined that through remembrance events, „We can come together to reflect on the past and re-commit ourselves to a shared future.“ Dr. Wolf illustrated that May 8 was not always perceived as a day of ’liberation’ in Germany, and he pointed to Lee Miller’s photographs as a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of tyranny, oppression, and aggressive expansionism.

The audience listened attentively, as the speakers honored the liberators, survivors, and the victims who lost their lives during WWII at the hands of the Nazis. Following the speeches, audience members walked around the exhibit to look at the photos. Dynamic conversation filled the room, as Cologne residents, city officials, members of the consular corps, and our speakers came together to commemorate the day.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Mayor Dr. Elster, Consul General Shah, and Chairman Dr. Wolf for their important and poignant remarks. We thank all attendees for being part of the commemoration. Many thanks also to the City of Cologne for their cooperation in hosting this event, and to the Lee Miller Archives for providing the photographs for the exhibit.