The Synagogue in Cologne, along with many other Jewish institutions, was sacked and burned by the Nazis in 1938, during what is commonly known as "Kristallnacht" (Night of the Broken Glass) (figure 47). Cologne's Modern Opera house now sits on the site of the 19th century Glockengasse Synagogue. This synagogue was never rebuilt, although another one, the Roonstrasse Synagogue of Cologne, also destroyed during Kristallnacht, was rebuilt in the 1950s.

Figure 47. Burning of Synagogue on "Kristallnacht"

In November 1938, a pogrom (a series of coordinated attacks) against Jews throughout Nazi Germany and Austria were carried out by paramilitary forces and non Jewish civilians. Over 7000 Jewish businesses, homes, hospitals and schools were destroyed and over 1000 synagogues were burned while German authorities looked on without intervening. The name Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) derives from the shards of broken glass that littered the streets after Jewish owned buildings had their windows smashed. (Wikipedia)