All important dates for the following anniversaries are recorded:
- every 10 or 25 years up to the 100th anniversary
- every 25 years up to the 200th anniversary
- every 50 years up to the 500th anniversary
- every 100 years from the 500th anniversary
Historical diary 2025
published by the Bonn City Archives
January 2025
January 1935
90 years ago foundation of the Ladies Committee Blau-Weiß Duisdorf e. V.
January 1, 1925
100 years ago Foundation of the German Academic Exchange Service
January 18, 2005
20th anniversary of the death of Willehad Paul Eckert, Roman Catholic priest and theologian
January 21, 1875
150th birthday of Paul Kahle, orientalist
January 22, 1945
80th anniversary of the death of Joseph Roth, elementary school teacher, member of the Bonn-Land district council; he died as a result of imprisonment in Buchenwald concentration camp
January 27, 1945
80 years ago Liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp by Soviet troops
January 27, 1825
200th birthday of Balduin Möllhausen, writer and participant in various USA expeditions in the 1850s
January 30, 1995
30 years ago, the Rhine flood in Bonn reaches 10.08 m above sea level
February 2025
February 1, 1975
50th anniversary of the death of Ernst Bizer, Protestant theologian
February 2, 1850
175 years ago, the Bonn Regional Court was founded by decree of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV.
February 6, 2005
20th anniversary of the death of Detlef B. Linke, brain researcher and neuroscientist
February 6, 2005
20th anniversary of the death of Eduard Mückenhausen, soil scientist
February 7, 1965
60th anniversary of the death of Kurt Hoffmann, theater director and founder of the Contra-Kreis-Theater
February 9, 1935
90 years ago Walter Markov, head of a socialist resistance group at Bonn University, is arrested and later sentenced to twelve years in prison
February 14, 2000
25th anniversary of the death of Paul Magar, Bad Godesberg painter and co-founder of the Bonn Artists' Association
February 15, 1775
250th birthday of Maximilian Friedrich Weyhe, garden architect of classicism
February 15, 1850
175 years ago Foundation of the Catholic Journeymen's Association in Bonn, today the Kolping Family Bonn-Zentral
February 17, 1875
150th anniversary of the death of Friedrich Wilhelm August Argelander, astronomer and Bonn University professor, whose catalog of stars is known as the Bonn Survey
February 20, 1950
75 years ago First Rose Monday parade in Bonn after the Second World War
February 23, 1875
150th anniversary of the death of Aimé Henry, lithographer, bookseller and publisher
February 26, 1935
90th anniversary of the death of Aennchen Schumacher, the Godesberg Linden landlady
February 26, 1985
40th anniversary of the death of Arno Reins, painter
February 27, 1955
70 years ago State visit to Bonn by Mohammed Reza Pahlavi - Shah of Persia - and Empress Soraya
March 2025
March 2, 1925
100 years ago the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung was founded
March 3, 1900
125th anniversary of the death of Franz Heinrich Reusch, Old Catholic theologian and Bonn university professor
March 8, 1945
80 years ago Blowing up of the Rhine bridge by the Wehrmacht
March 9, 1945
80 years ago Bonn is liberated from Nazi rule; US troops occupy Bonn
March 14, 1975
50th anniversary of the death of Leo Breuer, painter and draughtsman
March 15, 1975
50th anniversary of the death of Pitt Müller, sculptor and gallery owner
March 16, 1945
80th anniversary of the death of Paul Langen, teacher and opponent of National Socialism, he was arrested by the Gestapo in 1943 and died in Siegburg prison
March 18, 1925
100 years ago Foundation of the Verein für Geschichtliche Landeskunde der Rheinlande e. V.
March 20, 1955
70 years ago Dedication of the Friedenskirche Kessenich
March 21, 1945
80th anniversary of the death of Johannnes Maria Verweyen, philosopher; he was murdered in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
March 22, 1975
50 years ago Opening of the Bonn Hauptbahnhof - Bad Godesberg Rheinallee streetcar line
March 25, 1965
60th anniversary of the death of Otto Löwenstein, neuropsychiatrist and director of the Provinzial-Kinderanstalt für seelisch Abnorme in Bonn (today: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy) - the world's first hospital for child psychiatry
March 27/28, 1965
60 years ago, the bell of St. Michael and St. Magdalena is returned from Mirecourt to Schwarzrheindorf; the bell was removed from the double church in 1804 and had been in use in the town church of Mirecourt since 1806
March 31, 1945
80th anniversary of the death of Hans Riegel, founder of Haribo
March 1955
70 years ago, Holzlar Mill, the last mill in Beuel, ceases operations. The Holzlarer Mühle e. V. association (since 1989) takes care of its preservation
March 1995
30 years ago, the 1st Rheindorfer Karnevals-Club Rhingdorfer Junge un Mädche e. V. was founded.
April 2025
April 1, 1775
250 years ago, Nikolaus Simrock was appointed as a French horn player in the electoral court chapel
April 6, 1875
150th anniversary of the death of Moses Hess, philosopher, writer, early socialist and pioneer of Zionism
April 8, 1945
80th anniversary of the death of Heinrich Reifferscheid, painter
April 10, 1975
50 years ago Foundation of the Society of Friends and Sponsors of the Old Cemetery in Bonn e.V.
April 11, 1925
100th anniversary of the death of Johannes Klais, organ builder and founder of the Klais company
April 19, 1985
40 years ago Opening of the first "Haus der Springmaus" on Oxfordstraße
April 20, 1925
100th anniversary of the death of Oskar Witzel, physician
April 26, 1945
80th anniversary of the death of Heinrich Körner, trade unionist and resistance fighter, who was shot shortly after his liberation from Plötzensee prison
April 26, 1975
50 years ago Opening of the pedestrian zone in Bad Godesberg
April 30, 1975
50 years ago Opening of the Bottlerplatz - Vivatsgasse pedestrian zone
May 2025
May 1, 1900
125th anniversary of the death of Mihály von Munkácsy (birth name Michael Leo Lieb), Hungarian painter; died in the Dr. Richarz sanatorium in Bonn-Endenich
May 2 to 4, 1985
40 years ago, the world economic summit - the G7 summit - takes place in Palais Schaumburg
May 5, 1955
70 years ago, the ratification of the Treaty of Germany ends the period of occupation - Germany becomes sovereign
May 5, 1965
60 years ago Inauguration of the new municipal theater - today Bonn Opera House
May 8, 1945
80 years ago, the Second World War ends with the unconditional surrender of the Wehrmacht
May 11, 1975
50th anniversary of the death of Josef Dietz, local historian and historian
May 13, 1985
40th anniversary of the death of Mildred Scheel, physician and founder of German Cancer Aid
May 14, 1825
200 years ago Prussian government introduced compulsory education in Bonn
May 18, 1995
30 years ago Foundation of the Minsk Club Bonn e. V.
May 18-19, 1965
60 years ago First state visit by Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Prince Philip
May 20, 1950
75 years ago Opening of the Contra-Kreis-Theater, Bonn's oldest private theater
May 27, 1935
90th anniversary of the death of Helene Klostermann, teacher
May 28, 1945
80 years ago British troops relieve the US occupation
June 2025
June 4, 1825
200th birthday of Maurus Wolter, Benedictine archabbot and founder of the Beuron Congregation
June 6, 1975
50 years ago foundation of the Heimatverein Bonn-Oberkassel e.V.
June 7, 1995
30th anniversary of the death of Josef Brinkhues, Old Catholic bishop
June 7, 2015
10 years ago Inauguration of the World Conference Center Bonn (WCCB) as part of a UN climate conference
June 7 to 15, 1975
50 years ago First German Music Competition in the Beethovenhalle
June 13, 1945
80th anniversary of the death of Randolph von Breidbach-Bürresheim, lawyer, officer, in the resistance against National Socialism, died after liberation in Sachsenhausen concentration camp
June 17, 1900
125th birthday of Hubert Jedin, Catholic priest, church historian and Bonn university professor
June 18, 1935
90 years ago, the Jewish butcher Josef Levy from Mehlem falls victim to an assassination attempt by SA men
June 18, 1965
60 years ago Bonn soccer club and Tura Bonn 04 merge to form Bonn Sport-Club 01/04 e. V.
June 19, 1825
200th anniversary of the death of Leonhard Stroof, first mayor of Vilich
June 21, 1935
90 years ago, the Protestant theologian Karl Barth was removed from office for refusing to take the oath of office to Adolf Hitler at Bonn University.
June 29, 1935
90th anniversary of the death of Walther Rath, painter
July 2025
July 1, 1935
90 years ago Bad Godesberg receives city rights after the incorporation of Lannesdorf and Mehlem
July 7, 1985
40th anniversary of the death of Sebastian Dani, trade unionist and social democrat, he took part in the resistance against National Socialism
July 11, 1995
30 years ago Signing of the deed of foundation for the neuroscientific research center CAESAR (Center of advanced european studies and research)
July 14, 1875
150th birthday of Richard Delbrueck, classical archaeologist and Bonn University professor
July 14, 2000
25 years ago Last plenary session of the Bundesrat in Bonn
July 15, 1955
70 years ago Topping-out ceremony for the Bad Godesberg Stadthalle
July 16, 1985
40th anniversary of the death of writer Heinrich Böll
August 2025
August 1850
Dedication of the synagogue in Godesberg 175 years ago
August 3, 1925
100 years ago Maiden voyage of the first bus of the Bonn transport company
August 11, 1965
60th anniversary of the death of Carlo Mense, Rhenish expressionist and painter of New Objectivity
August 13, 1945
80 years ago, the British military governor appoints Eduard Spoelgen as Mayor of Bonn
August 15 to 21, 2005
20 years ago On the occasion of the XX World Youth Day in Cologne, numerous events are also held in Bonn
August 17, 1875
150th anniversary of the death of Wilhelm Heinrich Immanuel Bleek, linguist
August 21, 2000
25 years ago Laying of the foundation stone of the Post Tower - at 162.5 meters the tallest office building in NRW at the time
August 24, 1775
250th birthday of Karl Joseph Hieronymus Windischmann, physician, philosopher and Bonn university professor
August 25, 1825
200th anniversary of the death of Clemens August Joseph Philippart, court painter to the Electorate of Cologne
August 25, 1900
125th anniversary of the death of Friedrich Nietzsche, the philosopher studied classical philology in Bonn
September 2025
September 2, 1900
125 years ago Foundation of the Godesberger Tennis-Club Grün-Weiß e. V.
September 11, 1975
50 years ago Signing of the agreement on the expansion of the capital between the federal government, the state and the city in the Old Town Hall
September 18/19, 1875
150 years ago Dedication of the synagogue in Mehlem
September 24, 1950
75 years ago Inauguration of the memorial to the Bonn victims of National Socialism in the Stadtgarten, which has been located on Kaiserplatz since 1997
September 24/25, 1875
150th anniversary of the death of Johann Heinrich Cassel, Mayor of Poppelsdorf
September 25, 1825
200th birthday of Peter Joseph Hauptmann, publisher and politician
September 29, 1975
50th anniversary of the death of Eduard Spoelgen, Mayor of Bonn
September 30, 1975
50 years ago Introduction of directly elected district councils (instead of district committees)
October 2025
October 3, 1975
Inauguration of the Erich Ollenhauer House 50 years ago
October 16, 1875
150th anniversary of the death of Karl Heinrich Sack, Protestant theologian and Bonn university professor
October 22, 1975
50th anniversary of the death of Toni Kleefisch, architect (including Metropol)
October 24, 1945
80th anniversary of the death of Hans Thuar, Rhenish Expressionist and friend of August Macke
October 25, 1985
40 years ago Closure of the terminal station of the Rheinuferbahn and Vorgebirgsbahn on Meckenheimer Straße
October 31, 1775
250 years ago Foundation of the first Masonic lodge in Bonn
November 2025
November 2/3, 1935
90 years ago Major fire at Boeselager Hof, in which the oldest part of the farm and the roof truss were destroyed
November 3, 1995
30 years ago Opening of the Deutsches Museum Bonn
November 11, 1945
80 years ago First St. Martin's procession in Bonn after the Second World War
November 17, 1945
80 years ago Resumption of teaching at the University of Bonn
November 22, 1875
150th birthday of Em (Emil) Oelieden, painter of expressive realism
December 2025
December 1925
100 years ago Inauguration of the (old) City Hall on Bottlerplatz
December 6, 1825
200 years ago Boat accident in the Rhine at Gronau, in which 23 people drown
December 6, 1945
80 years ago Foundation of the Bonn station mission
December 14, 1875
150th birthday of Paul Löbe, President of the Reichstag and former President of the German Bundestag
December 15, 1950
75 years ago Federal President Theodor Heuss moves into the Villa Hammerschmidt
December 15, 1955
70 years ago Inauguration of the Godesberg City Hall in the presence of Federal President Theodor Heuss
December 15, 1975
50 years ago Foundation of the Bonn-Rechtsrheinisch Monument and History Association
December 19, 1955
60 years ago Foundation of the Lions Club Bonn e.V.
December 20, 1955
70 years ago Arrival of Valerian A. Sorin, first Soviet ambassador in Bonn
December 30-31, 1925
100 years ago New Year's Eve flood of the Rhine (10.10 m above sea level), which flooded large parts of Bonn and the municipality of Beuel
December 31, 1965
60th anniversary of the death of Wilhelm Neuß, Catholic priest, church historian, art historian and Bonn university professor
Further dates
1525
500 years ago, the electoral chancellery - the central authority in Cologne - is relocated to Bonn
1575
450 years ago Foundation of the St. Hubertus brotherhood of hunters and marksmen in Bonn
1850
175 years ago Last relocation of St. George's Chapel - formerly in the Kommende Ramersdorf - to the Old Cemetery
1925
100 years ago Foundation of the Bonn Pedagogical Academy, used from 1949 as part of the Bundeshaus for the German Bundestag
100 years ago, the Rhine bridge is lit electrically for the first time
100 years ago Foundation of the Geislar Gymnastics Club 1925 e. V.
1965
60 years ago Purchase of the Gronau site with the old waterworks by the federal government
60 years ago The first 550 parking meters are installed in Bonn
Preview
2026
January 27, 1966
60 years ago, canonization of Adelheid von Vilich (patron saint of the city since 2008) by Paul VI.
February 5, 1826
200 years ago Foundation of the Bönnische Carnevals-Gesellschaft - since 1882 then the Große Bonner Karnevals-Gesellschaft
March 16, 1956
70 years ago Laying of the foundation stone of the Beethovenhalle
March 26, 1976
50 years ago Installation of the Three Graces fountain by Ernemann Sander at the triangle
April 1, 1976
50th anniversary of the death of Max Ernst, painter, graphic artist and sculptor
April 2, 1976
50 years ago Inauguration of the Rochus Center in Duisdorf
April 18, 1851
175th anniversary of the death of Christian Friedrich Nasse, Privy Medical Councillor and Bonn University Professor - first representative of vivisection
April 19, 1956
70th anniversary of the death of Ernst Robert Curtius, Romanist
May 17, 1976
50 years ago Inauguration of the Bonn Science Center of the Stifterverband der Deutschen Wissenschaft
May 28, 1956
70th anniversary of the death of Hans Conrad Bodmer, doctor and autograph collector; he bequeathed his valuable collection on the composer to the Beethoven-Haus Association
June 7, 1986
40 years ago Opening of the Beuel Museum of Local History
June 10, 1926
100 years ago Bad Godesberg is officially named Bad by the Prussian Minister of the Interior
June 12 to 14, 1966
60 years ago Moby Dick, a white beluga whale, gets lost up the Rhine and repeatedly appears near Bonn
June 13, 1986
40 years ago Opening of the "Brotfabrik" cultural center in Beuel
June 20, 1996
Bonn becomes a UN city 30 years ago
July 11, 2006
20 years ago Inauguration of the UN Campus by Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
August 23, 1946
80 years ago The state of North Rhine-Westphalia is created from the Northern Province (administrative districts of Cologne, Aachen, Düsseldorf) and the Province of Westphalia
September 1986
40 years ago Installation of the concrete sculpture Beethon by Klaus Kammerichs in front of the Beethovenhalle
November 10, 1996
30 years ago Opening of the memorial and NS documentation center in Bonn
December 1, 1986
40 years ago Opening of the Kammerspiele Bad Godesberg
1946
80 years ago First free local elections after the Second World War
2027
December 3, 1877
150 years ago Opening of the main post office in the Fürstenberg Palace on Münsterplatz
March 8, 1947
80 years ago Foundation of the Heimat- und Geschichtsverein Beuel am Rhein e. V.
April 20, 1947
80 years since the reestablishment of the synagogue community in Bonn after the Second World War
May 15, 2007
20 years ago Laying of the foundation stone for the World Conference Center Bonn
May 19, 1977
50th anniversary of the death of Hermann Wandersleb, honorary citizen, "Bon(n)ifatius", as head of the NRW State Chancellery he championed Bonn as the location of the Parliamentary Council and seat of the federal authorities
June 25, 1967
60 years of twinning Bonn-Hardtberg / Villemomble
June 28, 1967
60 years ago Inauguration of the Friedrich Ebert Bridge
August 16, 1952
75 years ago Opening of the Melbbad
September 23, 1967
60 years ago Inauguration of Bonn's first pedestrian zone in Wenzelgasse - one of the first pedestrian zones in Germany
1627
400 years ago Elector Ferdinand lays the foundation stone for the new pilgrimage church on the Kreuzberg - successor building to the dilapidated Kreuzkapelle chapel