No other research has shaped the perspective on the battle for Cologne like this amazing piece of history in your hands. Witness the U.S. troops first hand on their advance from the outskirts of the city to the banks of the Rhine and the fascinating research of the Cologne journalist and film historian Hermann Rheindorf. His documentaries and this book are template for countless reports or even books to be able f.e. to retell the story of the Spearheads in Cologne in a unique way with perspectives from all sides of the front line. Now available for the first time in the U.S. with around 400 pages, 1200 pictures, including many that have never been seen publicly. The English publication is based on the German second edition „1945 Kriegsende in Koeln" (World War´s End in Cologne) completely revised and updated and translated by the U.S. American Rhett Griffith, who also translated the documentation "You enter Germany: Bloody Huertgen and the Siegfried Line" into English.

Cologne, Germany, the famous Cathedral city. Eight months after D-Day, the U.S. troops are now on the cusp of a long-awaited milestone: the reaching of the Rhine. Cologne is the largest city to be captured by the GIs on any front so far. Nazi propaganda has declared the city will be defended to the last cartridge. The impending battle has dominated the headlines of the world press for days. Some of the photos and film shots taken by the cameramen are still perceived in the USA as the most famous scenes of World War II, in particular pictures and footage of a final, dramatic tank duel at the base of the Cathedral. However, who the people in those scenes were remained unknown for more than 6 decades. It was Rheindorf who was able to identify the American crew members who had been attacked by a German Panther tank, as well as being able to prove the identity of the German crew. Also the fascinating, but sad story about the young civilian Katharina Esser in the crossfire of a German and an American tank is based on Rheindorf's research, like many other incidents, underpinned with significant documents. With personal contributions by: Andy Rooney (correspondent „The Stars & Stripes"), Clarence Smoyer (3rd Armored Division), Francis Wilber (104th Infantry Division), James Bates (U.S. Signal Corps), Leon Rosenmann (U.S. Signal Corps), Clarence Voight Garrell (U.S. Signal Corps), Tom S. Noble (U.S. Signal Corps) , Allan Jackson (photographer), Larry Riordan (correspondent), Robert Ziller (RAF-cameraman), Engelbert Bockhoff (9.Panzerdivision), Wilhelm Barthelborth (Panzerbrigade 106), Gustav Schäfer (Panzerbrigade 106), Günther Müller (360. Inf.-Division), the families of Karl E. Kellner, Julian Patrick, Kathi Esser and many others.