hence 1900

1900 - 1920

January 1902. Cathedral master-builder Voigtel stated, that no major restoration will be necessary on the Cathedral for the next 100 years and that structural maintenance of the Cathedral in future would cost 13.000 Marks annually. Only nine workmen belong to the Cathedral builder’s hut.

September 1st, 1903. The royal privy government and upper engineering councillor Bernhard Hertel was appointed Cathedral master-builder.

October 16th, 1903. Master-builder Hertel submitted an assessment of 28 pages concerning the Cathedral choir’s endangered condition caused by climatic conditions.

May 20th, 1906. After afternoon prayers a large boulder fell down on the seminarians just as they were leaving Cologne Cathedral through the main entrance. Though nobody was hurt, this condition alarmed the public, that had not taken note of the master-builder’s warnings till then.

August 1st, 1914. World War One erupted. The workmen of the Cathedral builder’s hut were conscribed. Soon the restoration works on the choir had to be discontinued.

May 18th and August 21st, 1918. The first bombshells dropped on Cologne. Upon decision of the chapter the Cathedral’s medieval windows were removed to protect them from further air raids.

June 1918. The emperor bell was fragmented in the tower and delivered for the production of strategic material.

1920 - 1930

May 5th, 1923. “Peter’s bell” – “German bell on the Rhine” – was cast.

November 24th, 1924. The bell arrived at Cologne Harbour.

October 28th, 1925. First solemnly chimes. Peter’s bell was the most heavy swinging bell of the world and among other heavy bells the most melodious one. The stroke was a pure C.

April 15th, 1924. The minister of the interior approved the first lottery of stable value. The restrictions were remarkable: Lottery ticket priced not above two Marks, distribution of the tickets only outside “blocking periods for private lotteries” and limitation of the net profit to 200.000 Marks. December 21st, 1927. Cathedral master-builder Hertel passed on.

October 8th, 1928. Government engineering councillor Güldenpfennig became Upper engineering councillor and the same time was appointed master-builder.

October 19th, 1930. Ceremonial act of 50th return of the day of completion Cologne Cathedral at Gürzenich, hosted by ZDV.

1930 - 1960

September 1st, 1939. World War Two erupted.

May 31st, 1942. Cologne Cathedral was struck by incendiary bombs. Cathedral builder’s hut on the south side of the Cathedral burned down. In the course of this ZDV’s banner of 1842 disappeared. Between 1943 and 1945 Cologne Cathedral was hit and damaged several times by bombs and grenades.

March 4th, 1945. Graduate engineer Willy Weyres was appointed bishoprics master-builder.

March 1st, 1947. Willy Weyres was appointed Cathedral master-builder.

1948. After 56 years the Cologne paper (“Kölner Domblatt”) came out again. The subtitle was called: “Yearbook of Central Cathedral Building Society”. February 23rd, 1950. The Cologne Cathedral’s treasure chamber was solemnly reopened.

February 6th, 1957. ZDV dedicated the 12th and 13th issue of Cologne Cathedral paper (""Kölner Domblattes") to archbishop cardinal Frings to his 70th birthday.

Since 1960

November 2nd, 1965. The society moved in a separate house of its own for the first time in its history. It is located in the Mohrenstreet and was built by the architects Koep.

July 1966. To the 125th jubilee the 25th edition of “Kölner Domblatt” was issued. It was dedicated to ZDV’s secretary general Dr. Joseph Hecking.