HEAVEN AND HELL

Our permanent exhibition

1969: The first poster featuring a naked man as it’s subject. (Photo © Peter H. Fürst)

Heaven and Hell.  100 years of Gay life in Cologne.

Our exhibition on this theme can be seen once again in Spring 2004 (each Friday thru Sunday from 3pm to 6pm). 

In the Summer 1896, an artillery soldier was arrested. A search of the locker in his barracks revealed the sum of 100 marks. This amount far exceed the accepted norm for that time. The inspection was prompted by the Kantinengeldern robbery. The soldier justified himself with the claim that he had been given the money from a man, with whom he had had "Unlautere Beziehung". "Unlautere Beziehung” or “unnatural relations" is an allusion to homosexual activity.  During the Kaiser’s rule, it was not unorthodox for soldiers to “improve” their meagre wages in this way - in that they indulged occasionally in prostitution.  After this incident came to light, anonymous sexual relations between men were forbidden. The soldier gave a vague description of his patron and subsequently, a couple of day later, the businessman, Albert Mertés, then living in the vicinity of the Severinstors, was arrested. Despite Mertés protests of innocence, rumours reached the public sphere.  Mertés was brought before the court and obliged to pay a fine of 100 marks.

With this seemingly harmless episode began an investigation by the Cologne police authorities, the Cologne government presidency and the Prussian ministry of the interior that lasted until 1914. Necessitating Mertés proven “rehabilitation”, before his name could be deleted from "list of homosexual suspects" residing in Cologne. The facts of this case are proven.  Those who wish to know more of the case and it’s outcome, can learn much from our exhibition.

We also show photos, placards, texts and other documents, that remind us of both scandals and everyday life, suppression and liberation, and long-forgotten meeting places. Biographical sketches of prominent and "everyday" homosexual men provide a living picture of a 100 years of Gay life in Cologne.

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