A grand building stands before you. This is the Comenius-Gymnasium in Dusseldorf. Its history stretches back to 1908. It began as a Higher Boys’ School. This was thanks to the initiative of Heerdter Mayor Nikolaus Knopp. Oberkassel Niederkassel and Loric were all part of his mayoralty at the time.
The school’s early years were humble. It started in a house on Roonstrasse. This is today’s Sonderburgstrasse. It shared its playground with the Cecilien-Gymnasium a girls’ school. Both schools were initially housed in what were essentially residential buildings. Space was tight. Each year a new grade was added.
In 1912 a new building was completed at Comeniusplatz. The school lacked an official name. It was unofficially known as the Gymnasium at Comeniusplatz. Many attempts to give it a proper name failed. Even the founding headmaster Hans Mosler’s efforts in the 1920s were unsuccessful.
The Nazi era presented challenges. The regime wanted to rename the school. They pressured the headmaster for suggestions. He cleverly delayed this. He suggested waiting for future war heroes. The school managed to stay relatively uninvolved. There were few active Nazis among the staff or students. Jewish students could take their Abitur exams for a while.
During World War II a flak battery was placed on the school’s tower. The building was hit twice by bombs. The first attack destroyed most of the east wing. Classes continued in the remaining rooms and cellars. A second heavy bomb hit in early 1945. School was already closed by late 1944. The building even served as a food ration distribution point.
After the war classes resumed in 1945. It was makeshift. The Cecilien-Gymnasium was even more damaged. The two schools shared space in a shift system. A modern extension opened in 1954. It eased the space crunch. By 1958 the Cecilien-Gymnasium moved to a new building on Schorlemerstrasse. This significantly improved things for both schools. Finally in the early 1950s the school officially became the Comenius-Gymnasium.
In 1972 the school moved to its current location. This building between Hansaallee and Lutticher Strasse is much better suited for modern schooling. The school had an extension program for a long time. This gave students from Haupt- and Realschulen a path to Abitur. Co-education was also introduced in 1972. The curriculum changed too. English replaced Latin as the first foreign language. While ancient Greek remained an option. French and Spanish were added.
Today the Comenius-Gymnasium stands as a testament to its rich history. It has adapted to changing times. It continues to provide education to the youth of Dusseldorf. A nearby walkway is named after its founding headmaster Hans Mosler. A nearby U-Bahn stop is even named after the school. The building you see before you is a symbol of educational excellence and resilience.