1902

Emperor Wilhelm II donated a university to the city of Münster. The core is the previous Theological-Philosophical Academy, which is expanded to include a law faculty.

 

 

1903

Münster's urban area is further enlarged by incorporations. The city's population rises to over 71,000.

 

 

1907

Emperor Wilhelm II visits Münster and gives the university the name "Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität" (WWU), which it still bears today.

 

 

1908

Women are allowed to study at the WWU for the first time.

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1914
During the First World War, prisoner-of-war camps are set up in Münster. Until the end of the war, almost 90,000 people are held prisoner there.

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1915

Münster's population grows to over 100,000, making it officially a major city.
A few days before Christmas, a fire breaks out in an ammunition depot in Mauritz. This causes constant explosions over the next two days, but only a few people die or are injured.

 

 

1920

Opening of the first civil airport in Münster on the "Loddenheide" site. Ten years later, however, it is closed again and flight operations cease.

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1924

The “Westdeutsche Funkstunden AG” is founded in Münster. Today's Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) will emerge from this.

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1926

The University Hospital and the Halle Münsterland are completed.

 

 

1928

Construction work begins on the Aasee for flood protection. Through several area expansions, the lake becomes a large recreational area. The idea for everything is based on plans presented by Hermann Landois in 1868.

 

 

1933

After the National Socialists take power, Münster becomes the seat of the NSDAP district of Westphalia-North.

 

 

1936

Münster becomes the administrative headquarters of the commander of the Ordnungspolizei, who has his office in the Villa ten Hompel from 1940.

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1938

In the "Reichspogromnacht" or "Night of Broken Glass" the synagogue in Münster is set on fire. Jewish fellow citizens are mistreated and their homes and businesses are demolished.

 

 

1941

Bishop Clemens August Graf von Galen preaches against the National Socialists' "Action T4" "euthanasia" program in the summer. There they systematically murder people with physical, mental and psychological disabilities. The National Socialists dare not take action against von Galen. He does not protest against the persecution of Jews.

The deportations of Jews in Münster and the Münsterland begin in December.

 

 

1943

For years, Münster has repeatedly been the target of Allied bombing raids. One of the worst hits the city on October 10, killing almost 700 people.

 

 

1945

On April 2, Münster is taken without a fight by American and British troops. Later, like all of Westphalia, the city becomes part of the British occupation zone. At the end of the war, Münster was one of the worst hit major cities. More than 90 percent of the city center is destroyed, and numerous important historical buildings such as St. Paul's Cathedral, the castle and almost the entire Prinzipalmarkt are largely destroyed. Of the former 132,800 inhabitants (as of 1939), only 23,500 still live in the city.

 

 

1946

At the end of August, the British military administration orders the unification of the northern Rhine province with the province of Westphalia. This marks the birth of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia with Düsseldorf as its capital. Münster loses its status as provincial capital, but remains the administrative seat of the administrative district of Münster and the rural district of Münster.

 

 

1948

October 24 marks the 300th anniversary of the Peace of Westphalia. Until then, the Hall of Peace in the destroyed town hall can be restored almost true to the original.

 

 

1949

It is decided to rebuild the destroyed old city center of Münster in as true to the original condition of the buildings as possible.

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1956

By mid-October, St. Paul's Cathedral is rebuilt and solemnly inaugurated. The new municipal theater is also opened, the first new theater in Germany after the war.

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1958

On October 30, the town hall is rebuilt almost true to the original.

 

 

1965

In September, the freeway section of the Kamen – Bremen to Münster route is opened. This connects the city to the highway network and makes it one of the last major German cities to be connected to the German highway network.

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1966

Münster's population breaks the 200,000 mark.

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1960s

The housing shortage forces the city administration to build new housing estates. For example, the Coerde district is being built and new apartments are being built in Kinderhaus and Berg Fidel.

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1971

Start of the construction of the Münster University Hospital.

 

 

1972

In April, the first gay demonstration in the Federal Republic of Germany takes place in Münster. In the next few years, the city becomes an important center of the West German gay and lesbian movement, alongside West Berlin.

Münster / Osnabrück Airport (FMO) is opened at the end of May. Starting out as a regional airport, FMO is rapidly developing into an international airport.

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1975

The rural district of Münster is dissolved, and at the same time nine surrounding municipalities are incorporated into the city of Münster. As a result, the city area quadruples in size and grows from 200,000 to 265,000 inhabitants. In order to create new living space, building areas are designated in the new districts.

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1977

The art event “Skulptur Projekte” (Sculpture Projects) takes place in Münster for the first time. International artists can present their sculptures throughout the city. Due to the great success, the "Skulptur Projecte" take place every ten years (1987, 1997 and 2007).

 

 

1982 / 1983

Münster University Hospital starts operations.

 

 

1987

John Paul II is the first pope to visit Münster. This is the first time that an acting head of the Roman Catholic Church has visited the city.

 

 

1990

Münster is an important station in the negotiations for the preparation of the "Two Plus Four Meetings". These talks pave the way for German reunification and the return of full state sovereignty. To this end, the then foreign ministers of the Federal Republic of Germany and the USSR met at the Prinzipalmarkt in the town hall.

 

 

1990s

The British Army withdraws from Münster and gives up its military installations, barracks and residential buildings. The city uses the vacated areas for various purposes, such as housing. Planning and conversion are still going on.

 

 

1993

The 1200th anniversary of the city is celebrated. In addition, the new building for the city library is opened.

 

 

1998
350 years of the Peace of Westphalia are celebrated in Münster. Numerous heads of state from all over Europe are received in the peace hall of the town hall. In the city's museums, the anniversary is thematized with exhibitions on history.

 

1999

In December, Villa ten Hompel reopens as a museum and memorial to National Socialism in Germany. The focus is on the role of the administration and the police in the crimes of the National Socialists.