2024-02-21 01:55:12
Dresden commemorates its destruction in the Second World War. Linked to the memory are the reminders for peace and reconciliation.
In Dresden, the destruction of the city in the Second World War 79 years ago was remembered. In remembrance, representatives of the city and the state of Saxony laid flowers and wreaths at the Heidefriedhof and the Nordfriedhof. Most of the victims buried there were firefighters, police officers and soldiers. Traditionally, the dead are remembered with white roses.
On February 13, 1945 and in the days that followed, British and US bombers reduced Dresden’s city center to rubble and, according to historians, up to 25,000 people were killed. On the occasion of the anniversary, representatives from Dresden’s partner cities also came to commemorate this year.
In view of the wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip as well as the increasing right-wing extremism in Germany, the city on the Elbe wants to send a particularly strong signal for peace and reconciliation, against inhumanity and nationalism, on the 79th anniversary. Under the motto “Together vigilant” thousands of people want to shake hands for a few minutes in the evening. In addition, many protests have been announced on the Altmarkt against the appropriation of the anniversary by right-wing extremists.