History – Dresden – Laying of wreaths to commemorate the destruction of Dresden – Politics

Dresden (dpa) – The commemoration of the anniversary of the destruction of the Elbe city in World War II began on Monday in Dresden with the laying of wreaths. Mayor Dirk Hilbert (FDP), together with delegations from Dresden’s partner cities Coventry and Ostrava, laid white roses at a memorial on the Dresden Heidefriedhof. The English city of Coventry had already been bombed in November 1940 by the German Luftwaffe. On February 13, 1945 and in the days that followed, British and US bombers reduced Dresden’s city center to rubble and ashes, killing up to 25,000 people.

In the morning, the Volksbund German War Graves Commission had also invited to the North Cemetery for a quiet commemoration. Victims of the bombing raids are also buried there. The city of Dresden commemorates its destruction at numerous events every year. With a human chain around the historic center, politicians and society want to send a signal for peace and democracy again this time. In addition, multiple protests against the appropriation of the anniversary by right-wing extremists have been announced – the police have prepared for a large-scale operation, as they did last Saturday.

© dpa-infocom, dpa:230212-99-569972/4