It is a ritual of the right-wing extremist scene: the anniversary of the bombing of Dresden is used to relativize war guilt and the Holocaust. But on Saturday there are also counter-protests.
Two days before the anniversary of the destruction of Dresden in World War II, hundreds of people demonstrated in the Saxon state capital against a right-wing extremist elevator. They positioned themselves along the route of the right-wing march with posters and filled the “funeral march” with music as it set off from the forecourt of the main train station.
There were occasional sit-ins, the actors were carried away or made to walk, as a spokesman for the Dresden police said. A large contingent of officials from several federal states secured the right-wing extremist elevator, blocked access to the route and guaranteed “protest within hearing and sight”. So far there have been no disturbances and it is peaceful, said a police spokesman on the sidelines of the final rally at Mitte station. Nine criminal charges were filed. Two participants in the right-hand elevator are involved in the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations because of their tattoos.
Dresden was destroyed by British and American bombs on February 13, 1945 and in the days that followed. According to research by historians, up to 25,000 people lost their lives. Right-wing extremists see this as a war crime by the Allies and thus put Germany’s guilt at the outbreak of the war into perspective.
Source: Stern
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