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Thousands Form Human Chain in Dresden to Protest Rightwing Rally
Thousands of people Sunday formed a human chain in the eastern German city of Dresden to mark the 66th anniversary of a deadly World War II bombing and to protest against a neo-Nazi gathering.
Thousands Form Human Chain in Dresden to Protest Rightwing Rally Some 17,000 people braved snow and sub-zero temperatures to form the three-kilometre (two-mile) long chain, city authorities said, as far-right extremists congregated ahead of a planned "funeral march" through Dresden.
Thousands of police kept the neo-Nazis away from anti-fascist activists and the protests had passed off largely peacefully by early afternoon.
"There are so many people here who want to express their opinion clearly and make Dresden a tolerant, friendly and strong city, open to the world. I am proud and grateful," said the city's deputy mayor Detlef Sittel.
"When we remember the victims of the Dresden bombings today, we remember all the victims of Nazi violence and World War II," he added.
"We will never forget."
The day began with a wreath-laying ceremony at a cemetery where thousands of victims are buried, attended by Stanislaw Tillich, who heads the regional government of Saxony and the British ambassador to Germany.
By mid-afternoon, a few hundred neo-Nazis had gathered at the city's main train station, watched over by a major police presence.
Roughly 600 counter-demonstrators from anti-fascist organisation "Nazi-free Dresden" attempted to block the extremists' march.
"Our goal is clear: the Nazi marches in Dresden must stop," said a spokeswoman for the organisation, Franziska Radtke.
Neo-Nazis also plan a march on Saturday.
"We are warming up today for next Saturday," said Thomas Bergmann, also from "Nazi-free Dresden."
A massive bombing raid by Allied forces on Dresden beginning on February 13, 1945 sparked a firestorm that destroyed much of the historical centre of the city.
Critics said the raid was strategically unjustified as Hitler's Germany was already effectively defeated and the bombs appeared to target civilians rather than military targets.
Among those who perished in the flames were hundreds of refugees who had fled the horrors of the Eastern front.
In March, an official commission concluded that up to 25,000 people died in the raids, fewer than often estimated.
Far-right groups had claimed that up to 500,000 people were killed in the "criminal" air assault on the Baroque city known as "Florence on the Elbe."
Brigitte Siebert, 64, said she joined the human chain both to protest against the neo-Nazis' misuse of the anniversary and to remember the bombing.
"I will not allow them to lord it over this day," she told AFP, referring to the extremists.
"My mother saw Dresden burning. You don't forget that."
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10 Comments so far
Show All17,000 out in sub-freezing temperatures to speak for tolerance and anti-fascism. Here in the US we can barely raise 1000 on a sunny Saturday any more. When will we awaken? When we have lost all our rights????
You may like to read readers' comment in NY Times. Read just the first three comments
http://community.nytimes.com/comments/www.
nytimes.com/2011/02/12/opinion/12herbert.html
This news is very inspiring. I have heard in the past of the growing skinhead movement and youg fascists in Germany. To hear of this peaceful counter movement is wonderful. I think the problem is in part caused by the fact that sensationalism is what sells. Peaceful demonstrations are boring, violent strikes are much more entertaining.. Bring it on with songs, and the holding of hands, and the showing of solidarity! Those are the kinds of actions that this world needs. In Ejypt the Christians were demonstrating together with the Muslims. God/Allah Bless them both! We must all work together to stand against those who would seek to divide us. "di" is the latin root of divide,diablo (devil),diabolico (evil). divide is what the devil does. Americans are more divided than ever, and it shows.
@Jorge1
The root of "di" comes from the Latin for two. The minimum amount needed to start life. Divide is also what cells do, the very basis of life. Divide is also a function of maths, the language of the universe. Dividing is a way of sharing. You might say "di" is an expression of God.
The devil really is in the details.
There's nothing wrong with people being "divided" - it suggests that some of them must be right.
Thanks for the etymology - that one was bugging me too (or is that entymology?).
Got to point out the syllogism, though. People differ / some are wrong / some must be right? It suggests some of them "might" be right, certainly, but not "must". They could all be wrong.
But I liked the sentiment. Diversity (there's another one of 'em) can't be a bad thing. Jorge's post came from a good place, too.
I dunno. Only just got back and I'm already moaning about linguistics and logic. Been a bit like being constipated the past few days (I'm sure many would say in more ways than one...)
Welcome back everyone.
"A massive bombing raid by Allied forces on Dresden beginning on February 13, 1945 sparked a firestorm that destroyed much of the historical centre of the city."
Are we beasts - Winston Chuchill
England (later joined by America in the final two years of WWII) targeted civilians and fire was the weapon of choice.
First, they tried bombing German factories, but the bombings weren't accurate and the German flack protection so efficient that England lost so many planes it would run out of pilots and planes in a few months.
They then tried bombing German submarine bases with the same dismal result.
They then tried bombing the towns to kill civilians but the bombs were not accurate enough.
They then dropped tens of thousands of fire starters on targeted German towns to ignite the wood frame buildings. The mid-evil streets were narrow and the fires would spread rapidly. The rising heat from the fire would suck in the surrounding air at hurricane force wind-speed - the firestorm.
With all that effort, they were lucky to kill 1% of a targeted town's civilian population.
See: The Fire by Jörg Friedrich
You will get a more balanced view if you read other books.
The bombing of Dresden was totally unnecessary. It was done to impress the Soviets. But the bomb craters were used very effectively by the Germans in the battle.
I happen to agree that the intentional targeting of civilians for fire-bombing WAS a war crime. However, as is often the case in war, the victor decides what was a war crime. I'm also concerned about the use of the term "Neo-Nazi". How are they different from regular Nazi's? Are Neo-Nazi's to regular Nazi's what Neo-conservatives are to regular conservatives; or Neo-Liberals to regular liberals? I guess we won't know the context of this "far-right group" since the author failed to identify the name of the group. I consider myself a critically-thinking progressive but cringe when I read such a one-sided article.
Having had the opportunity to visit Dresden several times, I strongly encourage anyone to check it out. I thought it was a very lovely place. Too many people talk about how it "just isn't the same"... well, that's the most superficial observation anyone could make. The beauty of Dresden is that it remains a city of some size and importance... they've rebuilt exquisite buildings out of the rubble in order to restore the glorious skyline of the pre-war era. It might not be as stunning as nearby Prague, but neither is it a zoo of gawkers and silly expats trying to catch a cheap thrill. The people of Dresden are calm and easygoing... I have no doubt whatsoever that the neo-Nazis who showed up there were trucked in from far and away.
I can honestly say I envied the citizens of Dresden during my brief excursions there. Here in my North American home town, our city centre didn't have to be bombed ruthlessly... we let neglect and fickle capital interests destroy our best buildings, most of them not even one century old.
I wonder what the late Kurt Vonnegut Jr. would have said about about it? The whole event was pregnant with irony, wasn't it? I mean, what was any body there protesting if not modern warfare itself? Maybe the nazis were there to show their support for a scorched-earth policy in general.