Several thousand people protested on Sunday against a march by right-wing extremists to mark the anniversary of the destruction of Dresden in World War II, sparking a large-scale police operation. Nearly 5,000 people took part in the counter-protest in the pouring rain. Security officers counted almost 1,000 participants in the right-wing extremist demonstration.
The right-wing extremists’ lift route on the edge of Dresden’s city center was hermetically sealed, a dpa reporter reported. At one point, counter-protesters tried to enter the route. The police prevented that. As she announced on X (formerly Twitter), about 150 people were taken to police action. Identities have been established.
The police had previously stated the aim of separating the camps and intervening in possible blockades. She had prepared herself for a ‘confrontational encounter situation’. Saxony police said they were supported by officers from Thuringia, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Bavaria and Hesse, as well as federal police. A helicopter circled above Dresden and mounted police were also on site.
The counter-protest turned into loud chants against the right-wing extremist march. According to observations by the dpa reporter, pyrotechnics were ignited occasionally. A carrot was thrown once. Three demonstrations had united in the counter-protest.
Dresden was severely damaged in World War II
Dresden was heavily damaged by Allied air raids from February 13, 1945. According to research by historians, up to 25,000 people lost their lives. The air raids on the Saxon metropolis, also known as “Florence on the Elbe” because of its beautiful buildings, are seen as a blemish on the fight against Nazi Germany because they had no military value. At that time, the Hitler regime was already in ruins and surrendered almost three months later. Right-wing extremists have been using the commemoration of the destruction of Dresden for years to organize so-called funeral marches.
14 criminal proceedings initiated
On Sunday afternoon, the police had initiated fourteen criminal proceedings. According to spokesman Thomas Geithner, five of these were directed against the right-wing camp, the rest against counter-demonstrators. The latter involved, among other things, disguises. According to police, two participants in the right-wing march wore quartz gloves or protective gloves. In his first conclusion, Geithner spoke of a generally peaceful day for Dresden.
According to the police, no parade from the right-wing camp is planned on the actual anniversary of the destruction next Tuesday. There are 25 meetings and nine events recorded, five of which are from the right and the lateral thinker scene, fourteen from the left and six from the civil spectrum. Some of them are ‘placeholders’ to occupy locations in Dresden.
Source: Krone
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