On 13/14 February 1945, the Royal Air Force bombed the city of Dresden. 35,000 Germans died. This morning, an official commemoration on the Heide-cemetary was attended by Neo-Nazis, town officials and Dresden citizens alike. Together they attempted to mourn the deaths. Yet, the commemoration was disturbed by anti-fascist protest.
anti-fascists throw paper-planes at cemetary
Ca. 200 had assembled on the cemetary to commemorate the deaths of Dresden. 50 of them could be identified as neo-Nazis. World War II Germany, in their world view, is a nation of victims. While the bourgeois parties speak of British war crimes, the Neo-Nazis refer to it as the 'Holocaust of Bombs' against the German people.
13 February is one of the most important dates in the German nationalist calendar, presenting an opportunity to forget the millions of Jews, Gypsies, communists and disabled who were killed by Germans in the concentration camps. It is commemorated by the mainstream parties and far right groups alike.
Ca. 100 anti-fascists protested at the cemetary today. They attempted to disrupt the commemorative silence and the union of neo-Nazis and citizens. Anti-fascists warn of a historical revisionism in Germany. With only few Holocaust survivors still alive, there is an increasing feeling amongst Germans that one should 'forget the past'. There were only minor scuffles with the police. Paper airplanes resembling RAF bombers were made to provoke the mourners.
Dresden's Jewish community felt unable to participate in the commemoration. They are appalled at the co-operation between city officials and neo-Nazis. However, they insisted that they were not boycotting the event. Instead they have called for concerned Dresdeners to rally around the synangoge, when neo-Nazis are expected to march past it this evening.
13 February is one of the most important dates in the German nationalist calendar, presenting an opportunity to forget the millions of Jews, Gypsies, communists and disabled who were killed by Germans in the concentration camps. It is commemorated by the mainstream parties and far right groups alike.
Ca. 100 anti-fascists protested at the cemetary today. They attempted to disrupt the commemorative silence and the union of neo-Nazis and citizens. Anti-fascists warn of a historical revisionism in Germany. With only few Holocaust survivors still alive, there is an increasing feeling amongst Germans that one should 'forget the past'. There were only minor scuffles with the police. Paper airplanes resembling RAF bombers were made to provoke the mourners.
Dresden's Jewish community felt unable to participate in the commemoration. They are appalled at the co-operation between city officials and neo-Nazis. However, they insisted that they were not boycotting the event. Instead they have called for concerned Dresdeners to rally around the synangoge, when neo-Nazis are expected to march past it this evening.
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