Protest against military technology at Dresden city festival

The presentation of military technology at the Dresden City Festival is meeting with resistance. The Left Party in the city council is now mobilizing with an online petition. "The Bundeswehr repeatedly uses the Dresden City Festival to display heavy military equipment. The "highlights" advertised for 2024 include vehicles from the military police force, a wheeled tank and the Patriot air defense system," the petition states. In view of the worrying international developments, many people are rightly concerned. "Heavy military weapons have no place at a city festival!"

In a post on Facebook, the Bundeswehr in Saxony had announced vehicles from the military police force, GTK Boxer wheeled armored personnel carriers, Bison recovery vehicles and the Patriot system, among other things. In the past, the troops have repeatedly presented themselves on the festival's "Blue Light Mile" alongside the police, fireworks and technical relief services. This year's city festival begins on Friday and lasts until Sunday.

Criticism from the left

"The arms race is getting faster and faster. People are loudly beating the drums for war readiness. The USA now even wants to station long-range missiles in Germany. In view of these developments, I am very worried that our country will be dragged into a war," said André Schollbach, head of the Left Party parliamentary group, explaining his opposition.

"As a city councillor, but even more so as a father, I am appalled that dangerous war equipment is to be displayed between the bouncy castle, Ferris wheel and candy floss." An army is not a happy adventure camp.