The CDU parliamentary group in Dresden City Council has sharply criticized the city administration for the lack of a concept for the Altmarkt memorial site to mark the 80th anniversary of the destruction of Dresden on 13 February 1945. Although the city council had already decided in February 2024 to commission the Advisory Board for the Culture of Remembrance to develop a concept for the redesign of the memorial site, there have been no results to date.
Mario Schmidt, cultural policy spokesperson for the CDU parliamentary group, criticized: "The city council had set clear deadlines with its decision last year. Since then, despite the expiry of these deadlines, there has been no monitoring of the decision." He criticizes the lack of efficiency of the advisory board and calls on the responsible alderwoman to implement the will of the city council.
The destruction of Dresden on 13 February 1945
On 13 February 1945, Dresden was almost completely destroyed by several air raids. On the night of February 13-14, British bombers attacked the city center, followed by further raids by American units in the days that followed. It is estimated that between 22,700 and 25,000 people lost their lives in these attacks.
The Altmarkt, Dresden's central square, was severely damaged during the raids. After the war, it served as a site for the cremation of the numerous victims, which underlines its special significance as a memorial site.
Current status of the Altmarkt memorial site
In January 2024, a new information stele was erected on the Altmarkt to commemorate the bombing of the city after the previous stele was damaged during construction work.
Despite this measure, there is still no comprehensive concept for the redesign of the memorial site, as requested by the city council.
Significance of the commemoration for Dresden
The annual commemoration of the destruction of Dresden is firmly anchored in the city's society. Every year on February 13, thousands of people gather to commemorate the victims and set an example for peace and reconciliation. A central event is the human chain that symbolically encircles the Old Town.
The CDU parliamentary group emphasizes the importance of an active culture of remembrance and calls on the city administration to live up to its responsibility. "The culture of remembrance must finally be taken seriously again in Dresden instead of just pursuing our own political interests," says Mario Schmidt.
In view of the upcoming 80th anniversary of the destruction of Dresden in February 2025, time is pressing for the implementation of a worthy commemorative concept. The city administration is called upon to work together with the Advisory Board for the Culture of Remembrance and the urban community to develop solutions to commemorate the historic event in an appropriate manner.
