Dresden take two...

The journey back to Dresden began on Friday February 11th at 5:10 PM, this time the trip was much less adventurous.  I flew from Richmond to Newark to Frankfort to Dresden.  No rental cars needed, no flights missed just a long journey.  I arrived at the hotel, the familiar N H Dresden, at 7:00 PM on Saturday February 12th.  I pull into the garage in a slightly larger car than last trip and can't help but notice the massive amount of  police vehicles.  I take the lift to the main floor to check in; I am greeted with a lobby teaming with police officers, the open design of the hotel allows me to see that the main floor is not the only area inundated with police officer.  This display of force does not come as a total surprise, I had lunch with a friend in Richmond prior to leaving on Friday; she reminded me that I was going to be in Dresden for the dubious anniversary of the Allied bombing of Dresden. Here is a link to the wikipedia information on the bombing.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Dresden_in_World_War_II  Neo-Nazis have been trying for years to reinterpret the memorial and use it  to promote their message.  Last year they were able to create a great amount of unrest.  Looking around the hotel it appears that the powers that be in Dresden do not want that to occur again this year.  I check in the hotel, then head to the Neustat for dinner with friends followed my some adult refreshments.  There are lots of people milling about  but no trouble.  Sunday morning I am greeted with a fresh blanket of snow on  he ground and brisk temperatures.  I set out toward center city to see if there is any kind of protest.  As I approach the heart of the city,  the Frauenkirche I am relived to see not protesters.  There are thousands or so it seems, of police in full riot gear but all I saw were candles light in remenrance of the bombing victims. 




 Here is a translated portion of the news.de report of the events of February 13, 2011 in Dresden........."With commemorative events and a mile-long human chain of thousands of Dresden against the deployment of more than 1,000 neo-Nazis protested in the city. On the 66th Anniversary of the bombing of Dresden lined up in snow and freezing temperatures, according to the Government a 17,000 people in the chain.Many of them wore as a symbol of peaceful resistance, a white Ansteckrose on the jacket.  The Dresden at the same time reminded of the victims of World War II.Participants included Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière, Prime Minister of Saxony Stanislaw Tillich (both CDU) and representatives of all democratic parties.

"This year we know how to protect our Dresden," said Mayor Detlef Sittel (CDU).Neo-Nazis should be given no room. They defiled the memory of the victims of war and tyranny."  

The report continues......."Demonstrations in sight and sound of the banned neo-Nazi

Neo-Nazis gather after the end of the human chain in the afternoon at the Dresden train station. The police counted about 1,300 far-right, which began about 17:00 clock police protection with the deployment.The area around the railway station and the route had previously been blocked off a wide area.

Eyewitnesses reported that reduced the police the route of the extreme right to avoid a clash with hundreds of leftist protesters, with slogans such as "Nazis out" chanted.

The city had all demonstrations within sight and earshot of the banned neo-Nazi march and moved to the other side of the river in the New Town. But not all the demonstrators were in it. According to police, the situation remained peaceful until the evening."

I went to dinner at Raskolnikoff around 6:00 pm on Sunday night.  I enjoyed a wonderful Rump steak with creamy potatoes and sauteed tomato; yum!  As I walked home I watch a convoy of armored vehicles drive out of Dresden.   I am glad this year's anniversary is a peaceful memorial of a difficult time in world history.

All my best,

Jill