Dresden as a place of remembrance

The name Dresden brings to mind a place of remembrance and a historical symbol; it is especially associated with Allied air raids on the city during the Second World War. What happened in those few days has been indelibly burned into the histories of the survivors and their city. People still actively commemorate February 1945 in Dresden today.

A historical symbol and a constructed myth

Before February 1945 was even over, German war propaganda had already seized on the destruction of Dresden. In view of the city's great cultural value, Dresden's military significance was denied, the number of people killed was multiplied and the aerial attacks were construed as an indictment against the Allies. Soon, the fabricated story of the unparalleled, pointless destruction of an innocent city had spread around the world. This story was still kept up after 1945: for decades, East German propaganda used memories of the destruction of Dresden as an indictment against the West.

Outside the GDR, too, Dresden became established as a historical symbol of destruction, military force used against civilians and the loss of cultural assets during war; a symbol understood all over the world. For decades this image of Dresden has been used as an argument in discussion, as a basis for comparison and to illustrate arguments.

Widespread tradition of remembrance

From 1945 on, a widespread tradition of remembrance of February 1945 developed alongside state-controlled commemorative propaganda – in private family circles, in churches, in an almost countless number of artistic reflections and actions. This tradition of remembrance is a source of experience and achievement which is worth holding onto. For example, the deep-felt conviction held by survivors after 1945 that, above all else, there should be "no more war"; or the wonderful acts of reconciliation that reached Dresden time and again.

In the 1980s, civic commemoration slipped from the grip of the state and was increasingly used to criticise the social system of the time. One crucial precondition for this was the people of Dresden’s critical examination of their own history, including a recognition that they, too, were involved in National Socialist crimes.

Vying for remembrance

The commemoration of Dresden’s destruction in February 1945 has always been accompanied by competing narratives and interpretations. In the years following German reunification, Dresden’s position as a place of remembrance for a united Germany grew even stronger – though this repeatedly entailed highly controversial public debate.

Since the end of the 1990s, the misuse of the commemoration for historical revisionism has become more evident and more public: there have been large-scale demonstrations by the far right, using the destruction of Dresden to relativise National Socialist crimes. This has come up against increasing resistance on the part of anti-Fascist activists and by the democratic "centre" of society.

Undimmed symbolic power

Outside the city, Dresden's influence as a place of remembrance has still not been diminished. In Europe, people are aware of the controversies in and regarding the city, but, as a symbol, Dresden continues to motivate all kinds of different people and institutions around the world to deal with the present and the future of our world, in the arts or the media, in civic action or in politics.

Duty to responsible commemoration

Dresden’s status as a historical symbol means that its people have a special duty to combine their commemoration with standing up for peace, democracy and human rights.

Author: Matthias Neutzner