The war initiated by Russia in Ukraine, started only days before we went to Germany. There are many places in the world that have experienced the impact of war, but few that suffered destruction as much as Dresden, the capitol of Saxony, during World War II.
In February 1945 Dresden was a densely crowded city, filled with refugees fleeing the advancing Red Army. Three days of an Allied bombing attack left many parts of the city in total destruction and thousands of people dead. If you are historically inclined, or like to see some images about how parts of the city I show you in my blog today looked like after the bombing, feel free to click the link below. It gives you a comprehensive overview about the scale of this act of war. https://www.history.com/news/dresden-bombing-wwii-allies
My 88-years old father survived the fire bombing of Dresden at the age of eleven and my kids and granddaughter live in this now again beautiful city. What else links Putin’s war into thoughts about Dresden? Six years of Putin’s career as a KGB foreign intelligence officer he spent in Dresden…
During my childhood this place was nothing but a piece of rubble. The ruins of the Church of Our Lady (Dresdner Frauenkirche) were left as a memorial for many years after the war. All the buildings surrounding it were gone.The reconstructing of this church was finished in 2005. It is considered an outstanding example of Protestant sacred architecture, featuring one of the largest domes in Europe.
Dresden Castle / Royal Palace - reconstructed Eastern Courtyard
Monument of August II the strong (1670 - 1733)
Any time I’m in Dresden I make a picture of this monument. Oh no, I’m not really inclined to any royal ideas, but the light on the golden surface makes every photo of this historical marker unique. When in addition a dad plays hide and seek with his toddler around a statue, like the so called “Golden Rider”, the photo becomes less static.
It warms my heart to see the success of rebuilding and restoration efforts. A classic view from Carola Bridge over to Dresden Altstadt, the center of the city. By the way, the fenced in area is the location for a big stage during the summer, used for concerts, film festivals, and other cultural events. Years ago we enjoyed blues legend B.B. King at this venue. Can you imagine a better background than the night skyline of Dresden for such a concert?
Not only banners, like this one in Dresden downtown, express the solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We learned that several of our friends in Germany share available living space in their houses with refugees from this country under attack.