Destinations Magazine

70 Years on – the Bombing of Dresden

By Emma @glasgowfoodie

Not your usual topic for a Glasgow food blog, but it is the 70th Anniversary of the bombing of Dresden and we are big fans of the city.

Located in old East Germany Dresden was known as Florence on the Elbe due the beautiful architecture and culture of the city.

Dresden Germany bombing anniversary holiday vacation

1890’s Dresden
© Wikipedia

As you can see it was a beautiful sight.  However this changed in February 1945 with the bombing of the city. Incendiaries and explosive bombs set alight the medieval city and created a fire storm killing approximately 25,000 and destroying 90% of the city.

Dresden Germany bombing anniversary holiday vacation

© Wikipedia

Dresden Germany bombing anniversary holiday vacation

The Frauenkirche Dresden was completely destroyed during the bombing and was left as a war memorial during the days of East Germany.  With reunification of Germany came the reconstruction of the church.  The final cost was €180 million euros, mostly from private fundraising.

The part which strikes a chord with myself is the story behind the new orb and cross on top of the cupola.  It was forged by Alan Smith whose father was a member of the bombing crew.

Dresden Germany bombing anniversary holiday vacation

Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche) remains
© Wikipedia

Dresden Germany bombing anniversary holiday vacation

Original view of Neumarkt pre 1945

Dresden Germany bombing anniversary holiday vacation

Reconstruction

Thankfully other outstanding and historic areas of Dresden received only minor damage.

Furstenzug Dresden Germany bombing anniversary holiday vacation

The 335ft long Fürstenzug (Procession of Princes) made with 23,000 Meißen tiles survived. This mural depicts the rulers of Saxony and was originally constructed in 1876.

Dresden Germany bombing anniversary holiday vacation

The old town is newer than the new town now!

With so much of Dresden destroyed and space to play with, town planners went wild, with varying degrees of success.

Dresden Germany bombing anniversary holiday vacation

Huge shopping plazas

Dresden Germany bombing anniversary holiday vacation

Communist blocks

Dresden Germany bombing anniversary holiday vacation

Musical House, Kunsthofpassage.

Kunsthofpassage


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