On January 29, 2024, the Rector of Dresden University of Technology and organizer of the human chain, Prof. Dr. Ursula Staudinger, and the Mayor of the City of Dresden, Dirk Hilbert, published details for this year's commemorative event. The human chain will form on February 13, 2024, starting at 5:00 pm at the Golden Gate of the Town Hall and will stretch along the Old Town, flanking the Augustus and Carola bridges all the way to the Königsufer. The motto of this year's human chain is: “United in vigilance“.

On February 13, the people of Dresden commemorate the destruction of the city in 1945 and the millions of victims of National Socialist tyranny with its misanthropy, Antisemitism and intolerance: "February 13, therefore, reminds us to take responsibility and also that a democratic society is the best response to such threats," said the TUD Rector in her appeal.

Beyond this, the human chain "sends a clearly visible signal that we are vigilant and take joint responsibility for preserving freedom, tolerance and human dignity. These values form the foundation of our democracy, which is currently under unprecedented pressure from racism, right-wing populism and intolerance", said Prof. Staudinger. In these particularly challenging times, the human chain reminds us more than ever to stand together in diversity and resolutely defend our values. "We are also calling on people to be vigilant together in a variety of ways in the context of February 13 and the human chain, and we hope that as many people as possible will join our call."

The Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will speak at the start of the human chain

To mark the start of the human chain at around 5:30 pm at the Golden Gate of the Town Hall, the citizens' choir will sing first. In addition to the Rector of TUD, Mayor Hilbert and Jill Gallard, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, will speak.

The human chain will then form at 6:00 pm. People will for the chain until around 6:10 pm when the Dresden church bells will ring.

Accompanying events will reinforce this year's motto "United in vigilance"

In 2024, Dresden's churches, cultural institutions, civil society initiatives, memorial sites, clubs and associations will once again offer a diverse program of events to accompany the human chain on 13 February. The events range from readings and discussions, lecture and film evenings, art events in public spaces, commemorative events at cemeteries, concerts, exhibitions and the opportunity to pause for a moment in silence.

Immediately after the human chain at 6:15 pm, “Dresdner Gedenkweg – Dresdner Gedenkweg - unterwegs zur Versöhnung" (Dresden Memorial Trail - on the way to reconciliation) will begin opposite the synagogue. The event organized by the Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Frauenkirche e.V. (Dresden Society for the Promotion of the Frauenkirche Dresden) picks up on the central idea of the human chain and conveys connections that are worth reflecting on. Authentic texts will be recited at eight selected locations, for example at the Kreuzkirche, at the Trümmerfrau (rubble woman) in front of the town hall, in front of the "DenkRaum" Sophienkirche and at the Frauenkirche. The texts deal with war and destruction, how it came about and the causes and consequences of political abuse of power. The Frauenkirche will open at 10:00 pm for the “Nacht der Stimmen” (Night of Voices).

More information on the program and the planned route of the human chain will be available online very soon:  www.13februar.dresden.de/en

Contact:

Press Office TU Dresden
Tel: +49 351 - 463 32398
Mail: