Feb 14, 2023
10,000 people join hands in a strong, united bond on February 13
Menschenkette am 13. Februar 2023 mit TUD-Rektorin Ursula Staudinger, OBM Dirk Hilbert. Staatsminister Martin Dulig und anderen.
Press release by the City of Dresden
About 10,000 people formed a human chain throughout the heart of Dresden today, February 13, 2023. In doing so, they expressed their solidarity with the victims of the bombing of Dresden on February 13 and 14, 1945, as well as the victims of the German bombing of Coventry on November 15, 1940. Together they remembered the millions who lost their lives under the tyranny of National Socialism and drew attention to the victims and suffering caused by contemporary wars.
Mayor of Dresden (Oberbürgermeister) Dirk Hilbert addressed the participants as well as the delegations from Dresden's twin cities of Coventry and Ostrava at the commencement of the human chain at 5:30 p.m. at the Neumarkt square: “What we can do here on February 13 is declare loud and clear how nationalism, imperialism and megalomania end – in ruins. We can demonstrate how peace and friendship re-emerge: by respecting the dignity of every human being and by standing up for a democratic and pluralistic society. And we need to accept responsibility for the future. That’s why we stand together today in this human chain – both born-and-bred Dresdners and Dresdners by circumstance. Young and old. British and Germans. Ukrainians and Russians.”
As organizational leader of the human chain, Professor Ursula M. Staudinger, Rector of Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, appealed to those participating in the human chain, stating, “Let us stand up together for a democratic society which advocates humans rights. Let us raise our voices together when the crimes of National Socialism are diminished. Let us take a stand together for peace and solidarity, when the roles of perpetrator and victim are twisted to the point of legitimizing wars waged in violation of international law.”
At 6 p.m., the people of Dresden, guests, visitors, friends, neighbors, and families once again joined hands and formed a human chain together around the entire city center under the motto “lest we forget!” for the first time in two years due to the pandemic. For ten minutes, the bells of all the churches in Dresden's city center rang out simultaneously.