Dresden commemorates WWII bombing

Foreign dignitaries and German survivors of the February 13-14, 1945, firebombing of Dresden gathered in the city Friday for commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of the attack.

"We remember all of those who were killed at that time, as victims of violence and war, not only in Dresden, but also in other places," German President Joachim Gauck said in a speech to dignitaries, including representatives from Britain, Poland, Russia and other nations. He spoke at Dresden's Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), an ornate church whose reconstruction after being destroyed in by fire during the bombing finished a decade ago and was funded by donors from around the world.

Calling the church a symbol for peace and reconciliation, Gauck faced Germany's balancing act between expressing grief for those killed in an act which brought the Allies little military advantage when the Nazis were being defeated in the final throes of World War II, and Germany's message that it accepts the blame for unleashing that war in the first place.

"A country which stood for the monstrosity of genocide, could not expect to emerge unpunished and unscathed from a war which it had itself waged," Gauck said.

"We know who it was that begun the murderous war," he reinforced, adding that consequently, "we will never forget the victims of German warfare, when here today we remember the German victims."

On February 13, 1945 and two days afterwards, British and American bombers unleashed bombs on Dresden and about 25,000 people died.

Following his speech, Gauck was due to take his place in a human chain being formed in central Dresden over the Elbe River, as a symbol of unity and remembrance.

se/sms (epd, kna, dpa)