Dresden burns
During the entire war the residents of the city felt safe from bombing raids. At first it was the pure distance which prevented an attack. Later there was firm belief that a city so rich of cultural pearls would never be a target for destruction. But the fate of the city of Lübeck ought to be a writing on the wall for the citizens of Dresden. The commanding officer of the British Bomber Command Air Marshal Arthur „Bomber“ Harris did not take consideration of sentimentalism.
The family of the Weltiner made Dresden their residence (1485 -- 1918) and particularly August II called the Strong, and later August III invested time, love and money in the expansion of the town. Nucleus of the town was and still is the former residential palace of the Wettiner, a four wing building which was enlarged within the later years again and again. Next to it stands the Roman catholic church, the Hofkirche, on the Palace Square. Both buildings were destroyed during the great attack but have been rebuilt in full splendour today.
South of the palace lies the Taschenberger Palais risen from the ashes to a five star hotel.
.Castle and Hofkirche are joined by the Theater Platz (theatre square) with the old town guard-house and the Semper Opera House. South of this the "Zwinger", the outer court-yard defines the ensemble. At the shore of the river Elbe the Brühlschen Terrassen (Brühl terraces) extends with the university for fine arts. Besides that, the Frauenkirche which has become a symbol of the destroyed Dresden. Today it has been rebuilt partly with original stones. The tower cross was created by an English artist and financed by English donations. The Johanneum set up as a stable court is connected with the palace through the "long corridor". The "Sovereign Procession" which represents the rulers of the house of Wettin decorates the outside of the long corridor on 102 m of length.
On February 13 1945 the operation "Thunderclap", the bombing of the city by British and American formations took place. During the night 722 Lancaster of the RAF dropped more than 1 477 t of mines and bombs as well as 1 181 t of incendiary-bombs. The following day 311 flying fortresses of the USAF jettison at six attacks 3 767 t of high-explosive bombs and another 643 t of incendiary-bombs. The result was a 12 km zone of death and total destruction with a death toll of at least 20 000.
Within the last 15 years an enormous amount of money has been invested in the city. It is quite an achievement to see today what has happened with that utterly destroyed Dresden between 1990 and 2006. Today again, Dresden is one of the most attractive towns of Germany and the hitech centre in the east of the country. Car giant Volkswagen set up the "glass factory" were luxury cars of Phaeton and Aston Martins are hand made.
Dresden is also by tradition the home of the armed forces historical museum of the Federal Armed Forces (Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr). The chronicle starts in 1559 with the laying of the foundation-stone in the palace proximity for the "Churfürstlich Saxon Haubt-Zeughauß to Dreßden". In 1563 the building for the presentation of war trophies is completed. In 1873 a new arsenal in the north, outside of Dresden is built.Barracks and other military buildings mark the new Albertstadt. In 1914 the "Royal Saxon Army Museum" is created by combining the arsenal and the army collection. The Wehrmacht takes over the collection in 1940 and re-names it "Heeresmuseum Dresden" (army museum Dresden) later as of 1942, "Armee Museum Dresden" (army museum Dresden). After the defeat the Allies prohibit military museums in Germany and the Russians took what they wanted. Only in 1957, parts of the collection return to Germany where they embellish the new "German Army Museum" in Potsdam.
In 1991 the "Militärhistorische Museum" (armed forces historical museum) is taken over by the Bundeswehr. Ten years later an expert commission deals with the conception and development of the museum. Daniel Libeskind gets the mandate after an international advertising a year later. Libeskind is regarded as one of the best contemporary architects who among other things also took responsibility for the reconstruction of the World Trade Centre in New York
The exhibits which impress already today draw a large spectrum of a German military history. From the "Faule Magd" (lazy maid) of the 15th century to Leopard II tank of our time, a thrilling development which it is worth the inspection..
