Far-right German protesters take to the streets of Magdeburg to mark 75th anniversary of RAF bombing raid that levelled city and killed 2,500
By James Mills
Daily Mail
January 18, 2020
Hundreds of far-right activists marched through the streets of a German city to commemorate the 75th anniversary of an RAF bombing raid.
The protesters clashed with left wing counter-demonstrators in Magdeburg which was levelled near the end of the Second World War on January 16, 1945, in a raid that killed up to 2,500 people.
The far-right 'funeral march' took to the streets last night as around 500 counter-demonstrators from the 'Regina' movement - an alliance against the far right - blasted music and set up blockades.
Local media reported that around 800 police officers were drafted in and there were claims on social media that they used pepper spray to keep the rival groups apart.
Others complained the police were too aggressive towards the counter-demonstrators. Only one arrest was made and there were no direct clashes between the two sets of demonstrators.
Earlier there were several other peaceful demonstrations, including 200 people who gathered at an old synagogue to remembered the fate of Jewish people in Magdeburg during the war.
Farmers with 400 tractors also held a demo against what they see as harsh environmental protection regulations.
Environmental campaigners also brought traffic to a standstill in the centre of the city in the afternoon.
The far right march started in the evening at around 7pm at the train station and counter-demonstrators set up blockades at several locations around the route.
Police declined to comment on accusations that officers were too aggressive and refused to say whether pepper spray was used on demonstrators.
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The Magdeburg Raid
Magdeburg, a city with a population of around 340,000, was heavily bombed by the British and American air forces during the Second World War.
The RAF bombing raid on the night of 16 January 1945 was the most devastating.
Much of the city was completely destroyed and the death toll is estimated at 2,000–2,500.
The city's main street with its Baroque buildings was destroyed as well as most of its northern suburbs.
The raid was part of the controversial strategic bombing campaign by the allies that targeted workers' residential areas as well as railways, harbours and industrial zones.
Magdeburg was hit because of its oil refinery.
EDITOR’S NOTE: My parents and I moved to Magdeburg from Braunschweig, I think it was in 1934, after the Nazis forced Karstadt to fire him from the executive position he held with that German department store chain because he was Jewish. In 1944, Braunschweig was also levelled by Allied bombings.
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