Last update: 26th of February 2013 – Dresden 2013

The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff on the 30th of January 1945 and the bombing of the city of Dresden during the 13th to 15th of February the same year, are two war tragedies among the worst atrocities perpetrated against civilians in history. These events have since long been downplayed, minimized or ignored. In practice you have not been allowed to speak openly and publicly about them.

But during the last years there have been big changes. These events – like the expulsion of 12 million Germans (including at least 1.9 million raped women and girls, and 2 million killed) from the end of the war up to 1947 – have at last surfaced. Around Europe the awareness of both the extent and the importance of what happened before the end of the war and the succeeding years, is growing. Also in Sweden.

Twice a year people gather who want to honour the dead, preserve their memory, and animate the importance of the past for the future.

Twice a year the light from the torches disperses the darkness of the winter night around the memorial grove at Skogskyrkogården in southern Stockholm.

In order to hold these solemn wreath-laying ceremonies, the Dresden committee was founded. This is their web site where past ceremonies are shown in pictures and sometimes also with sound.