Far-right demonstrators squaring off against counter-protesters in Dresden today, as the city marks the 80th anniversary of the Allied bombing during World War II.

       The day’s events are expected to draw significant attention, with around 2,000 to 3,000 neo-nazi protestors anticipated to gather, including members from various nationalist factions. Counter-protesters are also likely to number in the thousands.

       These groups have come together to exploit the anniversary, pushing revisionist narratives about Germany’s wartime history. The far-right demonstrators are calling on the bombing of Dresden to be classified as a war crime.

       The demonstration comes at a time of heightened international concern over the rise of the far-right in Europe. Recently, US Vice President JD Vance sparked controversy by suggesting that Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) should not be politically isolated, saying there’s “no room for firewalls” in democratic discourse.

       His remarks, made during the Munich Security Conference, have been widely criticised for legitimising extremist groups and potentially emboldening far-right movements across Europe.

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