Thousands gather in Dresden to commemorate the 70th anniversary of air raid

A 37-hour blitz by British and American bombers created a firestorm which killed about 25,000 and flattened the capital of Saxony.

The Allies saw it as a Nazi command centre and were also supporting Soviet Red Army troops advancing from the east.

But many Germans believe the February 1945 raid was a war crime because so many civilians died.

Attending the ceremonies was the Lord Mayor of Coventry, Councillor Hazel Noonan, whose own city was flattened with heavy civilian casualties by the Luftwaffe in 1940. 

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