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Revision as of 20:37, 26 September 2024 editKline (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, IP block exemptions, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers21,983 editsm Reverted 2 edits by Fawadeli (talk) to last revision by EvanBaldonadoTags: Twinkle Undo← Previous edit Revision as of 23:59, 26 September 2024 edit undoErinthecute (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users13,388 edits ←Replaced content with '===City council=== The most recent city council election was held on 9 June 2024, and the results were as follows: {{election table}} ! colspan=2| Party ! Votes ! % ! +/- ! Seats ! +/- |- | bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}| | align=left| Alternative for Germany (AfD) | 170,346 | 19.4 | {{increase}} 2.3 | 14 | {{increase}} 2 |- | bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| | align=left| Christian Democratic Unio...'Tags: Replaced RevertedNext edit →
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{{Short description|Capital city of Saxony, Germany}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox German place
|name=Dresden
|German_name = <small>{{native name|sxu|Dräsdn}}</small> <br />
<small>{{native name|hsb|Drježdźany}}</small>
|type=City
|image_photo={{Multiple image
|caption_align = center
|border = infobox
|total_width = 280
|perrow = 2/2/1
|image1 = HFBK Dresden 2024 Luftbild Toni Klemm 2500px.jpg
|caption1 = ]
|image2 = Dresden Germany Exterior-of-Frauenkirche-04.jpg
|caption2 = ]
|image3 = Dresden, Schloßstraße 24, Kathedrale Sanctissimae Trinitatis, 17.6.2.40-060474.jpg
|caption3 = ]
|image4 = Dresden Germany Exterior-of-Semperoper-02.jpg
|caption4 = ]
|image5 = Elberadweg-pano-DSC06346 Dresden Altstadt bei Nacht.jpg
|caption5 = Dresden skyline with ] at dusk
}}
|image_flag=Flag of Dresden.svg
|image_coa=Dresden Stadtwappen.svg
|coordinates={{coord|51|03|00|N|13|44|24|E|type:city_region:DE-SN|display=it}}
|state=Saxony
|district=urban
|elevation=113
|area=328.8
|area_metro=<!-- Metropolitan area, in km². XXX.XX (no commas or other text) -->
<!--|population=536107 filled via Gemeindeschlüssel -->
|pop_metro=1343305<ref name="Eurostat"/>
|pop_urban=790400<ref name="citypopulation.de quoting Federal Statistics Office"/>
<!--|pop_ref=-->
|Gemeindeschlüssel = 14612000
|licence=DD
|divisions=<!-- Subdivisions within location (e.g. "XX districts" or boroughs) -->
|website={{URL|https://www.dresden.de/index_en.php|dresden.de}}
|mayor = ]<ref>, Statistisches Landesamt des Freistaates Sachsen.</ref>
|leader_term = 2022&ndash;29
|party = FDP
|Bürgermeistertitel= Oberbürgermeister
|ruling_party1=<!-- Leading political party currently in power – give abbreviations -->
|ruling_party2=<!-- second ruling political party – give abbreviations -->
|ruling_party3=<!-- third ruling political party – give abbreviations -->
| footnotes = {{designation list | embed=yes
| designation1 = FORMERWHS
| designation1_date = 2004 <small>(28th ])</small>
| designation1_offname = ]
| designation1_type = Cultural
| designation1_criteria = ii, iii, iv, v
| designation1_number =
| designation1_free1name = Region
| designation1_free1value = ]
| designation1_free2name = Delisted
| designation1_free2value = 2009 <small>(33rd ])</small>
}}
}}
]

'''Dresden''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|r|ɛ|z|d|ən}}, {{IPA|de|ˈdʁeːsdn̩|lang|De-Dresden-pronunciation.ogg}}; ]: ''Dräsdn''; {{lang-hsb|Drježdźany}}, {{IPA|hsb|ˈdʁʲɛʒdʒanɨ|pron}}) is the capital city of the German ] of ] and its second most populous city after ]. It is the ] of Germany, the fourth largest by area (after ], ], and ]), and the third most populous city in the area of former ], after Berlin and Leipzig. Dresden's urban area comprises the towns of ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] and has around 790,000 inhabitants.<ref name="citypopulation.de quoting Federal Statistics Office">{{cite web|url=http://citypopulation.de/en/germany/urbanareas/|author=citypopulation.de quoting Federal Statistics Office|title=Germany: Urban Areas|access-date=3 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603133151/http://citypopulation.de/en/germany/urbanareas/|archive-date=3 June 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The Dresden metropolitan area has approximately 1.34 million inhabitants.<ref name="Eurostat">{{cite web|url=http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=met_pjanaggr3&lang=en|title=Population on 1 January by broad age group, sex and metropolitan regions|publisher=Eurostat|access-date=3 June 2020|archive-date=3 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203055500/http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=met_pjanaggr3&lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref>

Dresden is the second largest city on the ] after Hamburg. Most of the city's population lives in the ], but a large, albeit very sparsely populated, area of the city east of the Elbe lies in the ] (the westernmost part of the ]) and thus in ]. Many boroughs west of the Elbe lie in the ], as well as in the valleys of the rivers rising there and flowing through Dresden, the longest of which are the ] and the ]. The name of the city as well as the names of most of its boroughs and rivers are of ] origin.

Dresden has a long history as the capital and royal residence for the ] and ], who for centuries furnished the city with cultural and artistic splendor, and was once by ] the family seat of ] monarchs. The city was known as the Jewel Box, because of its ] and ] city centre. The controversial American and British ] towards the end of ] killed approximately 25,000 people, most of whom were civilians, and destroyed the entire city centre. After the war, restoration work has helped to reconstruct parts of the historic inner city.

Since ] in 1990, Dresden has once again become a cultural, educational and political centre of Germany. The ] is one of the 10 largest universities in Germany and part of the ]. The economy of Dresden and its agglomeration is one of the most dynamic in Germany and ranks first in Saxony.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dresden.de/de/wirtschaft/wirtschaftsstandort-dresden.php|title=Wirtschaftsstandort|last=Dresden|website=www.dresden.de|language=de|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206045800/https://www.dresden.de/de/wirtschaft/wirtschaftsstandort-dresden.php|archive-date=6 February 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is dominated by ], often called "]". According to the ] (HWWI) and ] in 2019, Dresden had the seventh best prospects for the future of all cities in Germany.<ref name="berenberg.de">{{cite web|url=https://www.berenberg.de/files/HWWI_Berenberg_Staedteranking_2019.pdf|title=HWWI/Berenberg-Städteranking 2019|website=berenberg.de|language=de|access-date=9 May 2020|archive-date=30 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730021540/https://www.berenberg.de/files/HWWI_Berenberg_Staedteranking_2019.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Dresden is one of the most visited cities in Germany with 4.7 million overnight stays per year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.xn--stdteranking-hcb.de/deutschland_dresden.php|title=Städteranking – Dresden Information und Lebensqualität|website=www.xn—stdteranking-hcb.de|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920115733/https://www.xn--stdteranking-hcb.de/deutschland_dresden.php|archive-date=20 September 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dresden.de/de/leben/stadtportrait/statistik/wirtschaft-finanzen/tourismus.php|title=Tourismus|last=Dresden|website=www.dresden.de|language=de|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-date=29 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529210613/https://www.dresden.de/de/leben/stadtportrait/statistik/wirtschaft-finanzen/tourismus.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Its most prominent building is the ] located at the ]. Built in the 18th century, the church was destroyed during World War II. The remaining ruins were left for 50 years as a war memorial, before being rebuilt between 1994 and 2005. Other famous landmarks include the ], the ] and ]. Furthermore, the city is home to the renowned ], originating from the collections of the Saxon electors in the 16th century. Dresden's ] is one of the largest ]s in Germany and is considered the first genuine Christmas market in the world.<ref name="The German Way & More">{{cite web|url=https://www.german-way.com/history-and-culture/holidays-and-celebrations/christmas/christmas-markets-in-germany/|title=Christmas Markets in Germany and Europe|website=The German Way & More|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030102250/https://www.german-way.com/history-and-culture/holidays-and-celebrations/christmas/christmas-markets-in-germany/|archive-date=30 October 2019|access-date=30 October 2019}}</ref> Nearby sights include the National Park of ], the ] and the countryside around ], ] and ], home of ].

==History==
{{For timeline}}

{{Quote box |width=25em |align=right |title_bg=#B0C4DE
|title=Timeline of Dresden <br><small>Historical affiliations</small>
|fontsize=80% |quote={{flagicon image|Generieke vlag van Vlaanderen.svg}} ], 1319–1423<br>
{{flagicon image|Flag of Electoral Saxony.svg}} ], 1423–1806<br>
{{flagicon image|Flag of Saxony.svg}} ], 1806–1848<br>
{{flagicon image|Flag of Germany.svg}} ], 1848–1849<br>
{{flagicon image|Flag of Saxony.svg}} ], 1849–1918<br>
{{flagicon image|Flag of Germany (1867–1918).svg}} ] (]), 1867–1871<br>
{{flagicon image|Flag of Germany (1867–1918).svg}} ] (]), 1867–1918<br>
{{flagicon image|Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg}} ] (]), 1918–1933<br>
{{flagicon image|Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg}} ], 1933–1945<br/>
{{flagicon image|Flag of the Soviet Union (1924–1955).svg}} ], 1945–1949<br>
{{flagicon image|Flag of East Germany.svg}} ], 1949–1990<br>
{{flag|Germany}} (]), 1990–present
}}

]—the Saxon sovereigns depicted in ]]]

Although Dresden is a relatively recent city that grew from a ] village after ] came to dominate the area,<ref name="dresden.de-2">{{cite web|url=http://www.dresden.de/en/02/07/01/c_01.php|title=City of Dresden – Prehistoric times|website=dresden.de|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819200908/http://www.dresden.de/en/02/07/01/c_01.php|archive-date=19 August 2007}}. Retrieved 24 April 2007.</ref> the area had been settled in the ] era by ] tribes c. ].<ref>Rengert Elburg: {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102022744/http://www.academia.edu/1160390/Man-animal_relationships_in_the_Early_Neolithic_of_Dresden_Saxony_Germany_ |date=2 January 2015 }}</ref> Dresden's founding and early growth is associated with the ],<ref name="dresden.de-2"/> mining in the nearby ], and the establishment of the ]. Its name comes from ] ''Drježdźany'' (current Upper Sorbian form), meaning "people of the forest", from ] ''*dręzga'' ("woods, blowdowns").<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://starlingdb.org/cgi-bin/response.cgi?basename=%5Cdata%5Cie%5Cvasmer&text_word=%D0%B4%D1%80%D1%8F%D0%B7%D0%B3|title=Vasmer's dictionary : Query result|website=starlingdb.org|accessdate=4 April 2023}}</ref> Dresden later evolved into the capital of ].

===Early history===
] settlement with ] in the area of todays Dresden, 4700 BC]]
]

Around the late 12th century, a ] settlement called ''Drežďany''<ref name="Fritz Löffler">Fritz Löffler, ''Das alte Dresden'', Leipzig 1982, p.20</ref> (meaning either "woods" or "lowland forest-dweller"<ref>] und ]: ''Sachsen. Alle Städtenamen und deren Geschichte.'' Faber und Faber Verlag, Leipzig 2007, {{ISBN|978-3-86730-038-4}}, S.&nbsp;54 f.</ref>) had developed on the southern bank. Another settlement existed on the northern bank, but its Slavic name is unknown. It was known as ''Antiqua Dresdin'' by 1350, and later as Altendresden,<ref name="Fritz Löffler"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dresden.de/media/pdf/infoblaetter/historie_altendresden.pdf?PHPSESSID=3b1a560f5b42d55b28790331bf486b97|title=Geschichtlicher Hintergrund des Jubiläums – 600 Jahre Stadtrecht Altendresden|language=de|website=dresden.de|access-date=25 May 2007|archive-date=13 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313054253/http://www.dresden.de/media/pdf/infoblaetter/historie_altendresden.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> both literally "old Dresden". ], chose Dresden as his interim residence in 1206, as documented in a record calling the place "Civitas Dresdene".

After 1270, Dresden became the capital of the margraviate. It was given to ] after the death of ] in 1288. It was taken by the ] in 1316 and was restored to the ] dynasty after the death of ] in 1319. From 1485, it was the seat of the dukes of ], and from 1547 the ] as well.

===Early modern age===
], 1719, ] of ] and ]]]

The ] and ruler of Saxony Frederick Augustus I became King ] of ] in 1697. He gathered many of the best musicians,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://earlymusicworld.com/id16.html|title=Dresden in the Time of Zelenka and Hasse|website=earlymusicworld.com|language=en|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710163436/http://earlymusicworld.com/id16.html|archive-date=10 July 2011|access-date=26 May 2007}}</ref> architects and painters from all over Europe to Dresden.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sachsen-tourismus.de/pl/regiony/regiony-i-miasta/drezno/|title=Drezno|language=pl|url-status=dead|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-date=28 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328155417/http://www.sachsen-tourismus.de/pl/regiony/regiony-i-miasta/drezno/}}</ref> His reign marked the beginning of Dresden's emergence as a leading European city for technology and art. During the reign of Kings Augustus II the Strong and ] most of the city's ] landmarks were built. These include the ], the ], the ], the ] and the two landmark churches: the Catholic ] and the Lutheran ]. In addition, significant art collections and museums were founded. Notable examples include the ], the ], the ] and the ]. Strengthening ties with Poland, postal routes to ], ] and ] were established under Augustus II the Strong.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pocztowokurierski.pl/uslugi-pocztowe/szkice-z-historii-poczty/art,13,polska-poczta-w-dobie-saskiej-panowanie-augusta-ii-mocnego.html|title=Polska Poczta w dobie saskiej – panowanie Augusta II Mocnego|author=Rafał Zgorzelski|language=pl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531022507/http://www.pocztowokurierski.pl/uslugi-pocztowe/szkice-z-historii-poczty/art,13,polska-poczta-w-dobie-saskiej-panowanie-augusta-ii-mocnego.html|access-date=22 November 2023|archive-date=31 May 2016}}</ref>

In 1726 there was a riot for two days after a Protestant clergyman was killed by a soldier who had recently converted from Catholicism.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hl4vDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT366|title=A Magnificent Faith: Art and Identity in Lutheran German|last=Heal|first=Bridget|isbn=9780192522405|date=4 August 2017|publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=19 February 2019|archive-date=17 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717010202/https://books.google.com/books?id=Hl4vDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT366|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1745, the ] between Prussia, Saxony, and Austria ended the ]. Only a few years later, Dresden suffered heavy destruction in the ] (1756–1763), following its capture by Prussian forces, its subsequent re-capture, and a failed ] in 1760. ] completed his '']'' (the literary base of the ]) in Dresden in 1785.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.friedrich-schiller-archiv.de/briefe-schillers/an-georg-goeschen/schiller-an-georg-goeschen-29-november-1785/ |title=Schiller an Georg Göschen, 29. November 1785 |website=Friedrich Schiller Archiv |date=20 August 2013 |language=de |trans-title=Schiller to Georg Göschen, 29 november 1785 |access-date=10 May 2020 |archive-date=3 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803115920/https://www.friedrich-schiller-archiv.de/briefe-schillers/an-georg-goeschen/schiller-an-georg-goeschen-29-november-1785/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1793, preparations for the Polish ] started in the city by ] in response to the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dzieje.pl/aktualnosci/rocznica-insurekcji-kosciuszkowskiej|title=Insurekcja Kościuszkowska - ostatnia próba ratowania Rzeczpospolitej|website=Dzieje.pl|access-date=22 November 2023|language=pl}}</ref>

===19th and early 20th century===
] Crossing the ]'' by ] (1895)]]

In 1806, Dresden became the capital of the ] established by ]. During the ] the French Emperor made it a ], winning there the ] on 27 August 1813. As a result of the ], the Kingdom of Saxony became part of the ] in 1815. Following the Polish uprisings of ], ] and ] many Poles fled to Dresden, including the artistic and political elite, such as composer ], war hero ] and writer ].<ref name=ams>{{cite magazine|last=Sadowski|first=Aleksander Marek|year=2022|title=Sachsen und Polen – Tausend Jahre Nachbarschaft / Polska i Saksonia – tysiąc lat sąsiedztwa|magazine=Polonus|language=de,pl|location=Ostritz|issue=5|page=39|issn=2701-6285}}</ref> Mickiewicz wrote one of his greatest works, ], there.<ref name=ams/> Dresden itself was a centre of the ] in 1848–1849 with the ], which cost human lives and damaged the historic town of Dresden.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dresdner Maiaufstand |url=https://www.demokratie-geschichte.de/karte/2397 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018140919/https://www.demokratie-geschichte.de/karte/2397 |archive-date=2023-10-18 |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=AG Orte der Demokratiegeschichte |language=de}}</ref> The uprising forced ] to flee from Dresden, but he soon after regained control over the city with the help of Prussia. In 1852, the population of Dresden grew to 100,000 inhabitants, making it one of the biggest cities within the German Confederation.

As the capital of the Kingdom of Saxony, Dresden became part of the newly founded ] in 1871. In the following years, the city became a major centre of economy, including motor car production, food processing, banking and the manufacture of ]. In the early 20th century, Dresden was particularly well known for its camera works and its cigarette factories. During ], the city did not suffer any war damage, but lost many of its inhabitants. Between 1918 and 1934, Dresden was the capital of the first Free State of Saxony as well as a cultural and economic centre of the ]. The city was also a centre of European ] until 1933.

], 1849]]

====Military history====
], ], and ].]]

During the foundation of the German Empire in 1871, a large military facility called ] was built.<ref>Rüdiger Nern, Erich Sachße, Bert Wawrzinek. ''Die Dresdner Albertstadt''. Dresden, 1994; ''Albertstadt&nbsp;– sämtliche Militärbauten in Dresden''. Dresden, 1880</ref> It had a capacity of up to 20,000 ] at the beginning of the ]. The garrison saw only limited use between 1918 and 1934, but was then reactivated in preparation for the ].

Its usefulness was limited by attacks on ] and 17 April 1945, the former of which destroyed large areas of the city. However, the garrison itself was not specifically targeted.<ref name="Air Force Historical Studies Office">{{cite web|url=http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/PopTopics/dresden.htm|title=Historical Analysis of the 14–15 February 1945 Bombings of Dresden|publisher=]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817084455/http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/PopTopics/dresden.htm|archive-date=17 August 2010}} including a list of all bombings on the railway network (especially towards Bohemia).</ref><ref>Bergander, Götz. ''Dresden im Luftkrieg'': Vorgeschichte-Zerstörung-Folgen, p. 251 ff. Verlag Böhlau 1994, {{ISBN|3-412-10193-1}}</ref> Soldiers had been deployed as late as March 1945 in the Albertstadt garrison.

The Albertstadt garrison became the headquarters of the ] in the ] after the war. Apart from the ] officers' school (''Offizierschule des Heeres''), there have been no more ]s in Dresden since the army merger during German reunification, and the withdrawal of Soviet forces in 1992. Nowadays, the Bundeswehr operates the ] of the Federal Republic of Germany in the former Albertstadt garrison.

===Nazi era, Second World War===
]

Two book burnings were organised in the city in 1933, one by the ] on Wettiner Platz, the second one by ] at the ] on Räcknitzhöhe.<ref></ref>

During the Nazi era from 1933 to 1945, the Jewish community of Dresden was reduced from over 6,000 (7,100 people were persecuted as Jews) to 41, mostly as a result of emigration, but later also deportation and murder.<ref>{{cite web|title=Names of Jewish victims of National Socialism in Dresden between 1933 and 1945|website=Stiftung Sächsische Gedenkstätten|url=https://en.stsg.de/cms/names-jewish-victims-dresden-1933-1945|access-date=20 July 2015|quote=Nearly two thirds of the Dresden Jews succeeded to emigrate before the extermination apparatus started to work.|archive-date=16 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416025207/https://en.stsg.de/cms/names-jewish-victims-dresden-1933-1945|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Dresden|website=Jewish Virtual Library|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0006_0_05398.html|access-date=20 July 2015|archive-date=26 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126063618/https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0006_0_05398.html|url-status=live}}</ref> One of the survivors was ] with his non-Jewish wife, who believed that the bombing saved their lives.

The ] was destroyed in November 1938 on ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Image of Kristallnacht, 9th November 1938 - smashing windows, Dresden's Semper Synagogue |url=https://www.bridgemanimages.com/en/noartistknown/kristallnacht-9th-november-1938-smashing-windows-dresden-s-semper-synagogue-is-destroyed/footage/asset/1274772 |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=Bridgeman Images |language=en}}</ref>

During the ] at the start of ], in September 1939, the ] carried out mass arrests of local ] activists.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Cygański|first=Mirosław|year=1984|title=Hitlerowskie prześladowania przywódców i aktywu Związków Polaków w Niemczech w latach 1939–1945|journal=Przegląd Zachodni|language=pl|issue=4|page=54}}</ref> Other non-Jews were also targeted, and over 1,300 people were executed by the Nazis at the Münchner Platz, a courthouse in Dresden, including labour leaders, undesirables, resistance fighters and anyone caught listening to foreign radio broadcasts.<ref>{{cite web |title = Victims of the National Socialist judiciary {{!}} Gedenkstätte Münchner Platz Dresden {{!}} Stiftung Sächsische Gedenkstätten |url=https://en.stsg.de/cms/node/775|website=en.stsg.de|access-date=20 July 2015|archive-date=16 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416025426/https://en.stsg.de/cms/node/775|url-status=live}}</ref> The bombing stopped prisoners who were busy digging a large hole into which an additional 4,000 prisoners were to be disposed of.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dresden WW2 bombing raids killed 25,000 people – but it WASN'T a war crime|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dresden-ww2-bombing-raids-killed-5159536|access-date=20 July 2015|first=John|last=Nichol|website=]|date=13 February 2015|archive-date=23 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623112955/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dresden-ww2-bombing-raids-killed-5159536|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the war, Dresden was the location of several ] subcamps of the ] ] for ] POWs,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Megargee|first1=Geoffrey P.|last2=Overmans|first2=Rüdiger|last3=Vogt|first3=Wolfgang|year=2022|title=The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume IV|publisher=Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum|page=413|isbn=978-0-253-06089-1}}</ref> and seven ] of the ], in which some 3,600 men, women and children were imprisoned, mostly ], Jewish and Russian.<ref name=gf>{{cite web|url=https://www.gedenkstaette-flossenbuerg.de/en/history/subcamps|title=Subcamps|website=KZ-Gedenkstätte Flossenbürg|access-date=22 November 2023}}</ref> In April 1945, most surviving prisoners were sent on ] to various destinations in Saxony and ], whereas some women were probably murdered and some managed to escape.<ref name=gf/>

Dresden in the 20th century was a major communications hub and manufacturing centre with 127 factories and major workshops and was designated by the German military as a defensive strongpoint, with which to hinder the Soviet advance.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dresden-ww2-bombing-raids-killed-5159536 |title = Dresden WW2 bombing raids killed 25,000 people – but it WASN'T a war crime |last=Nichol|first=John|date=13 February 2015|website=mirror|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-date=13 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413040408/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dresden-ww2-bombing-raids-killed-5159536|url-status=live}}</ref> Being the capital of the German state of ], Dresden not only had garrisons but a whole ''military borough'', the ''Albertstadt''.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-110208-030.pdf|title=Historical Analysis of the 14–15 February 1945 Bombings of Dresden|last=Angell|first=Joseph W.|publisher=USAF Historical Division Research Studies Institute, ], hq.af.mil|year=1953|edition=1962|oclc=878696404|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218171142/http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-110208-030.pdf|archive-date=18 February 2013}}: Cites "Interpretation Report No. K. 4171, Dresden, 22 March 1945", Supporting Document No. 3.</ref> This military complex, named after ] King Albert, was not specifically targeted in the ].

During the final months of the Second World War, Dresden harboured some 600,000 refugees, with a total population of {{Nowrap|1.2 million}}. Dresden was attacked seven times between 1944 and 1945, and was ].

==== Fire-bombing ====
{{Main|Bombing of Dresden}}
The ] by the ] (RAF) and the ] (USAAF) between 13 and 15 February 1945 was controversial. On the night of 13–14 February 1945, 773 RAF Lancaster bombers dropped 1,181.6 tons of incendiary bombs and 1,477.7 tons of high explosive bombs, targeting the rail yards at the centre of the city. The inner city of Dresden was largely destroyed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/14/newsid_3549000/3549905.stm|title=1945: Thousands of bombs destroy Dresden|work=BBC News|date=14 February 1945|access-date=5 May 2009|archive-date=11 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811071519/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/14/newsid_3549000/3549905.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>( {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607042346/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/feb45.html|date=7 June 2007}})</ref> Widely quoted Nazi propaganda reports claimed 200,000 deaths, but the German Dresden Historians' Commission, made up of 13 prominent German historians, in an official 2010 report published after five years of research concluded that casualties numbered between 22,500 and 25,000.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8574157.stm |title = Up to 25,000 died in Dresden's WWII bombing |publisher=BBC|date=18 March 2010}}</ref>

The destruction of Dresden allowed ], a major Nazi museum director and art dealer, to hide ] worth tens of millions of dollars that had been stolen during the Nazi era, as he claimed it had been destroyed along with his house which was located in Dresden.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=How 1,280 Artworks Stolen by the Nazis were Hidden in a Munich Apartment Until 2012|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2014/04/degenerate-art-cornelius-gurlitt-munich-apartment|magazine=Vanity Fair|access-date=20 July 2015|first=Alex|last=Shoumatoff|date=19 March 2014|archive-date=28 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528133457/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2014/04/degenerate-art-cornelius-gurlitt-munich-apartment|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Allies described the operation as the legitimate bombing of a military and industrial target.<ref name="Air Force Historical Studies Office" /> Several researchers have argued that the February attacks were ]. As a result of inadequate Nazi air raid measures for refugees, mostly women and children died.<ref>Addison, Paul and Crang, Jeremy A. (eds.). Firestorm: The Bombing of Dresden. Pimlico, 2006. {{ISBN|1-84413-928-X}}. Chapter 9 p.194</ref>

American author ]'s novel '']'' is loosely based on his first-hand experience of the raid as a ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lettersofnote.com/2009/11/slaughterhouse-five.html|title=Slaughterhouse Five|date=18 November 2009|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-date=19 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219032831/http://www.lettersofnote.com/2009/11/slaughterhouse-five.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In remembrance of the victims, the anniversaries of the bombing of Dresden are marked with peace demonstrations, devotions and marches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4030017,00.html?maca=en-DKpartner_yg_infomix_en-2315-xml-mrss|title=On Dresden Anniversary, Massive Protest Against Neo-Nazi March &#124; Germany &#124; Deutsche Welle &#124; 14.02.2009|publisher=Dw-world.de|access-date=5 May 2009|archive-date=28 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528133457/https://www.dw.com/en/on-dresden-anniversary-massive-protest-against-neo-nazi-march/a-4030017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geh-denken.de/joomla/|title=Geh Denken&nbsp;– Startseite|publisher=Geh-denken.de|access-date=5 May 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429005712/http://www.geh-denken.de/joomla/|archive-date=29 April 2009}}</ref>

===Post-war===
] in the ruins after World War II]]

Following his military service the German press photographer and photojournalist ] returned to Dresden and began to document the ruined city. Among his best known works ''Blick auf Dresden vom Rathausturm'' (''View of Dresden from the Rathaus Tower''). It has become one of the best known photographs of a ruined post-war Germany following its appearance in 1949 in his book ''Dresden, eine Kamera klagt an'' ("Dresden, a photographic accusation", {{ISBN|3-930195-03-8}}).<ref name="Jähner-2019">{{cite book |last= Jähner |first= Harald |title= Aftermath: Life in the Fallout of the Third Reich 1945–1955 |location= London |publisher= W H Allen |date= 2019 |pages= 23, 28, 29 |type= Paperback |language= EN |isbn= 9780753557877}}</ref>

When a skeleton previously used as a model for drawing art classes was found in the ruins of the Dresden Art Academy, the photographer ] with the assistance of Peter posed it in a number of different locations to produce a series of haunting photographic images to give the impression that Death was wandering through the city in search of the dead.<ref name="Jähner-2019"/> Kesting subsequently published them in the book ''Dresdner Totentanz'' (''Dresden's Death Dance'').

The damage from the Allied air raids was so extensive that following the end of the Second World War, a narrow gauge light railway system was constructed to remove the debris, though being makeshift there were frequent derailments. This railway system, which had seven lines, employed 5,000 staff and 40 locomotives, all of which bore women's names. The last train remained in service until 1958, though the last official debris clearance team was only disbanded in 1977.<ref name="Jähner-2019"/>

Rather than repair them, ] (East Germany) authorities razed the ruins of many churches, royal buildings and palaces in the 1950s and 1960s, such as the Gothic ], the Alberttheater and the ] as well as many historic residential buildings. The surroundings of the once lively Prager Straße resembled a wasteland before it was rebuilt in the socialist style at the beginning of the 1960s.

However, the majority of historic buildings were saved or reconstructed. Among them were the Ständehaus (1946), the Augustusbrücke (1949), the Kreuzkirche (until 1955), the Zwinger (until 1963), the Catholic Court Church (until 1965), the Semperoper (until 1985), the Japanese Palace (until 1987) and the two largest train stations. Some of this work dragged on for decades, often interrupted by the overall economic situation in the GDR. The ruins of the Frauenkirche were allowed to remain on Neumarkt as a memorial to the war.

While the Theater and Schloßplatz were rebuilt in accordance with the historical model in 1990, the Neumarkt remained completely undeveloped. On the other hand buildings of socialist classicism and spatial design and orientation according to socialist ideals (e.g. Kulturpalast) were built at the Altmarkt.

From 1955 to 1958, a large part of the art treasures looted by the Soviet Union was returned, which meant that from 1960 onwards many state art collections could be opened in reconstructed facilities or interim exhibitions. Important orchestras such as the Staatskapelle performed in alternative venues (for example in the Kulturpalast from 1969). Some cultural institutions were moved out of the city center (for example the state library in Albertstadt). The Outer Neustadt, which was almost undamaged during the war was threatened with demolition in the 1980s following years of neglect, but was preserved following public protests.

To house the homeless large prefabricated housing estates were built on previously undeveloped land In Prohlis and Gorbitz. Damaged housing in the Johannstadt and other areas in the city center were demolished and replaced with large apartment blocks. The villa districts in Blasewitz, Striesen, Kleinzschachwitz, Loschwitz and on the Weißen Hirsch were largely preserved.

Dresden became a major industrial centre of East Germany, with a great deal of research infrastructure. It was the centre of ] (Dresden District) between 1952 and 1990. Many of the city's important historic buildings were reconstructed, including the ] and the ], although the city leaders chose to rebuild large areas of the city in a "socialist modern" style, partly for economic reasons, but also to break away from the city's past as the royal capital of Saxony and a stronghold of the German bourgeoisie.

Until the end of the Cold War, the ] of the Soviet Army and the 7th Panzer Division of the National People's Army were stationed in and around Dresden. Following reunification in 1989, the Soviet / Russian troops were withdrawn from Germany in the early 1990s and the NVA dissolved in accordance with the provisions of the ].

From 1985 to 1990, the future President of Russia, ], was stationed in Dresden by the ], where he worked for ], the senior ] liaison officer there. On 3 October 1989 (the so-called "battle of Dresden"), a convoy of trains carrying East German refugees from ] passed through Dresden on its way to the ]. Local activists and residents joined in the growing ] movement spreading across the German Democratic Republic, by staging demonstrations and demanding the removal of the communist government.

===Post-reunification===
]

Dresden has experienced dramatic changes since the reunification of Germany in the early 1990s. The city still bears many wounds from the ] of 1945, but it has undergone significant reconstruction. Restoration of the Dresden Frauenkirche, a Lutheran church, began in 1994 and was completed in 2005, a year before Dresden's 800th anniversary; this was done with the help of privately raised funds. The gold cross on the top of the church was funded officially by "the British people and the House of Windsor". The ] process, which includes the reconstruction of the area around the ] on which the Frauenkirche is situated, was expected to take decades, but numerous large projects were under way in the first part of the 21st century.

Dresden remains a major cultural centre of historical memory, owing to the city's destruction in World War II. Each year on 13 February, the anniversary of the ] that destroyed most of the city, tens of thousands of demonstrators gather to commemorate the event. Since reunification, the ceremony has taken on a more neutral and pacifist tone (after being used more politically during the ]). Beginning in 1999, right-wing ] ] groups have organised demonstrations in Dresden that have been among the largest of their type in the post-war ]. Each year around the anniversary of the city's destruction, people convene in the memory of those who died in the fire-bombing.

The completion of the reconstructed Dresden Frauenkirche in 2005 marked the first step in rebuilding the Neumarkt area. The areas around the square were divided into eight "quarters", with each being rebuilt as a separate project, the majority of buildings to be rebuilt either to the original structure or at least with a facade similar to the original. The quarters I, II, IV, V, VI and VIII have since been completed; quarters III and quarter VII were still partly under construction in 2020.

In 2002, torrential rains caused the ] to flood {{convert|9|m}} above its normal height, i.e., even higher than the old record height from 1845, damaging many landmarks (see ]). The destruction from this "millennium flood" is no longer visible, due to the speed of reconstruction.

The United Nations' cultural organization ] declared the ] to be a World Heritage Site in 2004.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206155054/http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1156 |date=6 December 2019 }}, UNESCO World Heritage Register. Retrieved 27 June 2009.</ref> After being placed on the list of endangered World Heritage Sites in 2006, the city lost the title in June 2009,<ref name="Dresden loses UNESCO world heritage status Archived 29 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629055947/http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4415238,00.html |date=29 June 2009 }}, '']'', 25 June 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2009.</ref><ref name="Connolly-2009">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jun/25/dresden-bridge-unesco-heritage-status|title=Bridge takes Dresden off Unesco world heritage list|work=]|date=25 June 2009|access-date=27 June 2009|first=Kate|last=Connolly|archive-date=4 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304132042/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/25/dresden-bridge-unesco-heritage-status|url-status=live}}</ref> due to the construction of the '']'', making it only the second ever World Heritage Site to be removed from the register.<ref name="Dresden loses UNESCO world heritage status Archived 29 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine"/><ref name="Connolly-2009"/> UNESCO stated in 2006 that the bridge would destroy the cultural landscape. The city council's legal moves, meant to prevent the bridge from being built, failed.<ref>{{in lang|de}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517215033/http://www.focus.de/kultur/leben/weltkulturerbe_aid_50621.html |date=17 May 2012 }}, '']'', 14 March 2007; accessed 15 May 2007</ref><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730011810/https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/522?svc_mode=P&g=260060136539&svc_campaign=information-200906-june&svc_partner=whc.unesco.org&estat_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwhc.unesco.org%2Fen%2Fnews%2F522 |date=30 July 2020 }}, '']'', 25 June 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.</ref>
{{clear}}

{{wide image|Dresden-nightpanorama-dri.jpg|1000px|Modern Dresden by night}}
{{wide image|DD-canaletto-blick.jpg|1000px|Dresden by day (])}}

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography and urban development of Dresden}}

===Location===
] a few kilometres outside of Dresden]]
]]]

Dresden lies on both banks of the ], mostly in the ], with the further reaches of the eastern ] to the south, the steep slope of the ]n granitic crust to the north, and the ] to the east at an altitude of about {{convert|113|m|ft|abbr=off}}. Triebenberg is the highest point in Dresden at {{convert|384|m|ft|abbr=off}}.<ref>Dresden.de: {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506182506/http://www.dresden.de/en/02/06/c_01.php|date=6 May 2008}}</ref>

With a pleasant location and a mild climate on the Elbe, as well as Baroque-style architecture and numerous world-renowned museums and art collections, Dresden has been called "Elbflorenz" (] on the Elbe). The incorporation of neighbouring ] over the past 60 years has made Dresden the fourth largest ] by area in Germany after Berlin, Hamburg and ].<ref name="List of cities in Germany with more than 100">]</ref>

The nearest German cities are ] {{convert|62|km|mi|abbr=off}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entfernungkm.com/route/dresden/chemnitz|title=Entfernung zwischen Dresden und Chemnitz|website=entfernungkm.com|language=de|access-date=18 December 2018|archive-date=18 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218193551/https://entfernungkm.com/route/dresden/chemnitz|url-status=live}}</ref> to the southwest, ] {{convert|100|km|mi|abbr=off}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entfernungkm.com/route/dresden/leipzig|title=Entfernung zwischen Dresden und Leipzig|website=entfernungkm.com|language=de|access-date=18 December 2018|archive-date=19 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219000825/https://entfernungkm.com/route/dresden/leipzig|url-status=live}}</ref> to the northwest and Berlin {{convert|165|km|mi|abbr=off}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entfernungkm.com/route/dresden/berlin|title=Entfernung zwischen Dresden und Berlin|website=entfernungkm.com|language=de|access-date=18 December 2018|archive-date=18 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218195200/https://entfernungkm.com/route/dresden/berlin|url-status=live}}</ref> to the north. ] (Czech Republic) is about {{convert|150|km|mi|abbr=off}} to the south and ] (Poland) {{convert|200|km|mi|abbr=off}} to the east.

===Nature===
Dresden is one of the greenest cities in all of Europe, with 62% of the city being green areas and forests.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dresden.de/de/stadtraum/umwelt/gruenes-dresden.php |title=Grünes Dresden |website=dresden.de |language=de |access-date=4 June 2020 |archive-date=3 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603142509/https://www.dresden.de/de/stadtraum/umwelt/gruenes-dresden.php |url-status=live }}</ref> The ] (''Dresdner Heide'') to the north is a forest {{cvt|50|km2}} in size. There are four ]s. The additional Special Conservation Areas cover {{cvt|18|km2}}. The protected gardens, parkways, parks and old graveyards host 110 natural monuments in the city.<ref>Dresden: {{cite web|url=http://www.dresden.de/index.html?node=6943|title=Dresden—a Green city|access-date=30 March 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041022094550/http://www.dresden.de/index.html?node=6943|archive-date=22 October 2004}}</ref> The ] is a former world heritage site which is focused on the conservation of the ] in Dresden. One important part of that landscape is the Elbe meadows, which cross the city in a 20 kilometre swath. ] is located south-east of the city.

===Climate===
Like most of eastern Germany, Dresden has an ] (] ''Cfb''), with significant continental influences due to its inland location. The summers are warm, averaging 19.0&nbsp;°C (66.2&nbsp;°F) in July. The winters are slightly colder than the German average, with a January average temperature of {{convert|0.1|°C|2|abbr=on}}. The driest months are February, March and April, with precipitation of around {{convert|40|mm|1|abbr=on}}. The wettest months are July and August, with more than {{convert|80|mm|1|abbr=on}} per month.

The microclimate in the ] differs from that on the slopes and in the higher areas, where the Dresden district ], at 227 metres ], hosts the Dresden ]. The weather in Klotzsche is {{convert|1|to|3|C-change|F-change|1|abbr=on}} colder than in the ] at 112 metres ].

{{Weather box |width = auto |location = Dresden(1971–2000 normals) |metric first =yes |single line = yes
|precipitation colour = green |collapsed=y
| Jan high C =2.7
| Feb high C =4.1
| Mar high C =8.4
| Apr high C =12.9
| May high C =18.7
| Jun high C =21.3
| Jul high C =23.6
| Aug high C =23.7
| Sep high C =18.8
| Oct high C =13.5
| Nov high C =6.9
| Dec high C =4.0
| Jan low C =-2.2
| Feb low C =-1.8
| Mar low C =1.3
| Apr low C =3.9
| May low C =8.6
| Jun low C =11.8
| Jul low C =13.7
| Aug low C =13.6
| Sep low C =10.4
| Oct low C =6.4
| Nov low C =1.9
| Dec low C =-0.6
| Jan precipitation mm =44.3
| Feb precipitation mm =34.9
| Mar precipitation mm =43.1
| Apr precipitation mm =47.3
| May precipitation mm =60.0
| Jun precipitation mm =68.5
| Jul precipitation mm =82.0
| Aug precipitation mm =77.9
| Sep precipitation mm =49.6
| Oct precipitation mm =44.5
| Nov precipitation mm =53.5
| Dec precipitation mm =56.9
| Jan precipitation days =9.8
| Feb precipitation days =8.9
| Mar precipitation days =8.8
| Apr precipitation days =9.3
| May precipitation days =8.6
| Jun precipitation days =10.5
| Jul precipitation days =10.3
| Aug precipitation days =9.2
| Sep precipitation days =8.3
| Oct precipitation days =8.2
| Nov precipitation days =10.6
| Dec precipitation days =11.1
|source = WMO<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=1343 |title=World Weather Information Service-Dresden |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=worldweather |publisher=WMO}}</ref>
}}
{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Dresden (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1934–present)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 16.8
|Feb record high C = 20.0
|Mar record high C = 24.4
|Apr record high C = 29.5
|May record high C = 31.7
|Jun record high C = 38.2
|Jul record high C = 36.4
|Aug record high C = 37.4
|Sep record high C = 33.9
|Oct record high C = 27.8
|Nov record high C = 19.5
|Dec record high C = 17.7
|year record high C = 38.2
|Jan high C = 3.0
|Feb high C = 4.5
|Mar high C = 8.5
|Apr high C = 14.3
|May high C = 18.8
|Jun high C = 22.2
|Jul high C = 24.5
|Aug high C = 24.2
|Sep high C = 19.1
|Oct high C = 13.5
|Nov high C = 7.6
|Dec high C = 4.1
|year high C = 13.7
|Jan mean C = 0.6
|Feb mean C = 1.5
|Mar mean C = 4.7
|Apr mean C = 9.7
|May mean C = 14.0
|Jun mean C = 17.3
|Jul mean C = 19.4
|Aug mean C = 19.1
|Sep mean C = 14.6
|Oct mean C = 9.8
|Nov mean C = 5.0
|Dec mean C = 1.7
|year mean C = 9.8
|Jan low C = -2.0
|Feb low C = -1.5
|Mar low C = 1.1
|Apr low C = 4.8
|May low C = 8.9
|Jun low C = 12.3
|Jul low C = 14.3
|Aug low C = 14.1
|Sep low C = 10.4
|Oct low C = 6.5
|Nov low C = 2.4
|Dec low C = -0.7
|year low C = 5.9
|Jan record low C = -25.3
|Feb record low C = -23.0
|Mar record low C = -16.5
|Apr record low C = -6.3
|May record low C = -3.4
|Jun record low C = 0.9
|Jul record low C = 6.1
|Aug record low C = 5.4
|Sep record low C = 0.0
|Oct record low C = -6.0
|Nov record low C = -13.2
|Dec record low C = -21.0
|year record low C = -25.3
| precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 42.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 32.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 42.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 36.3
|May precipitation mm = 62.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 62.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 84.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 80.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 51.7
|Oct precipitation mm = 49.9
|Nov precipitation mm = 47.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 44.0
|year precipitation mm =
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 17.4
|Feb precipitation days = 14.4
|Mar precipitation days = 15.1
|Apr precipitation days = 11.4
|May precipitation days = 13.7
|Jun precipitation days = 13.5
|Jul precipitation days = 14.6
|Aug precipitation days = 12.7
|Sep precipitation days = 11.9
|Oct precipitation days = 14.0
|Nov precipitation days = 14.7
|Dec precipitation days = 16.1
|year precipitation days = 169.4
|Jan sun = 62.0
|Feb sun = 82.1
|Mar sun = 127.0
|Apr sun = 187.3
|May sun = 222.0
|Jun sun = 221.3
|Jul sun = 233.8
|Aug sun = 222.8
|Sep sun = 164.2
|Oct sun = 119.9
|Nov sun = 67.9
|Dec sun = 60.0
|year sun = 1770.4
|Jan humidity = 82.6
|Feb humidity = 78.7
|Mar humidity = 74.4
|Apr humidity = 67.0
|May humidity = 67.9
|Jun humidity = 68.5
|Jul humidity = 67.1
|Aug humidity = 67.8
|Sep humidity = 74.9
|Oct humidity = 79.8
|Nov humidity = 84.3
|Dec humidity = 83.7
| year humidity =74.7
|unit snow days = 1.0 cm
|Jan snow days = 12.1
|Feb snow days = 9.8
|Mar snow days = 4.5
|Apr snow days = 0.6
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0.1
|Nov snow days = 2.2
|Dec snow days = 6.4
|year snow days = 35.7
| source 1 = ]<ref>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230916125836/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Dresden-Klotzsche_10488.csv
| archive-date = 16 September 2023
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Dresden-Klotzsche_10488.csv
| title = Dresden-Klotzsche Climate Normals 1991–2020
| publisher = ]
| access-date = 16 September 2023}}</ref>
|source 2=Data derived from ]<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.dwd.de/bvbw/appmanager/bvbw/dwdwwwDesktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=_dwdwww_klima_umwelt_klimadaten_deutschland&T82002gsbDocumentPath=Navigation%2FOeffentlichkeit%2FKlima__Umwelt%2FKlimadaten%2Fkldaten__kostenfrei%2Fausgabe__monatswerte__node.html%3F__nnn%3Dtrue
|title=Ausgabe der Klimadaten: Monatswerte
|access-date=4 March 2013
|archive-date=12 June 2014
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612043121/http://www.dwd.de/bvbw/appmanager/bvbw/dwdwwwDesktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=_dwdwww_klima_umwelt_klimadaten_deutschland&T82002gsbDocumentPath=Navigation%2FOeffentlichkeit%2FKlima__Umwelt%2FKlimadaten%2Fkldaten__kostenfrei%2Fausgabe__monatswerte__node.html%3F__nnn%3Dtrue
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.wetterzentrale.de/extremes_mon.php?station=1048&maand=1&country=1&order=1&extreem=X_TX
|title = Extremwertanalyse der DWD-Stationen, Tagesmaxima, Dekadenrekorde, usw.
|publisher = DWD
|language = de
|access-date = 12 December 2023}}</ref>(precipitation(Klotzsche)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dwd.de/DE/leistungen/klimadatendeutschland/mittelwerte/nieder_9120_SV_html.html?view=nasPublication&nn=771428 |title=Niederschlag: vieljährige Mittelwerte 1991 - 2020 |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=dwd |publisher=Deutscher Wetterdinest}}</ref>}}

===Flood protection===
Because of its location on the banks of the Elbe, into which some water sources from the Ore Mountains flow, flood protection is important. Large areas are kept free of buildings to provide a flood plain. Two additional trenches, about 50 metres wide, have been built to keep the inner city free of water from the Elbe, by dissipating the water downstream through the inner city's gorge portion. Flood regulation systems like ]s and ]s are almost all outside the ].

The ], normally a rather small river, suddenly ran directly into the main station of Dresden during the ]. This was largely because the river returned to its former route; it had been diverted so that a railway could run along the river bed.

Many locations and areas need to be protected by walls and sheet pilings during floods. A number of districts become waterlogged if the Elbe overflows across some of its former floodplains.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dresden.de/de/stadtraum/umwelt/umwelt/hochwasser/vergangenheit.php|title=Hochwasser in der Vergangenheit|website=www.dresden.de|accessdate=4 April 2023}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Weisseritz in Löbtau zur Jahrhundertflut 2002.jpg|Floods in 2002
File:Semperoper-flood-2005-03-22.jpg|] during 2005 floods
File:Flood dresden april2006 004.jpg|Elbe flood in April 2006
File:Elbe 030406 2.jpg|Dresden skyline in 2006
File:Elbe-Hochwasser-Dresden-Juni2013-18.jpg|]
</gallery>

===City structuring===

Dresden is a spacious city. Its boroughs differ in their structure and appearance. Many parts still contain an old village core, while some quarters are almost completely preserved as rural settings. Other characteristic kinds of urban areas are the historic outskirts of the city, and the former suburbs with scattered housing. During the German Democratic Republic, many apartment blocks were built. The original parts of the city are almost all in the boroughs of Altstadt (Old town) and Neustadt (New town). Growing outside the ], the historic outskirts were built in the 18th and 19th century. They were planned and constructed on the orders of the Saxon monarchs and many of them are named after Saxon sovereigns (e.g. ] and ]). Dresden has been divided into ten boroughs called "Stadtbezirk" and nine former municipalities ("Ortschaften") which have been incorporated since 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dresden.de/media/pdf/amtsblatt/dresdner-amtsblatt-2018-37.pdf#page=29 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.dresden.de/media/pdf/amtsblatt/dresdner-amtsblatt-2018-37.pdf#page=29 |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live|title=Satzung zur Änderung der Hauptsatzung der Landeshauptstadt Dresden vom 4. September 2014|pages=29–32}}</ref>

==Demographics==

{{Historical populations
|source={{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}
<br>Source for 2001–2022: <ref>{{cite web |title=Germany: States and Major Cities|url=https://citypopulation.de/en/germany/cities/}}</ref>
|1501|2,500
|1603|14,793
|1699|21,298
|1727|46,472
|1755|63,209
|1772|44,760
|1800|61,794
|1813|51,175
|1830|61,886
|1840|82,014
|1852|104,199
|1861|128,152
|1871|177,089
|1880|220,818
|1890|276,522
|1900|396,146
|1905|516,996
|1910|548,308
|1916|528,732
|1920|540,900
|1925|619,157
|1930|633,441
|1933|649,252
|1935|637,052
|1940|626,900
|1944|566,738
|1945|368,519
|1946|467,966
|1950|494,187
|1955|496,548
|1960|493,603
|1965|508,119
|1970|502,432
|1975|509,331
|1980|516,225
|1985|519,769
|1990|490,571
|1995|469,110
|2001|478,631|2011|512,354|2022|557,782}}

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
|+Top 10 non-German populations<ref>{{cite web|title=Bevölkerung und Haushalte 2017|url=https://www.dresden.de/media/pdf/onlineshop/statistikstelle/Broschuere_Bevoelkerung_und_Haushalte_2016.pdf|access-date=19 June 2018|archive-date=19 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619163605/https://www.dresden.de/media/pdf/onlineshop/statistikstelle/Broschuere_Bevoelkerung_und_Haushalte_2016.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! Nationality||Population (31 December 2022)
|-
|{{flag|Ukraine}}||8,961
|-
|{{flag|Syria}}||2,395
|-
|{{flag|Russia}}||2,342
|-
|{{flag|Vietnam}}||2,230
|-
|{{flag|Poland}}||1,943
|-
|{{flag|China}}||1,739
|-
|{{flag|Italy}}||1,549
|-
|{{flag|Czech Republic}}||1,276
|-
|{{flag|Romania}}||1,126
|-
|{{flag|India}}||1,078
|}

The population of Dresden grew to 100,000 inhabitants in 1852, making it one of the first German cities after ], Berlin and ] (Wrocław) to reach that number. The population peaked at 649,252 in 1933, and dropped to 368,519 in 1945 because of World War II, during which large residential areas of the city were destroyed. After large incorporations and city restoration, the population grew to 522,532 again between 1946 and 1983.<ref>Dresden: {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912224206/http://dresden.de/de/02/06/c_020_Einwohnerzahl.php|date=12 September 2008}}</ref>

Since ], demographic development has been very unsteady. The city has struggled with migration and suburbanisation. During the 1990s the population increased to 480,000 because of several incorporations, and decreased to 452,827 in 1998. Between 2000 and 2010, the population grew quickly by more than 45,000 inhabitants (about 9.5%) due to a stabilised economy and re-urbanisation. Along with ] and ], Dresden is one of the ten fastest-growing cities in Germany.<ref name="List of cities in Germany with more than 100"/>

{{As of|2019}} the population of the city of Dresden was 557,075,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statistik.sachsen.de/download/bevoelkerung/aktuell_statistik-sachsen_a-I-1_einwohnerzahlen-monat.pdf |title=Bevölkerung des Freistaates Sachsen jeweils am Monatsende ausgewählter Berichtsmonate nach Gemeinden |website=statistik.sachsen.de |language=de |access-date=3 June 2020 |archive-date=3 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603134947/https://www.statistik.sachsen.de/download/bevoelkerung/aktuell_statistik-sachsen_a-I-1_einwohnerzahlen-monat.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> the population of the Dresden agglomeration was 790,400 {{As of|2018|lc=y}},<ref name="citypopulation.de quoting Federal Statistics Office"/> and {{As of|2019|lc=y}} the population of the Dresden metropolitan area, which includes the neighbouring districts of ], ], ] and ], was 1,343,305.<ref name="Eurostat"/>

As of 2018 about 50.0% of the population was female.<ref name="dresden.de">{{cite web|url=https://www.dresden.de/de/leben/stadtportrait/statistik/bevoelkerung-gebiet/Bevoelkerungsbestand.php|title=Dresden – Bevölkerungsbestand|website=dresden.de|language=de|access-date=27 May 2019|archive-date=27 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527151719/https://www.dresden.de/de/leben/stadtportrait/statistik/bevoelkerung-gebiet/Bevoelkerungsbestand.php|url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2007}} the mean age of the population was 43 years, which is the lowest among the urban districts in Saxony.<ref>Statistical office of the Free State of Saxony: {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411203814/http://www.statistik.sachsen.de/12/pressearchiv/archiv2007/pm15907.htm |date=11 April 2008 }} (German: "Saxons are on average 45 years old – those from Dresden the youngest, those from Hoyerswerda the oldest)</ref> {{As of|2018|12|31}} there were 67,841 people with a migration background (12.1% of the population, increased from 7.2% in 2010), and about two-thirds of these, 44,665 or about 8.0% of all Dresden citizens were foreigners.<ref name="dresden.de" /> This percentage increased from 4.1% in 2010.

==Governance==
Dresden is one of Germany's 16 political centres{{what|date=August 2023}} and the capital of Saxony. It has institutions of democratic local self-administration that are independent from the capital functions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jura.uos.de/institut/jkr/gosachse.htm|title=Gemeindeordnung für den Freistaat Sachsen (SächsGemO), §2|access-date=27 May 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312043329/http://www.jura.uos.de/institut/jkr/gosachse.htm|archive-date=12 March 2007}}</ref>

Dresden hosted some international summits in recent years, such as the Petersburg Dialogue between Russia and Germany,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://petersburger-dialog.de/russland-in-dresden/ |title=Russland in Dresden |website=petersburger-dialog.de |language=de |access-date=11 May 2020 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730011729/https://petersburger-dialog.de/russland-in-dresden/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the European Union's ] conference<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statewatch.org/news/2007/jan/dresden-future-jha.pdf |title=Informal Meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers |website=statewatch.org |access-date=11 May 2020 |archive-date=20 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220075317/http://www.statewatch.org/news/2007/jan/dresden-future-jha.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and the ] labour ministers conference.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/g8-labor-ministers-call-for-more-social-engagement-by-business/a-2480945 |title=G8 Labor Ministers Call for More Social Engagement by Business |website=Deutsche Welle |date=7 May 2007 |access-date=12 May 2020 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730004437/https://www.dw.com/en/g8-labor-ministers-call-for-more-social-engagement-by-business/a-2480945 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Mayor===
{{Main|City Council of Dresden}}
The ] is the legislative branch of the city government. The council gives orders to the mayor ({{lang-de|link=no|Bürgermeister}}) via resolutions and decrees, and thus also has some degree of executive power.<ref>Dresden.de: {{cite web|url=http://www.dresden.de/en/02/c_04.php|title=City Council|access-date=24 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205031703/http://www.dresden.de/en/02/c_04.php|archive-date=5 February 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dresden.de/en/02/c_01.php|title=Dresden.de|access-date=24 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205031638/http://www.dresden.de/en/02/c_01.php|archive-date=5 February 2008}}</ref>

]

The first freely elected mayor after German reunification was ] of the ] (CDU), who served from 1990 to 2001. The mayor was originally chosen by the city council, but since 1994 has been directly elected. Ingolf Roßberg of the ] (FDP) served from 2001 until 2008. He was succeeded by ] (CDU). ] was elected mayor in 2015 under the banner "Independent Citizens for Dresden". He was nominated by the FDP and ], and was endorsed by the CDU and ] in the runoff. The most recent mayoral election was held on 12 June 2022, with a runoff held on 10 July, and the results were as follows:

{{election table}}
! rowspan=2 colspan=2| Candidate
! rowspan=2| Party
! colspan=2| First round
! colspan=2| Second round
|-
! Votes
! %
! Votes
! %
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}|
| align=left| ''']'''
| align=left| Independent Citizens for Dresden<br>{{small|(], ], ])}}
| 66,165
| 32.5
| '''80,483'''
| '''45.3'''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}|
| align=left| Eva Jähnigen
| align=left| ]<br>{{small|(plus ], ], ] in the runoff)}}
| 38,473
| 18.9
| 67,947
| 38.3
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}|
| align=left| Albrecht Pallas
| align=left| ]
| 31,068
| 15.2
| align=center colspan=2| ''Withdrew''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}|
| align=left| ]
| align=left| ]
| 28,971
| 14.2
| 21,741
| 12.2
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}|
| align=left| André Schollbach
| align=left| ]
| 20,898
| 10.3
| align=center colspan=2| ''Withdrew''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}|
| align=left| Marcus Fuchs
| align=left| ]
| 6,856
| 3.4
| 3,549
| 2.0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Pirate Party Germany}}|
| align=left| Martin Schulte-Wissermann
| align=left| ]
| 5,975
| 2.9
| align=center colspan=2| ''Withdrew''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}|
| align=left| Sascha Wolff
| align=left| ]
| 2,695
| 1.3
| align=center colspan=2| ''Withdrew''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Die PARTEI}}|
| align=left| Jan Pöhnisch
| align=left| ]
| 2,684
| 1.3
| 3,824
| 2.2
|-
! colspan=3| Valid votes
! 203,785
! 99.4
! 177,544
! 99.5
|-
! colspan=3| Invalid votes
! 1,145
! 0.6
! 974
! 0.5
|-
! colspan=3| Total
! 204,930
! 100.0
! 178,518
! 100.0
|-
! colspan=3| Electorate/voter turnout
! 432,294
! 47.4
! 431,967
! 41.3
|-
| colspan=7| Source: City of Dresden (, )
|}

===City council=== ===City council===
The most recent city council election was held on 9 June 2024, and the results were as follows:
]
]

The most recent city council election was held on 26 May 2019, and the results were as follows:


{{election table}} {{election table}}
Line 661: Line 10:
! +/- ! +/-
|- |-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| | bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}|
| align=left| ] (Grüne) | align=left| ] (AfD)
| 171,630 | 170,346
| 20.5 | 19.4
| {{increase}} 4.8 | {{increase}} 2.3
| 15 | 14
| {{increase}} 4 | {{increase}} 2
|- |-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| | bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}|
| align=left| ] (CDU) | align=left| ] (CDU)
| 153,022 | 157,717
| 18.3 | 18.0
| {{decrease}} 9.3 | {{decrease}} 0.3
| 13 | 13
| {{decrease}} 8 | {{steady}} 0
|- |-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}| | bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}|
| align=left| ] (AfD) | align=left| ] (Grüne)
| 143,207 | 128,099
| 17.2 | 14.6
| {{increase}} 10.1 | {{decrease}} 5.9
| 12 | 10
| {{increase}} 7 | {{decrease}} 5
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}|
| align=left| ] (Die Linke)
| 135,613
| 16.2
| {{decrease}} 4.7
| 12
| {{decrease}} 3
|- |-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| | bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}|
| align=left| ] (SPD) | align=left| ] (SPD)
| 73,627 | 78,652
| 8.8 | 9.0
| {{decrease}} 4.0 | {{increase}} 0.2
| 6 | 6
| {{decrease}} 3 | {{steady}} 0
|- |-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}| | bgcolor=ffe228|
| align=left| ] (FDP) | align=left| ]
| 62,613 | 71,163
| 7.5 | 8.1
| New
| {{increase}} 2.5
| 6
| New
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}|
| align=left| ] (Die Linke)
| 68,012
| 7.8
| {{decrease}} 8.4
| 5 | 5
| {{increase}} 2 | {{decrease}} 7
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht}}|
| align=left| ] (BSW)
| 63,108
| 7.2
| New
| 5
| New
|- |-
| |
| align=left| ] (WV) | align=left| Free Voters Dresden (WV)
| 44,725 | 31,110
| 5.3 | 3.5
| {{increase}} 5.2 | {{decrease}} 1.8
| 4 | 2
| {{increase}} 4 | {{decrease}} 2
|- |-
| bgcolor={{party color|Pirate Party Germany}}| | bgcolor={{party color|Pirate Party Germany}}|
| align=left| ] (Piraten) | align=left| ] (Piraten)
| 20,516 | 27,736
| 2.4 | 3.2
| {{decrease}} 0.9 | {{increase}} 0.8
| 1 | 2
| {{decrease}} 1 | {{increase}} 1
|-

| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}|
| align=left| ] (FDP)
| 24,464
| 2.8
| {{decrease}} 4.7
| 2
| {{decrease}} 3
|- |-
| bgcolor={{party color|Die PARTEI}}| | bgcolor={{party color|Die PARTEI}}|
| align=left| ] (PARTEI) | align=left| ] (PARTEI)
| 15,268 | 16,363
| 1.8 | 1.9
| {{increase}} 0.9 | {{increase}} 0.1
| 1 | 1
| {{increase}} 1 | {{increase}} 1
|- |-
| bgcolor={{party color|Freie Sachsen}}|
|
| align=left| ] (FBD) | align=left| ] (FS)
| 12,652 | 13,304
| 1.5 | 1.5
| New
| {{decrease}} 2.3
| 1 | 1
| New
| {{decrease}} 1
|- |-
| bgcolor={{party color|National Democratic Party of Germany}}| | bgcolor={{party color|Volt Germany}}|
| align=left| ] (NPD) | align=left| ] (Volt)
| 4,744 | 10,522
| 0.6 | 1.2
| New
| {{decrease}} 2.2
| 0 | 1
| New
| {{decrease}} 2
|-
|
| align=left| Dissidents Dresden (DissDD)
| 8,365
| 1.0
| New
| 1
| New
|-
|
| align=left| Free Citizens Dresden (FBD)
| 8,290
| 0.9
| {{decrease}} 0.6
| 1
| {{steady}} 0
|- |-
! colspan=2| Valid votes ! colspan=2| Valid votes
! 288,060 ! 877,251
! 98.7 ! 96.3
! !
! !
Line 757: Line 139:
|- |-
! colspan=2| Invalid votes ! colspan=2| Invalid votes
! 3,937 ! 3,802
! 1.3 ! 1.3
! !
Line 764: Line 146:
|- |-
! colspan=2| Total ! colspan=2| Total
! 291,997 ! 303,717
! 100.0 ! 100.0
! !
Line 771: Line 153:
|- |-
! colspan=2| Electorate/voter turnout ! colspan=2| Electorate/voter turnout
! 436,179 ! 429,280
! 66.9 ! 70.8
! {{increase}} 17.9 ! {{increase}} 3.9
! !
! !
|- |-
| colspan=7| Source: | colspan=7| Source:
|} |}

===Public institutions===
] (''Saxon State Chancellery'') is an institution assisting the President of the State.]]

As the capital of Saxony, Dresden is home to the ] (''Landtag'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.landtag.sachsen.de/slt_online/start_eng.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315111458/http://www.landtag.sachsen.de/slt_online/start_eng.asp|url-status=dead|title=Sächsischer Landtag|archivedate=15 March 2008|accessdate=4 April 2023}}</ref> and the ministries of the Saxon Government. The controlling ] is in Leipzig. The highest Saxon court in civil and ], is the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.justiz.sachsen.de/olg/content/47.htm|title=Oberlandesgericht Dresden|access-date=25 February 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102044810/http://www.justiz.sachsen.de/olg/content/47.htm|archive-date=2 January 2008}}</ref>

Most of the Saxon state authorities are located in Dresden. Dresden is home to the Regional Commission of the ], which is a controlling authority for the Saxon Government.

Like many cities in Germany, Dresden is also home to a local court, has a trade corporation and a Chamber of Industry and Trade and many subsidiaries of federal agencies (such as the Federal Labour Office or the ]). It hosts some divisions of the German Customs and ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsa-elbe.wsv.de/Webs/WSA/Elbe/DE/WSA-Elbe/05_AnfahrtAdressen/01_WSAElbe/Elbe.html |title=Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsamt Elbe |website=wsa-elbe.wsv.de |language=de |access-date=17 November 2021 |archive-date=18 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118155633/https://www.wsa-elbe.wsv.de/Webs/WSA/Elbe/DE/WSA-Elbe/05_AnfahrtAdressen/01_WSAElbe/Elbe.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Dresden is home to a military subdistrict command, but no longer has large military units as it did in the past. Dresden is the traditional location for ] schooling in Germany, today carried out in the {{ill|Offizierschule des Heeres|de}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/organisation/heer/organisation/ausbildungskommando/offizierschule-des-heeres |title=Offizierschule des Heeres |website=bundeswehr.de |language=de |access-date=4 June 2020 |archive-date=29 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529101934/https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/organisation/heer/organisation/ausbildungskommando/offizierschule-des-heeres |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Local affairs===
] is a subject of controversy in Dresden and other parts of Germany.]]

Local affairs in Dresden often centre around the ] of the city and its spaces. Architecture and the design of ] is a controversial subject. Discussions about the ], a bridge under construction across the Elbe, received international attention because of its position across the ] ]. The city held a public referendum in 2005 on whether to build the bridge, prior to UNESCO expressing doubts about the compatibility between bridge and heritage. Its construction caused loss of World Heritage site status in 2009.<ref>]: {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730232811/https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/265 |date=30 July 2020 }}</ref>

In 2006, the city of Dresden sold its publicly ] organization, WOBA Dresden GmbH, to the US-based private ] ]. The city received {{Nowrap|987.1 million}} euro and paid off its remaining loans, making it the first large city in Germany to become debt-free. Opponents of the sale were concerned about Dresden's loss of control over the ].<ref>Dresden: {{cite web|url=http://www.dresden.de/index.html?node=33040|title=Saleof the WOBA Dresden GmbH|access-date=26 February 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312023055/http://www.dresden.de/index.html?node=33040|archive-date=12 March 2016}}</ref>

Dresden has been the center of groups and activities of far-right movements. Politicians and politics of ] (AfD) have a strong backing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2014-12/pegida-dresden-politische-tradition|title=Pegida suits Saxony (Pegida passt nach Sachsen)|newspaper=Die Zeit |date=16 December 2014 |access-date=2 November 2019|archive-date=21 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921204231/https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2014-12/pegida-dresden-politische-tradition|url-status=live |last1=Lühmann |first1=Michael }}</ref> Starting in October 2014, ], a ] political movement based in Dresden has been organizing weekly demonstrations against what it perceives as the ] of Europe at the height of the ]. As the number of demonstrators increased to 15,000 in December 2014, so has the international media coverage of it.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kirschbaum|first1=Erik|title=Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West quickly gathering support in Germany|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/patriotic-europeans-against-the-islamisation-of-the-west-quickly-gathering-support-in-germany-20141216-128105.html|access-date=16 December 2014|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=16 December 2014|archive-date=16 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216050101/http://www.smh.com.au/world/patriotic-europeans-against-the-islamisation-of-the-west-quickly-gathering-support-in-germany-20141216-128105.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, since 2015, the number of demonstrators has decreased significantly.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/pegida-in-dresden-demonstrieren-tausende-gegen-auslaenderfeindliche-bewegung-a-1292451.html |title=Kundgebung von Pegida – Tausende Gegendemonstranten |website=Spiegel Online |language=de |date=20 October 2019 |access-date=12 May 2020 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730040733/https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/pegida-in-dresden-demonstrieren-tausende-gegen-auslaenderfeindliche-bewegung-a-1292451.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, the Dresden City Council passed a policy statement against "anti-democratic, anti-pluralist, misanthropic and right-wing-extremist developments".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spd-fraktion-dresden.de/2019/10/22/nazinotstand-grundsatzerklaerung-zum-gegenwirken-antidemokratischer-antipluralistischer-menschenfeindlicher-und-rechtsextremistischer-entwicklungen-in-der-dresdner-stadtgesellschaft-staerkung-d/ |title=Nazinotstand? – Grundsatzerklärung zum Gegenwirken antidemokratischer, antipluralistischer, menschenfeindlicher und rechtsextremistischer Entwicklungen in der Dresdner Stadtgesellschaft – Stärkung der Zivilgesellschaft |website=spd-fraktion-dresden.de |date=22 October 2019 |language=de |access-date=23 May 2020 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730032931/http://spd-fraktion-dresden.de/2019/10/22/nazinotstand-grundsatzerklaerung-zum-gegenwirken-antidemokratischer-antipluralistischer-menschenfeindlicher-und-rechtsextremistischer-entwicklungen-in-der-dresdner-stadtgesellschaft-staerkung-d/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The motion was originally put forward by the satirical political party ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mdr.de/sachsen/dresden/dresden-radebeul/dresden-ruft-nazinotstand-aus-100.html |title=Debatte über "Nazinotstand": Dresden verabschiedet Grundsatzerklärung gegen Rechts |website=mdr.de |language=de |date=31 October 2019 |access-date=23 May 2020 |archive-date=12 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512081830/https://www.mdr.de/sachsen/dresden/dresden-radebeul/dresden-ruft-nazinotstand-aus-100.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ], ], ] and Die Partei voted in favour of the statement. The ] and ] voted against it. Among other things, the statement calls on strengthening democracy, protecting human rights and raising spending on (political) education.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.br.de/nachrichten/deutschland-welt/nazinotstand-dresden-fasst-beschluss-gegen-rechtsextremismus,RgaXyqG |title=Dresden ruft "Nazinotstand" aus |access-date=2 November 2019 |language=de |archive-date=2 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102102428/https://www.br.de/nachrichten/deutschland-welt/nazinotstand-dresden-fasst-beschluss-gegen-rechtsextremismus,RgaXyqG |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}}

Dresden and ] became twins after World War II in an act of ], as both had suffered near-total destruction from ]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.coventry.gov.uk/directory_record/6210/dresden_germany|title=Coventry's twin towns and cities – Dresden, Germany|website=coventry.gov.uk/|access-date=12 June 2020|archive-date=12 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612225052/https://www.coventry.gov.uk/directory_record/6210/dresden_germany|url-status=live}}</ref> Similar symbolism occurred in 1988, when Dresden twinned with the Dutch city of ]. The ] and ] bombardments by the German ] are also considered to be ].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Maier |first1=Charles S. |title=Targeting the city: Debates and silences about the aerial bombing of World War II |journal=International Review of the Red Cross |date=September 2005 |volume=87 |issue=859|pages=429–444 |doi=10.1017/S1816383100184322 |s2cid=145528839 }}</ref>

Dresden has had a triangular partnership with ] and ] since 1987. Dresden is ] with:<ref>{{cite web|title=Partnerstädte und befreundete Städte|url=https://www.dresden.de/de/leben/stadtportrait/europa/partnerstaedte-und-befreundete-staedte.php|website=dresden.de|publisher=Dresden|language=de|access-date=12 February 2021|archive-date=2 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302195301/https://www.dresden.de/de/leben/stadtportrait/europa/partnerstaedte-und-befreundete-staedte.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*], England, United Kingdom (1959)
*], Russia (1961, suspended)
*], Poland (1963)
*], North Macedonia (1967)
*], Czech Republic (1971)
*], Congo (1975)
*], Italy (1978)
*], Germany (1987)
*], Netherlands (1988)
*], France (1990)
*], Austria (1991)
*], United States (1992)
*], France (1994)
*], China (2009)
{{div col end}}

===Friendly cities===
Dresden also has friendly relations with:<ref>{{cite web|title=Befreundete Städte|url=https://www.dresden.de/de/leben/stadtportrait/europa/partnerstaedte-und-befreundete-staedte.php|website=dresden.de|publisher=Dresden|language=de|access-date=12 February 2021|archive-date=2 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302195301/https://www.dresden.de/de/leben/stadtportrait/europa/partnerstaedte-und-befreundete-staedte.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
*], South Korea
*], Poland
*], Iran

==Cityscape==
] at the ]]]

===Architecture===
Although Dresden is often said to be a ] city, its architecture is influenced by more than one style. Other eras of importance are the ] and ], as well as the contemporary styles of ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sidetracksgermany.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/dresden-architecture/|title=Dresden – Architecture|date=4 May 2013|website=Sidetracks Germany|language=en|access-date=17 November 2019|archive-date=17 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117190740/https://sidetracksgermany.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/dresden-architecture/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Dresden has some 13,000 listed cultural monuments and eight districts under general preservation orders.<ref>Dresden: {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080129204608/http://www.dresden.de/en/05/040_Monument_preservation.php|date=29 January 2008}}</ref>

====Royal household====
]]]

The ] was the seat of the ] from 1485. The wings of the building have been renewed, built upon and restored many times. Due to this integration of styles, the castle is made up of elements of the ], ] and ] styles.<ref>Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden: {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060323094325/http://www.skd-dresden.de/en/gebaeude/residenzschloss/geschichte.html|date=23 March 2006}}</ref>

The ] is across the road from the castle. It was built on the old stronghold of the city and was converted to a centre for the royal art collections and a place to hold festivals. Its gate by the moat is surmounted by a golden crown.<ref>Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden: {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927012157/http://www.skd-dresden.de/en/gebaeude/zwinger_mit_semperbau/geschichte.html|date=27 September 2007}}</ref>

Other royal buildings and ensembles:
* ] was a gift to ], and became an ensemble of buildings above the river Elbe.
* ] with the ] and other castles

====Sacred buildings====
]'s Dresden included the ] during construction.]]

The ] was the church of the royal household. ], who desired to be ], converted to Catholicism, as Polish kings had to be Catholic. At that time Dresden was strictly Protestant. Augustus the Strong ordered the building of the Hofkirche, the Roman Catholic Cathedral, to establish a sign of Roman Catholic religious importance in Dresden. The church is the cathedral "Sanctissimae Trinitatis" since 1980. The crypt of the ] is located within the church.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bistum-dresden-meissen.de/32/40/43/index.php|title=Bistum Dresden-Meißen – katholische Kirche|language=de|website=bistum-dresden-meissen.de|access-date=20 September 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306221223/http://www.bistum-dresden-meissen.de/32/40/43/index.php|archive-date=6 March 2008}}</ref> King Augustus III of Poland is buried in the cathedral, as one of very few Polish Kings to be buried outside the ] in ].

In contrast to the Hofkirche, the Lutheran ] located at the ] was built almost contemporaneously by the citizens of Dresden. The city's historic Kreuzkirche was reconsecrated in 1388.<ref>Evangelisch-Lutherische Kreuzkirchgemeinde Dresden: {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429044130/http://www.dresdner-kreuzkirche.de/index_e.html|date=29 April 2008}}</ref>

There are also other churches in Dresden, for example the ] ] in the Südvorstadt district.

====Historicism====
]]]

] buildings made their presence felt on the cityscape until the 1920s.

Notable examples of ] architecture in Dresden include the ] located at Brühl's Terrace as well as the ] and the Saxon State Ministry of Finance located on the northern Elbe river banks. The ], constructed in 1907, was a historicist church building that was demolished in August 1951.<ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Blaschke
| first1 = K.
| last2 = John
| first2 = U.
| last3 = Starke
| first3 = H.
| title = Geschichte der Stadt Dresden
| publisher = Theiss
| issue = v. 3
| year = 2006
| isbn = 978-3-8062-1928-9
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=S_PiAAAAMAAJ
| language = de
| access-date = 21 June 2018
| page = 626
}}</ref>

The ] was built in 1839 and was considered one of the most important villa buildings in Dresden, due to its ].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Helas|first=Volker|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DsDQBgAAQBAJ|title=Architektur in Dresden 1800 – 1900|date=1 December 2013|publisher=Springer-Verlag|isbn=978-3-322-84117-9|pages=27–29|language=de}}</ref>

] is a former cigarette factory building built in the style of a mosque between 1907 and 1909.

The most recent historicist buildings in Dresden date from the short era of ] in the 1950s, e.g. at the Altmarkt.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.spiegel.de/geschichte/berlin-dresden-leipzig-stalin-architektur-in-der-ddr-a-1221495.html |title=Moskaus kleine Schwestern: Stalins Städte in der DDR |website=DER SPIEGEL |language=de |date=31 August 2018 |access-date=4 June 2020 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730031050/https://www.spiegel.de/geschichte/berlin-dresden-leipzig-stalin-architektur-in-der-ddr-a-1221495.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

]

====Modernism====
The ''Garden City of ]'', at that time a suburb of Dresden, was founded in 1909. It was Germany's first ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rem.routledge.com/articles/hellerau |title=Hellerau |website=Routledge Encyclopedia of Modernism |access-date=4 June 2020 |archive-date=4 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604013034/https://www.rem.routledge.com/articles/hellerau |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1911, ] built the ] (festival theatre). Until the outbreak of World War I, Hellerau was a centre for European ] with international standing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hellerau.org/en/history/ |title=History |website=hellerau.org |access-date=4 June 2020 |archive-date=4 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604013033/https://www.hellerau.org/en/history/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wmf.org/project/festspielhaus-hellerau |title=Festspielhaus Hellerau |website=World Monuments Fund |access-date=4 June 2020 |archive-date=4 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604013041/https://www.wmf.org/project/festspielhaus-hellerau |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1950, Hellerau was incorporated into the city of Dresden. Today, the Hellerau reform architecture is recognized as exemplary. In the 1990s, the garden city of Hellerau became a ].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Entwurf zur Moderne : Hellerau: Stand Ort Bestimmung ; |date=1996|publisher=Dt. Verl.-Anst|others=Durth, Werner., Bracher, Erich., Wüstenrot-Stiftung.|isbn=3-421-03217-3|location=Stuttgart|oclc=312519193}}</ref>

The ] (built 1928–1930) is a signal example of ] in Dresden in the interwar period. The building is designed in an impressively monumental style, but employs plain façades and simple structures.

Important modernist buildings erected between 1945 and 1990 are the Centrum-Warenhaus (a large ]), representing the ], and the multi-purpose hall ].

====Contemporary architecture====
]

After 1990 and German reunification, new styles emerged. Important contemporary buildings include the ], a ] building with few windows, the ], the Saxon State Parliament and the New Terrace, the UFA-Kristallpalast cinema by ] (one of the biggest buildings of ] in Germany), and the ].

] and ] both modified existing buildings. Foster roofed the main railway station with translucent Teflon-coated synthetics. Libeskind changed the whole structure of the ] by placing a wedge through the historical arsenal building. According to Libeskind's studio, "he façade's openness and transparency is intended to contrast with the opacity and rigidity of the existing building."<ref>{{cite web|last=Libeskind|first=Daniel|title=Military History Museum: Dresden, Germany|url=http://daniel-libeskind.com/projects/military-history-museum|work=Studio Daniel Libeskind|date=12 March 2014 |access-date=4 June 2020|archive-date=1 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141201231527/http://daniel-libeskind.com/projects/military-history-museum|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Bridges====
Important bridges crossing the Elbe river are the ] bridge and the ].

====Statues====
]'s golden ] of August the Strong, the ''Goldener Reiter'' (Golden Cavalier), is on the Neustädter Markt square. It shows August at the beginning of the Hauptstraße (Main street) on his way to Warsaw, where he was King of Poland in personal union. Another statue is the memorial of ] in front of the Frauenkirche.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g187399-d9984802-Reviews-Martin_Luther_Monument-Dresden_Saxony.html|title=Martin Luther Monument (Dresden) – 2019 All You Need to Know Before You Go (with Photos) – Dresden, Germany|website=TripAdvisor|language=en-GB|access-date=29 January 2019|archive-date=30 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130161903/https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g187399-d9984802-Reviews-Martin_Luther_Monument-Dresden_Saxony.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Parks and gardens===
{{expand section|date=June 2020}}
] is a ] in central Dresden. It includes the ] and the ].

The ] is a large forest located in the northeast of Dresden and one of the city's most important recreation areas.

The park of ] is famous for its botanical treasures, including a more than 230-year-old ] and about 400 potted plants.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.schlosspillnitz.de/en/pillnitz-palace-park/ |title=Pillnitz Palace & Park |website=schlosspillnitz.de |access-date=2 July 2020 |archive-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703130207/https://www.schlosspillnitz.de/en/pillnitz-palace-park/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Main sights===
<gallery mode="packed-hover" widths="100px" heights="100px">
File:Dresden-Frauenkirche-night.jpg|]
File:Dresden-Zwinger.courtyard.07.JPG|]
File:Dresden Germany Exterior-of-Semperoper-01.jpg|]
File:Dresden - Blick auf die Altstadt.jpg|Dresden New Town Hall
File:Akademie. Dresden.jpg|]
File:Dresden Kreuzkirche 2008.jpg|]
File:Dresden Fürstenzug 065.JPG|]
File:Dresden-Muenzgasse1.jpg|Münzgasse at ]
File:DD-Schloss-gp.jpg|]
File:Dresden-Hofkirche.04.jpg|]
File:Dresden-Yenidze-night.jpg|] at night
File:Dresden_Aeussere_Neustadt.jpg|]
File:Pillnitz13.jpg|]
File:Hygienemuseum.jpg|]
File:Militärhistorisches_Museum_der_Bundeswehr_October_2011.jpg|]
File:Blaueswunder01.jpg|]
File:Nymphenbad_1.JPG|''Nymphenbad''
File:Luftbildaufnahme des Großen Gartens in Dresden.jpg|]
</gallery>

==Culture==
{{Main|Culture in Dresden}}
], completely rebuilt and reopened in 1985]]

] and ] had a number of their works performed for the first time in Dresden.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.semperoper.de/en/about/semperoper-dresden/history-of-the-semperoper.html|title=History of the Semperoper|publisher=]|access-date=12 June 2024}}</ref> Other artists, such as ], ], ], ], ] and ], were also active in the city.{{Citation needed|date=March 2015}} Dresden is also home to several art collections and musical ensembles.

===Entertainment===
]]]

The Saxon State Opera descends from the opera company of the former electors and Kings of Saxony. Their first opera house was the {{lang|de|]|italic=no}}, opened in 1667. The ] presented opera from 1719 to 1756, when the ] began. The later ] was completely destroyed during the bombing of Dresden during the second world war. The opera's reconstruction was completed exactly 40 years later, on 13 February 1985. Its musical ensemble is the '']'', founded in 1548.<ref>Semperoper: {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405053819/http://www.semperoper.de/en/staatskapelle/history.html|date=5 April 2008}}</ref> The ] runs a number of smaller theatres. The Dresden State Operetta is the only independent ] in Germany.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.staatsoperette-dresden.de/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216030656/http://www.staatsoperette-dresden.de/en|url-status=dead|title=Startseite &#124; Staatsoperette Dresden|archivedate=16 February 2008|website=www.staatsoperette-dresden.de|accessdate=4 April 2023}}</ref> The ''Herkuleskeule'' (] ]) is an important site in ].

There are several choirs in Dresden, the best-known of which is the ] (Choir of ]). It is a boys' choir drawn from pupils of the ], and was founded in the 13th century.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kreuzchor.de/english/chor.php|archiveurl=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160522173242/http://www.kreuzchor.de/english/chor.php|url-status=dead|title=Kreuzchor|archivedate=22 May 2016|accessdate=4 April 2023}}</ref> The ''Dresdner Kapellknaben'' are not related to the ''Staatskapelle'', but to the former ''Hofkapelle'', the Catholic cathedral, since 1980. The ] is the orchestra of the city of Dresden.

Throughout the summer, the outdoor concert series "Zwingerkonzerte und Mehr" is held in the ]. Performances include dance and music.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.concerts-dresden.com/en/enjoy-classical-concerts-in-dresden-at-dresden-zwinger-palace.html|title=Enjoy Classical Concerts in Dresden, at Dresden Zwinger Palace|website=concerts-dresden.com|url-status=dead|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-date=20 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920161550/https://www.concerts-dresden.com/en/enjoy-classical-concerts-in-dresden-at-dresden-zwinger-palace.html}}</ref>

There are several small cinemas presenting ]s and low-budget or low-profile films chosen for their cultural value. Dresden also has a few multiplex cinemas, of which the Rundkino is one the known.

Dresden's ] is one of the largest ]s in Germany. Founded as a one-day market in 1434, it is considered the first genuine Christmas market in the world.<ref name="The German Way & More"/>

A big event each year in June is the ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brn-dresden.de/index.html|title=Bunte Republik Neustadt|website=brn-dresden.de|access-date=20 September 2019|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828092608/http://www.brn-dresden.de/index.html}}</ref> a culture festival lasting three days in the city district of ]. Bands play live concerts for free in the streets and there are refreshments and food.

===Museums===
]'' by ] in the '']'']]

Dresden hosts the '']'' (Dresden State Art Collections) which, according to the institution's own statements, place it among the most important museums presently in existence. The art collections consist of twelve museums, including the '']'' (Old Masters Gallery) and the '']'' (Green Vault) and the '']'' (Japanisches Palais).<ref>Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden: {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019130620/http://www.skd-dresden.de/en/museen.html|date=19 October 2007}}</ref> Also known are '']'' (New Masters Gallery), '']'' (Armoury) with the ], and the '']'' (Museum of Ethnology).
Other museums and collections owned by the Free State of Saxony in Dresden are:
* The '']'', founded for ] in hygiene, health, ] and medicine<ref>Deutsches Hygiene-Museum: {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102042550/http://www.dhmd.de/neu/index.php?id=923|date=2 January 2011}}</ref>
* The ''Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte'' (State Museum of Prehistory)<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080303010447/http://www.archsax.sachsen.de/lmv/content/288_DEU_Screen.htm|date=3 March 2008}}</ref>
* The ''Senckenberg Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden'' (Senckenberg Natural History Collections Dresden)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senckenberg.de/en/institutes/senckenberg-naturhistorische-sammlung-dresden/ |title=Senckenberg Natural History Collections Dresden |website=senckenberg.de |access-date=12 May 2020 |archive-date=10 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610210231/https://www.senckenberg.de/en/institutes/senckenberg-naturhistorische-sammlung-dresden/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The ''Universitätssammlung Kunst + Technik'' (Collection of Art and Technology of the Dresden University of Technology)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tu-dresden.de/kustodie/sammlungen-kunstbesitz |title=Collections & Art |website=TU Dresden |access-date=12 May 2020 |archive-date=16 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416203148/https://tu-dresden.de/kustodie/sammlungen-kunstbesitz |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '']'' (Transport Museum)
* ''Festung Dresden'' (Dresden Fortress)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.festung-dresden.de/en/home/|title=Festung Dresden|website=festung-dresden.de|url-status=dead|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-date=20 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920161547/https://www.festung-dresden.de/en/home/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dresdner-verein-bruehlsche-terrasse.de/seiten/frameset.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722005520/http://www.dresdner-verein-bruehlsche-terrasse.de/seiten/frameset.htm|url-status=dead|title=Dresdner Verein Brühlsche Terrasse|archivedate=22 July 2012|accessdate=4 April 2023}}</ref>
* ''Panometer Dresden (])'' (Panorama museum)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.panometer.de/dresden/panometer-dresden/|title=Das Panometer – Ein ungewöhnliches Museum in Dresden|website=panometer.de|language=de|url-status=dead|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-date=3 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803194758/http://www.panometer.de/dresden/panometer-dresden/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stadtrundfahrt.com/dresden/eintritt-asisi-panometer/|title=Panometer Dresden – Eintritt ohne Wartezeit|website=stadtrundfahrt.com|language=de|url-status=dead|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-date=4 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804014003/https://www.stadtrundfahrt.com/dresden/eintritt-asisi-panometer/}}</ref>

The ] is run by the city of Dresden and focused on the city's history.

The ] is placed in the former garrison in the Albertstadt.

The book museum of the ] presents the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wdl.org/pt/item/11621/|title=O Códice de Dresden|website=]|date=1200–1250|access-date=21 August 2013|archive-date=2 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102191119/http://www.wdl.org/pt/item/11621/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Kraszewski Museum is a museum dedicated to the most prolific ] writer ], who lived in Dresden from 1863 to 1883.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://museen-dresden.de/index.php?lang=en&node=kraszewskimuseum |title=Kraszewski Museum |website=museen-dresden.de |access-date=12 May 2020 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730024743/https://museen-dresden.de/index.php?lang=en&node=kraszewskimuseum |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in Dresden}}
]

===Bus===
] is the municipal company in charge of ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dvb.de/en-GB/|title=DVB Homepage|publisher=] |access-date=31 May 2022}}</ref> DVB provides a ] named {{Lang|de|GuteNachtLinie}} ('goodnight lines'), which operates Monday-Sunday, although the frequency of the buses is greater on Friday, Saturday and before holidays when the routes run every 30 minutes between 22:45 and 04:45.<ref name="Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe">{{cite web |url=https://www.dvb.de/en-gb/timetable/night-time-travel|title=Night-time travel on the GuteNachtLinie routes|publisher=] |access-date=31 May 2022}}</ref> ] is the most important hub for night-time travel in Dresden. Most GuteNachtLinie routes meet here at the same time to allow people to switch routes.<ref name="Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dvb.de/-/media/files/liniennetz/gnl_bau_grossenhainer_310122_pdf.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.dvb.de/-/media/files/liniennetz/gnl_bau_grossenhainer_310122_pdf.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live|title=GuteNachtLinie network Map (Valid from 2022-01-31)|publisher=] |access-date=31 May 2022}}</ref>

===Roads===
The ] (]) crosses Dresden in the northwest from west to east. The ] leaves the A4 in a south-eastern direction. In Dresden it begins to cross the Ore Mountains towards Prague. The ] leaves from the three-point interchange "Dresden-Nord" and goes to Berlin. The A13 and the A17 are on the ]. In addition, several ]n (federal highways) run through Dresden.

===Rail===
] is the main inter-city transport hub.]]

There are two main inter-city transit hubs in the railway network in Dresden: ] and ]. The most important railway lines run to Berlin, Prague, Leipzig and Chemnitz. A ] system (]) operates on three lines alongside the long-distance routes.

===Air===
] is the city's ], located at the north-western outskirts of the city. After German reunification the airport's infrastructure has been considerably improved. In 1998, a motorway access route was opened.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dresden-airport.de/homepage/company/structure-facts-staff/history/1989-to-2000.html |title=1989 to 2000 |website=dresden-airport.de |access-date=12 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210175236/http://www.dresden-airport.de/homepage/company/structure-facts-staff/history/1989-to-2000.html |archive-date=10 February 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In March 2001, a new terminal building was opened along with the underground ] ], a multi-storey car park and a new aircraft handling ramp.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dresden-airport.de/company/structure-facts-staff/history/2001-to-the-present-day.html |title=2001 to the present day |website=dresden-airport.de |access-date=12 May 2020 |archive-date=20 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320221514/https://www.dresden-airport.de/company/structure-facts-staff/history/2001-to-the-present-day.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Dresden is also directly connected to ] by the ].

===Trams===
Dresden has a ] operated by ], the municipal transport company. The Transport Authority operates twelve lines on a {{convert|200|km|0|abbr=on}} network.<ref>Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe: {{cite web|url=http://dvb.de/untnehm/unnehm.htm|title=Profile|access-date=29 November 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080128233503/http://dvb.de/untnehm/unnehm.htm|archive-date=28 January 2008}}</ref> Many of the new ] vehicles are up to 45 metres long and produced by ] in ]. While about 30% of the system's lines are on ] (often sown with grass to avoid noise), many tracks still run on the streets, especially in the inner city.<ref>Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe: {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826071514/https://www.dvb.de/de-de/die-dvb/technik/gleise-haltestellen/ |date=26 August 2017 }}</ref>

The ] was a tram that supplied Volkswagen's ], crossing the city. The transparent factory is located not far from the city centre next to the city's largest park.<ref>Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe: {{cite web|url=http://www.dvb.de/untnehm/gbahn.htm|title=CarGoTram|access-date=21 May 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216101751/http://www.dvb.de/untnehm/gbahn.htm|archive-date=16 December 2007}}</ref>

The districts of Loschwitz and Weisser Hirsch are connected by the ], which has been carrying passengers back and forth since 1895.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvb.de/de-de/entdecken/bergbahnen/standseilbahn/|title=Standseilbahn: Von Loschwitz zum Weißen Hirsch|website=Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe|language=de|access-date=13 June 2020|archive-date=30 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730040631/https://www.dvb.de/de-de/entdecken/bergbahnen/standseilbahn/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Dresden}}
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2020}}

] semiconductor factory]]
] owned by ]]]

Until enterprises like ] left Dresden in the communist era to avoid ], Dresden was one of the most important German cities, an important industrial centre of the German Democratic Republic.{{Citation needed|date=January 2015}} The period of the ] until 1990 was characterized by low economic growth in comparison to western German cities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany/Economic-unification-and-beyond|title=The East German system: Economic unification and beyond|publisher=]|access-date=12 June 2024}}</ref> In 1990 Dresden had to struggle with the ] of ] and the other export markets in Eastern Europe. After reunification enterprises and production sites broke down almost completely as they entered the ], facing competition from the Federal Republic of Germany. After 1990 a completely new ] and currency system was introduced and infrastructure was largely rebuilt with funds from the Federal Republic of Germany. Dresden as a major urban centre has developed much faster and more consistently than most other regions in the former German Democratic Republic.

Between 1990 and 2010 the ] fluctuated between 13% and 15%, but has decreased significantly ever since. In December 2019 the unemployment rate was 5.3%, the fourth lowest among the 15 largest cities of Germany (after ], ] and ]).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de/Navigation/Statistik/Statistik-nach-Regionen/BA-Gebietsstruktur/Sachsen/Dresden-Nav.html?year_month=201912 |title=Arbeitsmarkt im Überblick – Berichtsmonat Dezember 2019 – Dresden, Agentur für Arbeit |website=Agentur für Arbeit |language=de |access-date=11 May 2020 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730024804/https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de/Navigation/Statistik/Statistik-nach-Regionen/BA-Gebietsstruktur/Sachsen/Dresden-Nav.html?year_month=201912 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, the ] of Dresden was 39,134 euros, the highest in Saxony.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.l-iz.de/wirtschaft/metropolregion/2019/08/Auch-beim-BIP-wird-das-Erstarken-der-Dienstleistungs-Leuchttuerme-Leipzig-und-Dresden-sichtbar-291889 |title=Auch beim BIP wird das Erstarken der Dienstleistungs-Leuchttürme Leipzig und Dresden sichtbar |website=Leipziger Internet Zeitung |date=25 August 2019 |language=de |access-date=11 May 2020 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730030956/https://www.l-iz.de/wirtschaft/metropolregion/2019/08/Auch-beim-BIP-wird-das-Erstarken-der-Dienstleistungs-Leuchttuerme-Leipzig-und-Dresden-sichtbar-291889 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Thanks to the presence of public administration centres, a high density of semi-public research institutes and an extension of publicly funded high technology sectors, the proportion of highly qualified workers Dresden is again among the highest in Germany and by European criteria.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dresden-convention.com/en/dresden/destination-dresden/business-and-science|title=Future made in Dresden|publisher=Dresden Convention|access-date=12 June 2024}}</ref>

In 2019, Dresden had the seventh-best future prospects of all cities in Germany, after being ranked fourth in 2017.<ref name="berenberg.de"/> According to the 2019 study by Forschungsinstitut Prognos, Dresden is one of the most dynamic regions in Germany. It ranks at number 41 of all 401 German regions and second of all regions in former East Germany (only surpassed by ]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lvz.de/Region/Mitteldeutschland/Zukunftsatlas-Leipzig-ist-dynamischste-Region-Deutschlands|title=Zukunftsatlas: Leipzig ist dynamischste Region Deutschlands|website=LVZ – Leipziger Volkszeitung|date=5 July 2019 |language=de|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-date=5 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705183234/https://www.lvz.de/Region/Mitteldeutschland/Zukunftsatlas-Leipzig-ist-dynamischste-Region-Deutschlands|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/zukunftsatlas-2019-das-sind-die-deutschen-regionen-mit-den-besten-zukunftsaussichten/24521120.html|title=Zukunftsatlas 2019: Das sind die deutschen Regionen mit den besten Zukunftsaussichten|website=www.handelsblatt.com|language=de|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-date=5 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705183309/https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/zukunftsatlas-2019-das-sind-die-deutschen-regionen-mit-den-besten-zukunftsaussichten/24521120.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://standort-sachsen.de/de/gruender/info-center/nachrichten/76377-zukunftsatlas-deutschland-2019-leipzig-ist-dynamiksieger|title=Zukunftsatlas Deutschland 2019: Leipzig ist Dynamiksieger|website=standort-sachsen.de|language=de|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723194149/https://standort-sachsen.de/de/gruender/info-center/nachrichten/76377-zukunftsatlas-deutschland-2019-leipzig-ist-dynamiksieger|archive-date=23 July 2019|access-date=20 September 2019}}</ref>

===Enterprises===
Three major sectors dominate Dresden's economy:

] Saxony's semiconductor industry was built up in 1969. Major enterprises today include ]'s semiconductor fabrication spin-off ], ], ] and Toppan Photomasks. Their factories attract many suppliers of material and cleanroom technology enterprises to Dresden.

The pharmaceutical sector developed at the end of the 19th century. The 'Sächsisches Serumwerk Dresden' (Saxon Serum Plant, Dresden), owned by ], is a global leader in ] production.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://standort-sachsen.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Brochure_LIFE_SCIENCES_Saxony.pdf|title=Standort Sachsens: Zebrafish, Team Spirit and Superb Ideas|publisher=Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen|page=2|access-date=12 June 2024}}</ref> Another traditional pharmaceuticals producer is Arzneimittelwerke Dresden (Pharmaceutical Works, Dresden).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://resprotect.de/presse/artikel/060320_Biotechn_engl_Internet.pdf|title=Living science: Biotechnology in Dresden|publisher=Landeshauptstadt Dresden|pages=32–36|access-date=12 June 2024}}</ref>

A third traditional branch is that of mechanical and ]. Major employers are the ] ], ] (Elbe Aircraft Works), ] and ]. {{Citation needed|date=March 2015}} The tourism industry enjoys high revenue and supports many employees. There are around one hundred bigger hotels in Dresden, many of which cater in the upscale range.{{Citation needed|date=January 2015}}

===Media===
The media in Dresden include two major newspapers of regional record: the '']'' (''Saxon Newspaper'', circulation around 228,000) and the '']'' (''Dresden's Latest News'', circulation around 50,000). Dresden has a broadcasting centre belonging to the ]. The ''Dresdner Druck- und Verlagshaus'' (Dresden printing plant and publishing house) produces part of ]'s ], amongst other newspapers and magazines.{{Citation needed|date=March 2015}}

==Education and science==
]]]
]]]

===Universities===
Dresden is home to a number of renowned universities, but among German cities it is a more recent location for academic education.
* The ] (Technische Universität Dresden, abbreviated as TU Dresden or TUD) with more than 36,000 students (2011)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tu-dresden.de/tu-dresden/profil/portrait|title=About TU Dresden – Short Portrait|access-date=20 September 2019|url-status=dead|website=tu-dresden.de|archive-date=19 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719021233/https://tu-dresden.de/tu-dresden/profil/portrait}}</ref> was founded in 1828 and is among the oldest and largest ] in Germany. It is currently the university of technology in Germany with the largest number of students but also has many courses in ], economics and other non-technical sciences. It offers 126 courses. In 2006, the TU Dresden was successful in the ] of the ].
* The ] (Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Dresden) was founded in 1992 and had about 5,300 students in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.htw-dresden.de/oea/Presse/06_Imma.pdf|title=HTW Dresden immatrikuliert 1.434 Studierende|website=htw-dresden.de|language=de|access-date=20 September 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607030317/http://www.htw-dresden.de/oea/Presse/06_Imma.pdf|archive-date=7 June 2007}}</ref>
* The ] (Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden) was founded in 1764 and is known for its former professors and artists such as ], ], ], ], ], Carl-Gustav Carus, ] and ].
* The ] (Palucca Hochschule für Tanz)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.palucca.eu/en.html |title=Palucca Hochschule für Tanz |access-date=15 March 2016 |archive-date=16 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316125114/http://www.palucca.eu/en.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> was founded by ] in 1925 and is a major European school of ].
* The ] was founded in 1856.

Other universities include the ''Hochschule für Kirchenmusik'', a school specialising in ], and the ''Evangelische Hochschule für Sozialarbeit'', an education institution for social work.{{Citation needed|date=March 2015}} The ''Dresden International University'' is a private postgraduate university, founded in 2003 in cooperation with the Dresden University of Technology.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.di-uni.de/diu-dresden-international-university |title=Mission, Leitbild und Ziele |website=Dresden International University |language=de |access-date=12 May 2020 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730041528/https://www.di-uni.de/diu-dresden-international-university |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Research institutes===
Dresden hosts many ]s, some of which have gained an international standing. The domains of most importance are micro- and nanoelectronics, transport and infrastructure systems, material and photonic technology, and bio-engineering. The institutes are well connected among one other as well as with the academic education institutions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dresden.de/en/business/science-and-innovation/research-institutions.php|title=Research Institutions – Science and Innovation|website=dresden.de|url-status=dead|language=en|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-date=8 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608075315/https://www.dresden.de/en/business/science-and-innovation/research-institutions.php}}</ref>

] is the largest complex of research facilities in Dresden, a short distance outside the urban areas. It focuses on ] and physics. As part of the ] it is one of the German ] research centres.

The ] focuses on ]. There are three Max Planck Institutes (MPI) in Dresden: the ], the ], and the ].<ref>{{Cite journal|year=2014|title=Annual Report|url=https://www.germaninnovation.org/shared/content/documents/annual-report-mpg-2014.pdf|journal=Max Planck Society|access-date=31 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015173822/http://germaninnovation.org/shared/content/documents/annual-report-mpg-2014.pdf|archive-date=15 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The ] hosts institutes of applied research that also offer mission-oriented research to enterprises. With eleven institutions or parts of institutes, Dresden is the largest location of the Fraunhofer Society worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fraunhofer.de/en.html|title=Homepage Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft|website=fraunhofer.de|url-status=dead|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-date=27 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927084406/https://www.fraunhofer.de/en.html}}</ref> The Fraunhofer Society has become an important factor in location decisions and is seen as a useful part of the "knowledge infrastructure".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.isi.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/isi/dokumente/ccp/unternehmen-region/2012/ap_r4_2012.pdf|title=The Role of Geographical Proximity in Innovation|publisher=]|page=6|access-date=12 June 2024}}</ref>

The ] is a union of institutes with science covering fundamental research and applied research. In Dresden there are three Leibniz Institutes. The ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ipfdd.de/en/about-us/|title=About us – Our mission|website=ipfdd.de|language=en|access-date=20 September 2019|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920054437/http://www.ipfdd.de/en/about-us/}}</ref> and the ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ifw-dresden.de/about-us/|title=What is the IFW?|website=ifw-dresden.de|language=en|url-status=dead|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-date=31 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231164747/https://www.ifw-dresden.de/about-us/}}</ref> are both in the material and ] domain, while the Leibniz Institute for Ecological Urban and Regional Development is focused on more fundamental research into urban planning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ioer.de/en/institute/ioer-leitbild|title=IOER Leitbild|publisher=]|access-date=12 June 2024}}</ref> The Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf was member of the Leibniz Community until the end of 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hzdr.de/db/Cms?pNid=1121&pOid=10189|title=Facts and Data about the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf|publisher=]|access-date=12 June 2024}}</ref>

===Higher secondary education===
Dresden has more than 20 ] which prepare for a tertiary education, five of which are private.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stadtwikidd.de/Liste_der_Gymnasien|title=Liste der Gymnasien – www.stadtwikidd.de|website=Stadtwiki Dresden|publisher=stadtwikidd.de|access-date=2 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403175137/http://www.stadtwikidd.de/Liste_der_Gymnasien|archive-date=3 April 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> The ''Sächsisches Landesgymnasium für Musik'' with a focus on music is supported, as its name implies by the State of Saxony, rather than by the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cms.sachsen.schule/musikgym/willkommen/impressumdisclaimer/|title=Impressum/Disclaimer – Schulträger Freistaat Sachsen|publisher=cms.sachsen|access-date=21 January 2017|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202080506/https://cms.sachsen.schule/musikgym/willkommen/impressumdisclaimer/|url-status=live}}</ref> There are some ''Berufliche Gymnasien'' which combine ] and secondary education and a ''Abendgymnasium'' which prepares higher education of adults avocational.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dresden.de/en/03/03/Schools-in-figures.php|title=Schools in Figures {{!}} Landeshauptstadt Dresden|website=dresden.de|language=de|url-status=dead|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608075529/https://www.dresden.de/en/03/03/Schools-in-figures.php|archive-date=8 June 2019}}</ref>

==Sport==
], the current home of Dynamo Dresden]]

Dresden is home to ], which had a tradition in ] up to the early 1990s. Dynamo Dresden won eight titles in the ]. Currently, the club is a member of the ] after some seasons in the ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://datencenter.dfb.de/en/clubs/40|title=Sportgemeinschaft Dynamo Dresden e. V. :: DFB – Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V.|website=datencenter.dfb.de|language=en|access-date=20 January 2017|archive-date=28 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528133454/https://www.dfb.de/en/data-center/clubs/sg-dynamo-dresden-e-v?action=show&controller=clubs&id=40&locale=en|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the early 20th century, the city was represented by ], who were one of Germany's most successful clubs in football. Their best performances came during World War II, when they were twice German ], and twice ] winners. Dresdner SC is a multisport club. While its ] plays in the sixth-tier ], its volleyball section has a team in the women's ]. Dresden has a third ] team ].

] is an ] club playing in the second-tier ice hockey league ].

] are an ] team in the ].

The ] are the city's top basketball team. Due to good performances, they have moved up several divisions and currently play in Germany's second division ]. The Titans' home arena is the Margon Arena.

Since 1890, ]s have taken place and the Dresdener Rennverein 1890 e.V. are active and one of the big sporting events in Dresden.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://drv1890.de|title=Dresdener Rennverein 1890 e.V. – Pferderennsport in Dresden|language=de|url-status=dead|access-date=20 September 2019|website=drv1890.de|archive-date=17 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817143522/https://drv1890.de/}}</ref>

Major sporting facilities in Dresden are the ], the ] and the ] for ].

==Quality of life==
According to the 2017 Global Least & Most Stressful Cities Ranking, Dresden was one of the least stressful cities in the world. It was ranked 15th out of 150 cities worldwide and above Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Dortmund, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Berlin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zipjet.co.uk/2017-stressful-cities-ranking|title=2017 Stressful Cities Ranking {{!}} Zipjet|website=www.zipjet.co.uk|access-date=20 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803020244/https://www.zipjet.co.uk/2017-stressful-cities-ranking|archive-date=3 August 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Notable people==
=== Public service ===
* ] (1670–1733), Elector of Saxony and King of Poland.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Augustus II. | volume= 2 | pages = 915–916 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1696–1763), Elector of Saxony and King of Poland.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Augustus III. | volume= 2 | page = 916 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1750–1827), King of Saxony.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Frederick Augustus I. | volume= 11 |last1= Hashagen |first1= Justus |author1-link= | pages = 60–61 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1755–1836), King of Saxony
* Count ] (1756–1845), '']'' and statesman.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Bellegarde, Heinrich Joseph Johannes | volume= 3 | page = 697 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1765–1824), Prussian cavalry soldier.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Thielmann, Johann Adolf | volume= 26 | page = 847 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1796–1846), classical scholar.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Becker, Wilhelm Adolf | volume= 3 | page = 608 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1797–1854), King of Saxony.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Frederick Augustus II. | volume= 11 |last1= Hashagen |first1= Justus |author1-link= | page = 61 |short=1}}</ref>
* ] (1801–1873), King of Saxony.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= John, King of Saxony | volume= 15 |last1= Hashagen |first1= Justus |author1-link= | pages = 444–445 |short=1}}</ref>
* ] (1809–1885), Prussian general field marshal.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Manteuffel, Edwin, Freiherr von | volume= 17 | page = 604 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1828–1902), King of Saxony.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Albert (king of Saxony) | volume= 1 | page = 498 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1832–1904), King of Saxony.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= George, King of Saxony | volume= 11 | pages = 746–747 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1834–1896), historian, political writer and nationalist
* ] (1862–1935), German lawyer, estate manager and politician
* ] (1865–1932), King of Saxony
* ] (1886–1925), aviator
* ] (1890–1916), WWI fighter pilot, first pilot awarded the ], known as the "Blue Max"
* ] (1906–1990), politician (SPD)
* ] (1913–1987), East German politician and diplomat
* ] (1921–2002), politician (FDP)
* ] (1930–2023), historian
* ] (born 1932), politician (FDP)
* ] (born 1937), politician and writer
* ] (born 1939), politician (SPD)
* ] (born 1978), politician (The Left)

===Academics===
* ] (1651–1708), German mathematician, physicist, physician, and philosopher
* ] (born 1939), German-American historian and eighth President of ]
* ] (born 1935), translation scholar

=== The Arts ===
* ] (1591–1661), influential Baroque poet
* ] (1757–1811), painter
* ] (1791–1813), poet and soldier.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Körner, Karl Theodor | volume= 15 | page = 913 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1792–1868), music theorist, teacher and composer.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Hauptmann, Moritz | volume= 13 | pages = 68–69 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1803–1884), painter.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Richter, Adrian | volume= 23 | page = 312 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1830–1894), conductor, virtuoso pianist and composer.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Bülow, Hans Guido von | volume= 4 | page = 795 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1868–1956), composer
* ] (1876–1945), composer
* ] (1881–1960), Jewish author of ''I Will Bear Witness''
* ] (1899–1974), author of books
* ] (1911–1978), Canadian painter
* ] (1929–2014), composer, conductor, hornist and politician
* ] (born 1932), painter
* ] (1939–2020), cinematographer, film director and script writer
* ] (1823–1879), German composer
* ] (1840–1878), composer and singer
* ] (1944–2021), film, television and dubbing actor
* ] (born 1953), operatic soprano
* ] (1958–2020), operatic mezzo-soprano and contralto, and opera director
* ] (born 1972), Belarusian rock musician and actor

=== Science and business ===
* ] (ca.1535 – 1607), eye surgeon and author of first German-language textbook of ]
* ] (ca.1740 – 1793), chemist and metallurgist.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Wenzel, Karl Friedrich | volume= 28 | pages = 521–522 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1797–1873), mineralogist and geologist.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Naumann, Georg Amadeus Carl Friedrich | volume= 19 | page = 278 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1804–1869), chemist, introduced vaccination into Saxony.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Erdmann, Otto Linné | volume= 9 | page = 734 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1815–1875), watchmaker, founder of ]
* ] (1821–1899), publicist; ''"Bismarck's Boswell"''.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Busch, Julius Hermann Moritz | volume= 4 | page = 869 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1821–1896), statistician and economist; '']'' & '']''.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Engel, Ernst | volume= 9 | page = 405 |short= 1}}</ref>
* ] (1921–2007), engineer
* ] (1933–2012), numismatist
* ] (1824–1877), nurse<ref>{{Cite web |last=Venske |first=Ruth |date=25 August 2009 |title=Biografie von Marie Simon (1824–1877) |trans-title=Biography of Marie Simon (1824–1877) |url=https://saebi.isgv.de/biografie/Marie_Simon_(1824-1877) |access-date=26 August 2023 |website=] |language=de}}</ref>
* ] (1946–2006), biophysicist

=== Sport ===
* ] (1889–1979), American racing driver
* ] (1928–2005), racing driver and founder of ]
* ] (1886–1928), Olympic gymnast
* ] (born 1967), footballer and football coach
* ] (1887–1966), professional wrestler
* ] (1915–1996), football coach
* ] (1926–1987), racing driver
* ] (1900–1988), pioneer of free climbing
* ] (born 1986), professional wrestler

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* ''Dresden: Tuesday, 13 February 1945'' by Frederick Taylor, 2005; {{ISBN|0-7475-7084-1}}
* ''Dresden and the Heavy Bombers: An RAF Navigator's Perspective'' by Frank Musgrove, 2005; {{ISBN|1-84415-194-8}}
* ''Return to Dresden'' by Maria Ritter, 2004; {{ISBN|1-57806-596-8}}
* ''Dresden: Heute/Today'' by Dieter Zumpe, 2003; {{ISBN|3-7913-2860-3}}
* ''Destruction of Dresden'' by ], 1972; {{ISBN|0-345-23032-9}}
* '']'' by Kurt Vonnegut, 1970; {{ISBN|0-586-03328-9}}
* ''Disguised Visibilities: Dresden'' by ] in ''Memory and Architecture'', Ed. By Eleni Bastea, (University of Mexico Press, 2004).
* {{cite book |last=Miller|first=Michael |title = Gauleiter |volume = 2 |publisher = R James Bender Publishing |location=California |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-932970-32-6 }}
* ''Preserve and Rebuild: Dresden during the Transformations of 1989–1990. Architecture, Citizens Initiatives and Local Identities'' by Victoria Knebel, 2007; {{ISBN|978-3-631-55954-3}}
* ''La tutela del patrimonio culturale in caso di conflitto'' by Fabio Maniscalco (editor), 2002; {{ISBN|88-87835-18-7}}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
{{Main list|Timeline of Dresden#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Dresden}}

== External links ==
{{Commons|Dresden}}
{{Wikisource|Special:Search/Dresden|Dresden}}
*
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Dresden}}
*
*
*
* Organisation for reconstruction of the Neumarkt

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{{Capitals of the states of the Federal Republic of Germany}}
{{List of European capitals by region}}
{{Germany districts saxony}}
{{Cities in Germany}}
{{Bezirke DDR Seats}}
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{{Authority control}}

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Revision as of 23:59, 26 September 2024

City council

The most recent city council election was held on 9 June 2024, and the results were as follows:

Party Votes % +/- Seats +/-
Alternative for Germany (AfD) 170,346 19.4 Increase 2.3 14 Increase 2
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) 157,717 18.0 Decrease 0.3 13 Steady 0
Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne) 128,099 14.6 Decrease 5.9 10 Decrease 5
Social Democratic Party (SPD) 78,652 9.0 Increase 0.2 6 Steady 0
Team Zastrow/Alliance Saxony 24 71,163 8.1 New 6 New
The Left (Die Linke) 68,012 7.8 Decrease 8.4 5 Decrease 7
Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) 63,108 7.2 New 5 New
Free Voters Dresden (WV) 31,110 3.5 Decrease 1.8 2 Decrease 2
Pirate Party Germany (Piraten) 27,736 3.2 Increase 0.8 2 Increase 1
Free Democratic Party (FDP) 24,464 2.8 Decrease 4.7 2 Decrease 3
Die PARTEI (PARTEI) 16,363 1.9 Increase 0.1 1 Increase 1
Free Saxons (FS) 13,304 1.5 New 1 New
Volt Germany (Volt) 10,522 1.2 New 1 New
Dissidents Dresden (DissDD) 8,365 1.0 New 1 New
Free Citizens Dresden (FBD) 8,290 0.9 Decrease 0.6 1 Steady 0
Valid votes 877,251 96.3
Invalid votes 3,802 1.3
Total 303,717 100.0 70 ±0
Electorate/voter turnout 429,280 70.8 Increase 3.9
Source: Wahlen in Sachsen