Purls of wisdom mark Dresden bombing Knitted quilt ... Local peace activists have wrapped a tank in front of the Bundeswehr Military History Museum. A tank in front of the Museum of Military History in Dresden, Germany, is covered with knitting as a protest against war to mark the 68th anniversary of the Allied bombing of the city in World War II. More than 10,000 activists massed to try to prevent a rally of about 1000 neo-Nazis in the centre of Dresden as politicians, religious leaders and citizens attended ceremonies to commemorate the bombing. More than 90 per cent of the historic city centre, about 39 square kilometres, was destroyed and 25,000 people were killed when the Royal Air Force and the US Air Force dropped almost 4000 tonnes of bombs and incendiary devices between February 13 and 15, 1945. Human chain ... thousands of people joined hands along the Elbe river in front of the Dresden historical city centre. The bombing has become highly controversial since the war, with some historians claiming the destruction was disproportionate to any military gains.