Beginning at 1.30am on 14 February 1945, the city of Dresden was hit by the second major air raid within a few hours. This time the bombs were aimed at the parts of the city which were not yet on fire, and which were easy to make out from above. A multitude of high-explosive and incendiary bombs also hit the Great Garden and left a bizarre landscape of burnt-out buildings, splintered trees and parklands dotted with craters and thrown-up dirt.
A good two months later an anti-tank ditch was dug right across the destroyed park, through the zoo area adjacent to the burnt-out palace and towards Stübelallee. The city of Dresden was being prepared for its defence. As of 7 April, municipal employees had to report for trench-digging every Saturday, and older school students in the city on three days per week. Two weeks later, all Dresdeners older than fourteen were required to do so – now daily, even on Sundays. Several anti-tank ditches, which were kilometres long, now encircled the city, and light defensive positions were also established.

Marked in 2001