Tens of thousands of people demonstrated for peace and democracy in Cologne on Shrove Monday.

"It's impressive how many people are on the streets in Cologne," said a police spokesman.

According to the Cologne Carnival Festival Committee, there were around 250,000 participants with a strong upward trend at midday.

"I think this is the most important Rose Monday procession since I was born," said musician Peter Brings (57) on WDR television.

In speeches, Carnival President Christoph Kuckelkorn and Mayor Henriette Reker (independent) expressed their solidarity with both Ukraine and the anti-war demonstrators in Russia.

“Mr. Putin, stop the madness!

Stop the war!” shouted Kuckelkorn.

Reker emphasized: "I have boundless admiration for all the courageous Russians who have been taking to the streets of their country since Friday."

Costumed and non-costumed marched through the streets together.

Many carried banners reading "Putin Go Home" and "Dear Russian people, be Russians not Putinians."

Songs like "All Men Become Brothers" and "Mir Sin Alle Just Men" (We Are All Just Men) by Brings were played.

Before the start of the march, the Cologne Carnival Festival Committee let white doves of peace fly up.

Despite the crowds, the police did not register any incidents by midday.

Participants described a subdued, mostly serious atmosphere.

On the day the war began, the Cologne carnivalists decided to organize a peace demonstration.

The normal Rose Monday procession through the city had previously been canceled due to Corona.

The train was supposed to roll through the football stadium as a replacement, but that has now also been cancelled.

The train manager of the Cologne Rose Monday train, Holger Kirsch, said that the demo was supported by the entire city society.

It is all about setting a sign: "A sign of the solidarity of the people in Ukraine and a sign against war in Europe." The procession was led by a carnival float, which showed a dove of peace impaled by a Russian flag.

"I'm very proud of my city," said BAP singer Wolfgang Niedecken on WDR television.

The "highest Cologne holiday", Shrove Monday, had been converted into a solidarity rally for peace and democracy.

All participants behaved responsibly: "I don't see a single one without a mask."

The Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst, also took part in the demo.

"Today this is the best way to be on your feet, namely to demonstrate for peace and freedom in Europe," said the CDU politician to the German Press Agency.

In Düsseldorf, the Rose Monday procession had been postponed to the end of May weeks ago because of Corona.

However, there was a single car driven by Jacques Tilly to the Ukraine war through the city.

The larger-than-life wire mesh and papier-mâché caricature showed Vladimir Putin shoving Ukraine down his throat and the slogan "Chok on it!!!".