Stolperstein: a Subtle, Beautiful, Poignant Memorial
/Thank you to Sara Huggard of Sara Huggard Photography for letting me use images of Stolpersteine she took in Assen, The Netherlands.
If you've been to just about any major city in central Europe, you've probably seen them. They are small, inconspicuous little brass plates placed in the sidewalks. You can easily walk over them and never have any idea what they are. We did it for months. I imagine that many of them in more well-walked parts of cities are no longer legible. Sometimes it's just one replacing an older cobble stone. Sometimes there are more. So what are these Stolperstein and why devote an entire post to them?
These Stolperstein, German for stumbling stone, are one of the most subtle, but largest, memorials in Europe. Each one starts with ''Here lived'' and then lists a name. Usually a birth date is given. If known, two other dates are also listed: a deportation date and a murder date. In rare cases, the individual was able to escape to another country, in which case, an emigration date is given. These little brass plates, sitting flush with the pavement, easy to miss as you walk past, list the names of victims of the Holocaust. They name not only Jews, but also the Roma, Santi, Jehovah's Witness, homosexuals, those who were euthanized - many of which suffered from some sort of mental illness - and those who disagreed with National Socialism. A stolperstein is always placed at the victim's last known residence of choice. It is a symbolic and meaningful way to bring the person back to their last, freely chosen, place they lived - their home. They are a memorial so that those who suffered and lost their lives, are not forgotten. One person. One stone.
Assen. ATOLPERSTEIN FOR A MARRIED COUPLE DEPORTED IN 1942 FROM ASSEN, THE NETHERLANDS, FIRST TO WESTERBORK AND THEN TO AUSCHWITZ, WHERE THEY WERE LATER MURDERED. IMAGE COURTESY OF SARAH HUGGARD PHOTOGRAPHY
The project was first proposed by Gunter Demnig in 1993. By 1995, the first stones were laid in Cologne (250) and Berlin (55). Today, there are over 48,000 Stolperstein in over 1000 locations within Germany and 17 other countries. We've seen them in Austria, Norway, The Netherlands, The Czech Republic, Poland, and in our own neighborhood. Each and every one is handmade. While 48,000 of these little reminders seem like a lot, with over 6 million Holocaust victims, this is less than 1% of all those that lost their lives.
Assen. A FAMILY DEPORTED BETWEEN 1943 AND 1943 TO WESTERBORK FROM ASSEN, THE NETHERLANDS. THEY WERE ALL EVENTUALLY MURDERED IN AUSCHWITZ. IT'S HEARTBREAKING TO SEE COUPLES, AND ENTIRE FAMILIES, MURDERED ON THE SAME DAY, LIKELY THE DAY THEY ARRIVED AT THE CONCENTRATION CAMP. IMAGE COURTESY OF SARAH HUGGARD PHOTOGRAPHY
Next time you are walking along, and a golden glint catches your eye, stop, take a look. Take a moment to remember, and perhaps even say a prayer if you're the religious type, not only the person whose name is on the plate, but all victims. Indeed, it is in remembering them that we have the power to stop it from ever happening again.
Assen. TWO PARENTS AND THEIR CHILD DEPORTED FROM ASSEN, THE NETHERLANDS, TO WESTERBORK. THEY WERE ALL MURDERED IN AUSCHWITZ. THEIR SON SURVIVED TWO YEARS LONGER THAN HIS PARENTS, BUT WAS ONLY 12 YEARS OLD WHEN HE WAS KILLED. IMAGE COURTESY OF SARAH HUGGARD PHOTOGRAPHY
Of course, there has been some controversy over the project. Stones were not allowed to be placed in Munich for several years. Local Jewish leaders felt that by placing plaques on the ground, people would further desecrate the person by walking on their memorial.
Oslo. Max was deported, and murdered, in 1942 in Auschwitz.
For more information on the Stolperstein project, visit the official website. Here, you can also submit information for a Stolperstein, or make a donation to help place more.
One person. One stone. One fate.
''HERE LIVED LORE STERN BORN ADLER YEAR 1923. DEPORTED 1940. INTERNED RIVERSALTES (IN FRANCE). FREED/SURVIVED.''
Prague. An entire family deported to Theresenstadt in 1942.
Prague. A couple and their daughter deported to Theresenstadt and then sent to Baranovici in Belarus. There is no information on whether or not they survived or were murdered.
Prague. Two couples deported in 1942 to Theresenstadt before later being moved to, and murdered at, Auschwitz.
Prague. Sophie was deported to Theresenstadt in 1943 and then Auschwitz.
Prague. Two Brothers and their wives deported in 1942 (top) and 1943 (bottom) to Theresenstadt. One brother was then sent to Treblinka where he was murdered in 1942, while his wife was murdered at Theresenstadt. The younger brother and his wife were later sent to Auschwitz and killed in 1943.
Albert fled to Holland before being arrested in Venlo and killed.
Rudolf was deported in October of 1941 and died in JuertaBly of 1942
Berta was arrested multiple times and interred in Dortmund before being executed in August of 1944.
Mannheim. A couple and their son fled first to France before being deported. Eugen and Rosa were deported and murdered in 1943 at Auschwitz. Their son was deported and murdered in 1943 at Hajdanek.
Viktor was shot in September of 1944
The fate of a family. The father and son died while living in the ghetto in 1941. The mother and daughter we murdered in Chelmno, one day apart, in 1941.
Johana was deported in 1940, but survived.
