Thousands of Stolpersteine, literally stumbling stones, are found in central Europe. They are a reminder of missing or killed people during the Nazi era. These particular five in Ladenburg are of the family Kaufmann who were deported to Gurs in France, where Mathilde Kaufmann died. The other four family members, Meta, Luise, Julie, and Sally were murdered in Auschwitz.
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The “Stolpersteine” or “stumbling stones” are a project of the artist Gunter Demnig. They are brass covered cobblestones on pavements outside houses were Germans of Jewish descent used to live. Other persecuted groups are commemorated in this way as well. They are inscribed with their names, their dates of birth and short information what happened to them. This particular family of Luise and Jakob Stern who I found in Rüsselsheim had the parents emigrating to South Africa, where the father died before the end of the war. Their daughter Irva was murdered in Auschwitz.
More than 75,000 stones have been laid in Germany, more in neighbouring countries where the Nazi terror regime was present.
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A poignant trio this Thursday. These stolpersteine (literally: stumbling stones) can be found in front of apartment or business houses were people used to live before they were deported and killed by the Nazi regime. I came upon these particular three in a town to the south of ours, as part of a remembrance campaign on 9 November, 83 years after the November pogroms in Germany. The English Wikipedia still calls it “Kristallnacht” (or “night of broken glass”), a term no longer used in Germany as it is considered a euphemism that does not do justice to the events.
Nevertheless, if you are interested in stolpersteine wikipedia is a good start to get information.
In places all over Germany and other European countries one can find Stolpersteine – cobblestones called “stumbling stones” or “stumbling blocks”, commemorating victims of National Socialism near places where they lived or worked. After almost 30 years, these stones now number several ten thousands and more are added almost on a daily basis. More information about the project can be found here.
The initiator likes to quote a child who said about his remembrance project: “You don’t trip on a STOLPERSTEIN, you stumble with your head and your heart.”
For Cosmic Photo Challenge: Set in Stone.
Various cobblestones in Germany, from Schwetzingen, Weinheim, Mainz, and the last one from Durham, UK.
And these are special pavement stones, so called “Stolpersteine” (stumbling stones) commemorating men and women who have been deported to concentration camps during the persecution of Nazi Germany. More information on this art project can be found here.
This is a contribution to Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge, asking for “bricks or stones”.
pictures imperfect blog 