The small brass plaques in sidewalks across Europe are Stolpersteine. They lie in about 30 European countries, including Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Ukraine. Each stone commemorates one person persecuted by the Nazis.
Why are they in so many countries?
The German artist Gunter Demnig started the project in 1992. On 16 December 1992 he set a first stone in front of Cologne’s historic town hall, recalling the 1942 order to deport Sinti and Roma to Auschwitz. The first stones for individual people were laid in Cologne in 1995 and in Berlin-Kreuzberg in 1996, at first without official permission. In 1997 the first officially approved stones were laid in St. Georgen near Salzburg, Austria. From 2000 the city of Cologne gave permission, and the project grew from there.
What does the text say?
The inscription usually begins “HIER WOONDE” on Dutch stones, “HIER WOHNTE” on German stones and “ICI HABITAIT” on French ones. All three mean “here lived”. Then come the name, the year of birth and what happened to the person. For the shape of the stone, see what is a Stolperstein.
How a stone comes about
Relatives, residents, schools, local foundations and history societies ask for a stone and pay for it. Local volunteers research the person’s life in archives, look for relatives and ask the municipality for permission, because the pavement is public ground. The stone is laid in a small ceremony, often with relatives, neighbours and schoolchildren. Names are read, and often flowers are laid. For many years Demnig laid most stones himself.
Criticism and what you can do
Not everyone agrees with the form. Charlotte Knobloch, long-time head of the Jewish community of Munich, objects that the names lie on the ground where people walk over them. For that reason Munich does not allow Stolpersteine on public ground. The project does not regard stepping on a stone by accident as an offence. If a stone is damaged, stolen or removed during roadworks, tell the local Stolpersteine group or the municipality, so it can be put back or replaced.
On the map you can see which stones lie on a street or in a city.
Read on
What does ‘Hier woonde’ mean on a stone?
‘Hier woonde’ is Dutch for ‘here lived’. It usually opens the inscription on Dutch Stolpersteine, which mark the last home a person chose freely.
How do you read the inscription on a Stolperstein?
The inscription on a Stolperstein usually follows one order: ‘here lived’, then the name, the year of birth and what happened. Read it from top to bottom.
Why are they called stumbling stones (Stolpersteine)?
Stolperstein is German for stumbling stone. The stones lie flush with the pavement, so you do not trip over them, but you must bow to read the name.
