“Stumbling Stones”

“That didn’t happen here”…a sad statement made by many and as a result  inspired artist Gunter Demnig to create the Stumbling Stones or “Stolpersteine”.  These brass cobblestones are placed in front of homes of victims of the holocaust and carry what information has survived about the persons fate.  Each reads “HERE LIVED” followed by the name, year of birth and date of deportation or death.   Sadly many stones have only question marks as the persons fate was never known.

I started seeing these different cobbles around my village and did some research… the feelings on them are diverse.  Many wish to forget, others believe a stone bearing the persons name to be trampled on daily is demeaning.  The idea of a “stumbling stone” isn’t meant to be something to trip person like an obstacle but more as a way to trigger the passer by to stop and think…to remember if only for a moment.  In this way, these people are not completely forgotten.

When I showed them to an elderly woman I know who is a life long resident of the village… trigger a memory it did.  She told me about how kind the family was to her as a little girl.  She remembered the night their house was raided and all the beautiful things they owned were destroyed.  Tears filled her eyes as she shared with me their story.

The numbers of these stones are growing every day since 1993 when the first stone was laid in Cologne.  These 10 cm brass or concrete stones have been installed in cities and towns all over Europe.  They are a moving reminder of the lives of these people.  If you are planning a trip to Europe, especially Germany, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands and now Hungary, google “Stolpersteine” or “Stumbling Stones and find out where you might find them….and spend a moment in remembrance.

To read more about this subject and the creator of the project:

http://www.stolpersteine-trier.de/html_eng/stolpersteine.htm

and in German:

http://www.stolpersteine.com/