Have you ever stopped to actually read one of these stones before? You know which ones I’m talking about, right? The out of the ordinary, little brass cobblestones that are occasionally built into the sidewalks out in front of an apartment every now and again. This is the Stolpersteine Memorial.
These are called Stolpersteine (or stumbling stones in English), and they are amazing memorial pieces that are worth you taking a moment to read, remember, and reflect on.
What is the Stolpersteine Memorial exactly?
The Stolpersteine Memorial stones are all part of a Holocaust memorial, one, which is actually the largest scattered memorial in the world. These stones aren’t just scattered around Düsseldorf, there are over 70,000 stones in more than 24 countries around the world.
Each Stolpersteine was created individually to honor each and every single victim of the Holocaust. On each stone engraved, is the name, date of birth and outcome of their lives (deported, murdered, suicide, etc.) The stones are then placed in front of the last known address of each Holocaust victim.
The idea of laying these brass cobblestones (“stumbling stones”) on the sidewalk, is that while you might not trip and fall over one of these stones, you may just stumble enough to look down with a heavy heart and take a moment to remember the lives affected during the Holocaust.
A powerful and heart-wrenching concept, might I add.
Who created the Stolpersteine Memorial?
We have the artist, Gunter Demnig, to thank for these beautifully handcrafted brass stone memorials. In 1992, Demnig had created his first stumbling stones in memorial of the Roma victims affected in the Holocaust. It wasn’t until 2005 that the memorial project had become so large, Demnig called in support from Michael Friedrichs-Friedländer. Each and every stone, (even after hitting a count of 70,000) is still hand-engraved, Friedrichs-Friedländer believes that if the process were mechanized, then the victims of the Holocaust would quickly become anonymous. By carefully engraving each word, letter by letter, each and every single victim is remembered and honored not just by Friedrichs-Friedländer himself, but by everyone who stops to read and appreciate the handmade Stolpersteine.
How can you sponsor a Stolpersteine or make a donation?
You can sponsor a stone, the creation, and the installation for 120 Euro (*prices are always subject to change) and are asked to contact Stolpersteine.eu for more information.
Today, there is a long waiting list of neighbors, communities, and long lost family members requesting Stolpersteine for the ones they’ve lost. It is said that Friedrichs-Friedländer works 60+ hours around the clock and has created more than 60,000 stones himself, in a little garage in Berlin, Germany.
If you don’t know anyone whom you would like to honor, you can also make a donation to support the foundation and their project.
Learn more about the Stolpersteine Memorial pieces in Düsseldorf
The Mahn-und-Gedenkstätte Düsseldorf e.V. plays a big role in the laying of the Stolpersteine in Düsseldorf. You can also contact the Düsseldorf Gedenkstätte to request a memorial stone for someone you knew or someone you’d like to remember.
Occasionally, they also host Stolpersteine tours, taking you on a 1,5-hour tour to learn more about these stumbling blocks and past some of the most prominent brass stones in the city. The tours are free of charge and limited to a maximum of 20 people.
Additionally, there is now an app available where you can find Stolpersteinen in your area with the help of an interactive map!
Looking for more interesting local history? Check out our German History page on Life in Düsseldorf.
