Stolpersteine: the world's largest project of art and commemoration
The Stolpersteine (German for "stumbling blocks") is:
the largest project of art and commemoration in the world. More than 28,000 of these brass-covered square stones have been installed in sidewalks in 580 cities in Germany and in 9 other countries.
In all of them, the blocks have become cherished reminders of the pain and injustice experienced by the 11 million victims of National Socialism -- and of the loss of humanity occurring from it.
Exception: Munich, although this city was the birthplace of National Socialism. This is thanks to a city council ban that we are working to get rescinded.
Each stumbling block commemorates one of these victims -- Jewish, Gypsy, political or others -- of the Nazis. Each lists the victim's name and fate. Each is placed in front of his or her last place of residence prior to deportation.
Each block is placed at the initiative of persons and groups -- and not of governmental bodies. This fact also makes our movement unique.
Our movement was launched by Gunter Demnig, the Cologne-based artist, in 1993. In 1997, he began the fashioning (still done by hand today) and placing of the blocks in sidewalks.
the largest project of art and commemoration in the world. More than 28,000 of these brass-covered square stones have been installed in sidewalks in 580 cities in Germany and in 9 other countries.
In all of them, the blocks have become cherished reminders of the pain and injustice experienced by the 11 million victims of National Socialism -- and of the loss of humanity occurring from it.
Exception: Munich, although this city was the birthplace of National Socialism. This is thanks to a city council ban that we are working to get rescinded.
Each stumbling block commemorates one of these victims -- Jewish, Gypsy, political or others -- of the Nazis. Each lists the victim's name and fate. Each is placed in front of his or her last place of residence prior to deportation.
Each block is placed at the initiative of persons and groups -- and not of governmental bodies. This fact also makes our movement unique.
Our movement was launched by Gunter Demnig, the Cologne-based artist, in 1993. In 1997, he began the fashioning (still done by hand today) and placing of the blocks in sidewalks.