Stolpersteine

Learning about all of the different types of museums and memorials that are dedicated to the Holocaust through our group presentations in class was really insightful. Of all of the places and projects we discussed, I found the Stolpersteine project to be the most engaging and creative.

The project was started in 1995 by Gunter Demnig. Itt serves as a reminder of the persecution of Jews and others during the Nazi regime. The “stumbling blocks” are 4X4in concrete blocks with hand engraved brass plates that are embedded in the pavement. A plate on each block shows the name of the victim, some information about the life, and the place of their murder and each block is placed in front of the entrance of the last residence, office, or workplace of the person. Demnig was inspired to the the project when he heard a woman say that no gypsies had ever lived in her neighborhood. He said: "It is so easy for people to deny something. I wanted to ensure that this would not happen." The project started out quite small, with just a few dozen stones in Cologne. It has expanded immensely, however, and there are now hundreds of thousands of stones all across Europe.



I think that there are a few things about Stolpersteine that make it stand out from other forms of memorial. Decentrification is one of them. The project not one giant reminder that can be walked away from; It many small and simple yet constant reminders. Public Involvement is also really central to Demnig's project. Student volunteers conduct archival research & requests for new stones are made by friends and family members. Many school children are also involved with the project as a way to learn about contemporary history. The ongoing expansion of the project is also a key component of it, which is possible due to low cost and private funding. In relation to what we have discussed in class, Adorno was concerned that people would forget, and were actively trying to forget. He was also afraid that forgetting would allow a return of National Socialist ideology. These Stolperteine are a way of remembrance and of preventing the anti-Democratic forces by providing a small, but constant reminder.



In my opinion, the forms are criticism that have presented themselves in relation to Stolpersteine are not surprising. All memorials and museums have their critics and it is impossible to make everyone happy. It is also important to realize that there is criticism from all side -- members of the Jewish communities who don't want people defacing or wiping their muddy boots on the stones as a sign of disrespect as well as politicians and German citizens who do not want to be reminded of the atrocities of the Holocaust on a daily basis. I think what makes these criticisms so interesting is that they all hold a facet of validity.