Stolperstein

Stolperstein, usually referred to as Stolpersteine in German, are small brass plaques embedded in sidewalks to commemorate victims of Nazi persecution. The project was devised by German artist Günter Demnig in 1992 and has grown into one of the largest decentralized memorials in Europe.

Each stone is placed in the pavement in front of the last freely chosen residence of a victim. The brass plaque lists the person’s name, date of birth, and details of deportation and death when known; inscriptions often begin with Hier wohnte (Here lived) in German. The stones are intended to be encountered by passersby in daily life, turning ordinary streets into reminders of individual lives.

The project is organized through a network of local committees and volunteers. Stones are laid with the consent of property owners and local authorities, and the works are typically funded by donations or sponsorships. The Stolpersteine are installed in many cities across Germany and in several other European countries, making the memory of persecuted individuals visible in public space.

As a memorial concept, Stolpersteine have been praised for democratizing memory and offering a personal, localized confrontation with history. They have also prompted discussion about who is remembered, privacy and living neighbors, and the logistics and ethics of public memorials. Despite debates, the stones remain a widely recognized symbol of remembrance and education about the victims of the Nazi regime.