Stolpersteine: Memory in the Streets of Europe

The Stolpersteine (German for “stumbling stones”) are small brass-plated memorials embedded into sidewalks across Europe, marking the last chosen residences of individuals persecuted by the Nazi regime.

James E. Young of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, author of two books on Holocaust memorialization, has commented, "Stolpersteine are a metaphor for the Germans stumbling over this part of their past—something that won't go away—and that was the artist's point. Stolpersteine don't exist in places where you have to make your pilgrimage. You suddenly come upon them." 

This grassroots initiative is often community-driven. Individuals, families, school groups, or citizens can research history, often uncovering forgotten or ignored narratives. It fosters a connection between past and present, individual, and collective memory.

Despite its widespread adoption, Stolpersteine have not been universally accepted. One of the most notable critics was Charlotte Knobloch, a Holocaust survivor and former president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. She opposed the idea of stepping on victims’ names, considering it a form of disrespect. She commented, "The names of murdered Jews should not be trampled underfoot." In Munich, the city council initially banned Stolpersteine on public property, allowing them only on private land. Opponents also argue that the stones risk being overlooked or neglected—subject to weather, dirt, and foot traffic—thereby undermining their commemorative function. However, many defenders, including Holocaust educators and families of victims, argue that the stones’ location in daily public life is precisely what gives them power. They do not monumentalize; they humanize. Others argue that the act of seeing and acknowledging the stones—pausing, reflecting, kneeling—is precisely what gives them dignity. Despite Munich’s ban, Stolpersteine continue to be placed in other cities across Europe, including Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Amsterdam, and Budapest.

Demnig insists the project is an art installation rather than a conventional memorial. Yet, it performs a vital memorial function. As the Holocaust fades from living memory, these small plaques offer a powerful way to remember individuals, rather than statistics. Each stone becomes a small piece in a continental network of remembrance. Says Demnig, “Art can stop you in your tracks. That’s what these stones do. They interrupt your day." In the face of rising nationalism and antisemitism, Stolpersteine provide an enduring, quiet resistance—a way to preserve history and affirm the dignity of those who suffered.