Walk with Your Head Down

Stolperstein = Stumbling Block

Stolpersteine = Stumbling Blocks

When walking in Berlin, or anywhere in Germany for that matter (and many other countries), try looking down. Eventually, you will come across Stolpersteine. These are little golden blocks that you find in front of businesses and/or apartment buildings. Usually, you walks by these blocks without even noticing them. However, once they are pointed out, you will see them everywhere.

It's hard to read, but each Stolperstein has the words "Hier Wohnte", meaning "Here lived" followed by a name, two or three dates, and a place. The name is of the Jewish, homosexual, african, disabled... person that lived or worked in that building during WWII. The first date is the date of birth (JG= Jahr Geburtstag). The second being when the individual were taken and put into concentration camps, and the third of when they died. The one above says:

"Hier Wohnte 

Elly C. Schindler

JG 1907

Deportiert 1.11.1941

(something I can't read)

Ermordet 8.5.1942 in

Kulnhof"

Like I said, most of the time, people walk by the Stolpersteine without even noticing them, and in the previous picture, you can see why. They're not that big...the size of the other cobblestones in the cobblestone sidewalks. However, for me, Stolpersteine are one of the biggest and most important things to see in Berlin. They commemorate those who died and the few that survived the Holocaust. This commemoration is small, but very personal, as each block is placed in the last known residence or workplace of the individual(s). Sometimes, you will see candles, flowers, or wreaths around the blocks. Many times you'll come across a Stolperstein for a child. For me, those are the most emotional. While I did not take a close enough picture to see, this is a set of Stolpersteine for a family.

So next time you're in Germany, instead of looking up at the Street Art, the buildings, or the beautiful (hopefully blue) sky, walk with your head looking down. You'll find Stolpersteine all over the place.