i was about to write this too. imho the stones on the ground are the even stronger statement, since you stumble about these stones in your daily life and when you see them and acknowledge them for what they are, you have to take your time to bow down and show the respect the victims, that they deserve. This hits me personally more than just a plaque on a wall, that could be anything, but i can understand the other arguments too.
@ Sahnor - Same!🙂 I like the idea that the artist may even have deliberately included this aspect in his concept. I like them as they are! Greetings from Germany!
Also kids are more likely to see them. Plaques on the wall are on the height adults can read them, on the ground everyone can see them. And kids asking questions when finding something like this, is making sure that this history isn't forgotten in younger generations either.
There are two stumbling stones in front of my house. Me and other roommates clean and maintain these. Children stop and ask why we do this. A good, everyday way of education.
5:55 I have to disagree on that part. Installing them on the side walk has multiple advantages: A: The brass sticks out of the grey of the pavement much more than it would out of colourful fassades. B: Because sidewalks are public ground no-one can block their installation, not even the people now living in the houses and flats that once belonged to the victims. C: Most importantly, because they are installed on the ground you automatically lower your head when reading them, paying respects to the victims.
my history teacher said once, after we came back from a concentration camp, "What happened isn't our responsibility but that it doesn't happen again is." That has been stuck with me since then.
Wir sollten uns bewusst machen, dass wir nie ein Konzentrationslager besucht haben, sondern eine Gedenkstätte (auch "Mahn- und Gedenkstätte" genannt); ein großer Unterschied, wie ich finde. Selbst ich, der Anfang der 1970er - nicht mal 30 Jahre nach Kriegsende - in Buchenwald war, habe kein Konzentrationslager gesehen. Auf die Frage, warum die Häftlingsbaracken abgerissen wurden, sagte man damals, wegen der Seuchengefahr. Was nach meiner Meinung nicht der Grund gewesen sein kann. Wie kann in leeren Holzbaracken eine Seuchengefahr bestehen? Wenigstens eine hätte man stehen lassen sollen/können. Selbst ein originaler Nachbau wäre wohl möglich gewesen. Stattdessen betritt man eine riesige Freifläche. Die Gedenkstätten sind vollgepackt mit Symbolik und man schaut sich Fotos an. In meiner Wohngegend lebte Bruno Apitz, der Häftling in Buchenwald war und das Buch «Nackt unter Wölfen» geschrieben hat. Man konnte ihm jeder Zeit auf der Straße begegnen. Ein Deutschstunde mit ihm empfand ich als wesentlich eindrücklicher als das Pflichtprogramm in Buchenwald.
As a German, I find these Stolpersteine immensly important. I would never step on them on purpose, always walk pass them. Everytime I see one of these, I feel an instant connection to the people, mentioned on them. I understand the controversy of course and it is not up to me, to say, especially jewish people, how to feel about it or what is right or wrong, just for me, I am thankful for these daily little reminders. They raise awareness and realization, that, no matter how nice life in Germany is right now or for the last several decades, there was a time, when life was completely different, when people feared for their lives, lost everything and sometimes everyone they loved... It is important to respect that and to take responsibility, not only as a German but as a human being, no matter where you are or what your religion or nationality is. I am not responsible for what happened back than, neither are my parents or grand parents (who were little children at that time), but I am responsible to do whatever I can to never letting it happen again. "not forgetting, not forgiving"
As a French national, I go by the same exact principles. You just have to listen and respond accordingly. I took English as a second language since I was living in India at that time. But to my German "voisins", I will tell this. Stick to your word, Democracy is primordial, and above all, let's talk... We will have disagreements, but that doesn't mean "war". Let's talk about "all of this" with some black wine and "Snacks". Edit: "Marbach am Neckar" is the town I visited when I was 15. Wonderful memories, especially from the Principal's Daughter, Julia. Still remember her name 30 years afterward.
The point with the stumbling stones (in my opinion) really is that people with a conscience who come across them do notice them and want to be respectful. With them in the ground, they are noticeable, because when you’re walking, you pretty much always look at the pavement, and you can’t help but see them, because they break the visual pattern of the pavement. When mounted on a wall, you will just pass them without even realizing they are there. Disrespectful people, and people without any semblance of moral decency will disrespect or damage either form of installation. Therefore, I personally approve of the placement in the pavement. FYI, these are for all the groups of victims, not just those of the Shoa, but also for Sinti, Roma, Homosexuals, people persecuted for their political stances, victims of „euthanasia“ (murder of people who were deemed „genetically unworthy to live“, including autistic children and even in some cases adults with severe depressions!), „anti-social elements“ and even members of the „Jehovah‘s Witnesses“ or other religious/political dissenters.
I believe the stumbling stones on the ground to be a superior memorial than the plaques. Reasoning as follows. We don't actually LOOK at walls. We recognize them for being there, we register them subconsciously, and we pass them unnoticed unless they are truly outstanding visually. That's the nature of walls. Even animals recognize walls as something that limits their movement naturally; they don't have to look at them and go:"Ah, a wall blocks my way, let's look at it a different way and analyze what's on it." All land creatures with a visual cortex however understand that something on the ground that stands out visually has to be looked at, scrutinized, analyzed, understood, for it might pose danger to our lizard brains. That makes the Stolpersteine pop out from the more or less uniform ground of city sidewalks. They make us take active notice of something. Once it enters our conscious observation people who know about them recognize them immediately for what they are. Those who have never heard of them may take a look at them; and even ask what they are. In this case, mission accomplished is completely accurate. An everyday situation is turned into a short but powerful memorial to the victims; furthering education and respectful rememberance. I understand, recognize, and accept the arguments for respect from the Jewish community. However I do not agree with them; not maliciously or with bad intent. I just believe that a plaque on a wall becomes part of the wall; thus it fades into the background of our perception, becomes less noticable, thus less memorable. That's why I disagree, in the most respectful way, with the Jewish community leader. I believe the plaques reduce the impact of the memorial it was intended to have. Agreed, there is a chance for despoiling and disrespectful behavior. However most people who even unwittingly step on them, then notice what they did, will almost immediately turn around and show respect, often by cleaning them. Those who willfully do such disrespect aren't the targets for such memorials anyway; those individuals are anti-anything that involves the Holocaust. It doesn't matter if it is a stone on the ground, or a plaque on a wall.
I live in Stuttgart, South West Germany and right in front of my front door embedded in the pavement there is such a stumbling stone - and each day I leave the house or come home, for a few seconds I think of that murdered person who once lived where I live now. And always, really always I avoid to step directly on that stumbling stone! Love to you all 🧡
I live in Berlin. They are everywhere and I never stepped on a stumblingstone. I don't even think about it. You notice them on your way and make a bigger step over or besides them.
The thought behind the stumbling stones is that you have to bow your head to read the engraving. A posture of mourn, regret and showing/paying respect, I get the other argument as well.
Personally, I think the placement in the pavement is way better than on the walls. Someone already said the whole point of them being on the ground is so that looking at them/ reading them you bow your head and thus bow to the memory of the victims. The brass also gets polished by every shoe stepping on it, everyone who steps on the stumbling stone will make it shine brighter so to speak. But as pretty much nobody steps on them and the vast majority of people tries to go around or step over them a lot of voluntary workers clean them because the original plan of them being polished by people walking over them didn't work. Also: there is so many freaking plaques on walls that people just wouldn't even look at them if they were put onto the walls instead of the pavement. The amount of plaques on house walls telling you stuff about some historical figure or some historic event or even something interesting about the way the house was constructed (plus a shit ton of advertisements etc) is enormous. In the pavement they catch your attention because they are special, they make you stop and read, they make children and tourists ask about them and provoke thought processes, everywhere else they are just another plaque on a wall.
Niemand tritt darauf, es sei denn mit Absicht, sie sind nicht zu übersehen. Aber Gold verliert seinen Wert nie, auch wenn es im Schmutz liegt nicht. Ich mag die Steine. In meiner Stadt liegen auch ein paar.
I think these stumbling stones are enormously important and I am extremely grateful to the initiator for bringing them into being! Personally, I bend down at each stone to read the data and pause briefly to honor the memory of these victims. I think it's a great idea: you show humility, symbolically "bow down" to the victims and pay them respect. I don't know anyone who would deliberately step on these stones, quite the opposite... It is living history and keeps the memory of our dark past alive - and admonishes us that we are responsible for never allowing such atrocities to happen again! I also regularly go to a Jewish cemetery nearby and look after the graves of the Nazi victims there with a few others. This grave care means a lot to us! None of our family members were involved in the crimes in any way (quite the opposite - we are all descendants of resistance fighters etc.) - and perhaps that is why we feel the need to follow in their footsteps and do our tiny bit to ensure that all the victims are never forgotten!
On a plane to Berlin right now so interesting viewing, as a Brit I harbour no ill will towards the German people because of the wars, among our closest allies these days!
Dit is heel mooi wat er staat is dat er mensen zijn afgevoerd en nooit meer terug zijn gekomen duitsland heeft veel mee gemaakt en veel geschiedenis geschreven en zij willen dit laten zien heel eerlijk 😊
@UntilWeregoing You asked for german music to react to.. in relation to this video check out Die Ärzte - Deine Schuld imho it explains perfectly sentiment/vibe/moral of the average based german.
The refrain says "It´s not your guilt the world is like she is, but it would be your guilt if she stays that way!" means WE are the ones to change the bad things happening! That goes to you, MAGA!
I recommend the book mentioned by Nick. It's by Brit who lived on and off in Germany (before and after reunification). It's a look at British society and politics mirroring them with Germany's. But it also delivers insights into Germany that were new and refreshing, even for me as a German. The power of the stumbling stones lies in changing history from abstract concepts into personal fates. Nobody in their right mind steps on a stumbling stone, that's why the bronze cubes have to be cleaned regularly. When you see one you automatically bend down to read the text - and think about the person's life and death while paying your respect.
Some people may see the stumbling blocks as disrespectful because you're practically trampling on people. However, I see it from a completely different perspective. They are meant to wake people up. If someone strolls through the streets unsuspectingly, e.g. as a tourist in Germany for the first time, and comes across these stones, then it should remind them of what happened here 70 years ago. To wake them up and touch them. To make him curious to question why these people had to lose their lives. Something visible to remind people that they have to prevent such horrible things from happening in order to be able to live in peace. We all want that.
Americans and Canadians should never forget ITS YOUR HISTORY TOO. White Americans and Canadians are from Europe. The US and Canada are so much connected to Europe that history is ours!
As Michael Mittermeier once used to say: Well, in the 70s and 80s we had "guilt" as a subject three times a week in school and on Fridays we had "shame". No, that certainly was a joke, but it felt like this.
The problem that other countries do not understand what these "stumbling blocks" mean is easy to explain...."YOU HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED IT", now in the "modern age called INTERNET" someone should get to work on connecting a QR code to the stumbling blocks, which would connect you to a "multimedia" page with the "tattooed registration numbers" or to a LINK to the horrendous experiments that were carried out at that time...! And I'm not talking about the "quick-fix method" of eliminating Jews (in gas chambers and crematoriums), disabled people or those with different political views, but about the "everyday" horrors that led to human "lampshades" and other abominations....! which nowadays only young people know from video games like "Wolfenstein". These are not video game inventions, they really happened.... not as exaggerated as in the game but still....... then things like "Guantanamoe's" Soldiers walking Humans on Dog leashes would not be "repeated"
We have also those stul stones. On th Blue Bridge (Vivli Brücke) near the trainstation, is a memorial "Der vergessene Mantel" (the vorgotten coat) which is in memory of the jews who was sent to the KZ Gurs.
Due to the dark part of our history, the 3. Reich, we take it very serious to remember this time and the crimes that happened to prevent that this could happen again. By this in my school time we had 3 times a theme of WWII and the holocaust including a visit of the concentration camp of Buchenwald, where 56.000 people have been killed. We have got the term of „Vergangenheitsbewältigung“ which means not to forget the terms of the past. In this context it is strictly forbidden to deny the holocaust (up to 5 years jail), to show the Hitler salute (up to 3 years jail) or to paint or print the twisted cross (up to 3 years jail). Futhermore the politician Björn Höcke from the right wing AfD has been convicted a short time ago to a fine for using a Nazi - parole in a AfD-campaign which was engraved into a SA-dagger („Alles für Deutschland“ = everything for Germany). Still today there are campaigns in the context of „Vergangenheitsbewältigung“ like the mentioned stumbling stones which are placed in front of houses of Nazi-victims, mostly jews, who were deported to concentration camps, where most oft them were killed. Or a school class in Zierenberg, a little town near Kassel, which listed the names and the places of graves of jewish people who were burried in a graveyard in their town. They used the help of a wife of a Rabbi in Kassel to translate everything from jewish into german, wrote down everything in a book and presented it to the mayor of Zierenberg.
Btw, it's not that particular bookstore in Schwäbisch Hall that was opened in 1596. The predecessor of the book store chain opened their first store in Tübingen in 1596. The store in Schwäbisch Hall opened in 2010. (All information according to Wikipedia)
Between 1452 and 1454 their the first "Gutenberg-Bibel" was created. The invention of the printing press with movable types came at this times. And 'your' bokkstore came very quick - 200 years later... :o)
the first few of this "stumbeling stones" were actually raised a little higher than the ground, so you actually could slightly stumble, but it was seen as not practical, as if it goes wrong, somebody, could get hurt, by falling over them, so they were set even to the ground. the first idea was, that you stumble and look what made you stumble, and find, that it was the memorial, that this way, brought itself back to your attention, so we never forget...
I'm really thankful that he talked about the responsibility. While a lot of people even here say it is about guilt and feeling guilty - it really is not. We're responsible laying our finger into the wound of today's society. That we may never forget what fascism and hating humans because of their religion, their place of origin and their ideology leads to. Writing his hate down with black ink onto white paper was the first step. And it didn't take long from the printing of "mein Kampf" to it escalating into the loss of a lot of innocent lifes. For no real reason. Just people thinking they made them lose the war or they're taking their jobs or their money. Lies that started in medieval times. Because not enough people stood up against it.
Germany does a great job of recognising it's past. It's open and honest. Everyone growing up learns about these dark times along with the good. So much so that the average German has an aversion to nationlistic pride. I'm Irish living here with my German wife and find it sad actually. It's become so entrenched that flying German colours is really only something you do when the national football team is playing, and winning, in the Euros. It's sad that at any other time randomly flying your country's flag is often seen as siding with right wing ideals. My gut says the longer this is the norm, the more the flag will be hijacked and come to represent the right.
i victims dont want to be remembered.. than dont install them. because lets be real.. the plaques on the walls need consent to be installed because its private property.. and not everyone wants those things on the side of their house. on the pavement.. it was public ground
I can understand the munich city....its realy important to remember RESPECTFULLY. I can understand that they say that the victims went throu so much It is also important that the memory of People and their Legacy is not trampled on and that people do not look down on the victims from above again. For me personaly it feels better to put the Names high on the wall that everyone can see and regonize it instead of go over them.
I live in Vienna, and there are lots of stumbling stones on sidewalks. I do not like the concept too much - after the first enthusiasm blows over, the Stolpersteine tend to be neglected, dirty, and not very impactful. I also share the view that it is not very respectful of the victims to have their memorials on the ground where people walk over them and dogs piss on them. The concept of plaques on the ground was chosen, because lots of building owners did not want to consent to having wall plaques placed on the outside of their property, it was easier to get permission for ground plaques from municipalities to attain a relevant number of memorial plaques.
Sarah, Moses, Mary, Jacob live there. Your life ends in a concentration camp. - These were people from the middle of society who were picked up and put to death because of their faith. And now the stumbling blocks remind us of what happened. Wasn't that wrong?
the sad thing, that they weren´t deported because of their faith, but because they were jewish, like being jewish is like belonging to a race or a country... pleople back then could be christians or any other religion, it was enough that your parents or grandparents or even great-grandparents were jewish, it was not the really the faith of a person but belonging to a random group of people, accidently descending from someone that was jewish... I think, this makes it even more horrible. Not to mention all the other groups of people that shared the same fate, like homosexuals, sinti, roma, disabled... there were so many victims and the reasons were always stupid and cruel
"who were picked up and put to death because of their faith." No, it was worse: They were deported because they were members of Jewish families, the religion did not matter.
The "funny" thing is that the European Jews were hit really hard, while the German Jews (around 500,000 at the time) got off "relatively well". Because 2/3 of the German Jews were able to flee from the Nazis in time. And this was particularly true of countries that Hitler's troops (not all of them were German) never reached...
And millions DON´T trample on them and pay decent respect to the names and the persons. BTW: There is an important reason these stones are placed really near to the houses: Most people stay clear of the walls to not smudge their clothes. So they don´t step so much on the stumbling stones either. Most of the stones are also located in front of the entrance of these houses. You unintentionally look down to the door threshold to see if anything blocks your way and you see these stones. Because they shimmer metallic you don´t step on them!
You‘re from the Netherlands? The kingdom ruled by the German House of Nassau? The country with one of the most widespread systems of collaboration during occupation? The one that elected enough far-right radicals to parliament for them to form / head a coalition government earlier this year? You might want to shout a little less loud about „DE MOFFEN!!!!“, as you probably would like to call us in Nederlandstalig.
PS: According to English Wikipedia, the „Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging in Nederland“ had over 100,000 members in 1944. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialist_Movement_in_the_Netherlands - any thoughts on that? Yes, Germans were evil - and by the way, not only from 1939 to 1945 (we were the ones who introduced chemical warfare to the world in early 1915 - but someone from the Netherlands wouldn’t care about that, because the Netherlands stayed neutral all the way from 1914 to 1918, even though the other branch of the House of Nassau, the rulers of the Grandy Duchy of Luxembourg, had to suffer German occupation of their country despite their country’s neutrality from Day 1 of the war until the very end). But maybe we weren’t the only ones who could have done with less evil or at least morally very… ambiguous… actions or lack thereof.
Some guys just cant be taken serious. The whole point is to remember what bad have been done. So you captn caps should shut up. Btw, nearly no one of us, has lived back then. We are all not guilty. But we have to make sure that its remembered how easy it happend. And not let it happen again. Fashists are on the rise all around the globe. In netherlands, us, ger, fr, hungary….. Dont just blame, fight against them
If you tried to be funny, you are most certainly NOT FUNNY! You should be ashamed of yourself recommending to read this book under a video about the victims of the Shoah. Please go get some real education and emotional abilities before commenting again on the internet!
@@macdieter23558 Ja, meint er. Kann aber weder genug Deutsch um es so zu schreiben noch genug Englisch, um its / it's richtig zu verwenden, der Herrenmensch 😆
🤣🤣🤣 ...a book-store, build 1596 and open today !!!!!!!!!!! ... im laughing because im a German and those Things are "normal" here !! ... im laughing because Americans to this times ....................... and always sooooooo proud of themselfs ......... True Facts: Germany and the whole europeen Countrys have a HISTORY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! back 3000 years .............. America ???????????? ... fun fact: Americans "the leader of the World" ... but have absolutly no Clue about other nations !! 🤣🤣 Greetings from Germany my Friend🥰🥰
I see absolutely no respect here, why? People step on their names with dirty feet. It would be better to have signs at eye level ❤🩹 It goes even further: thousands of women and children have died in the bombings of the USA and the English throughout Germany, not a single family is named or even mentioned, it is rather embarrassing. We should pray for all people, not just JEWS. We are all human 💓
One characteristic of stumbling stones is, that you bow your head when you look at them. I think that shows respect and humility.
i was about to write this too.
imho the stones on the ground are the even stronger statement, since you stumble about these stones in your daily life and when you see them and acknowledge them for what they are, you have to take your time to bow down and show the respect the victims, that they deserve.
This hits me personally more than just a plaque on a wall, that could be anything, but i can understand the other arguments too.
@ Sahnor - Same!🙂 I like the idea that the artist may even have deliberately included this aspect in his concept. I like them as they are! Greetings from Germany!
Also kids are more likely to see them. Plaques on the wall are on the height adults can read them, on the ground everyone can see them. And kids asking questions when finding something like this, is making sure that this history isn't forgotten in younger generations either.
There are two stumbling stones in front of my house. Me and other roommates clean and maintain these. Children stop and ask why we do this. A good, everyday way of education.
some times when I stumble across one in day to day I do the same.
88 likes XD
5:55 I have to disagree on that part. Installing them on the side walk has multiple advantages:
A: The brass sticks out of the grey of the pavement much more than it would out of colourful fassades.
B: Because sidewalks are public ground no-one can block their installation, not even the people now living in the houses and flats that once belonged to the victims.
C: Most importantly, because they are installed on the ground you automatically lower your head when reading them, paying respects to the victims.
D: Kids can actually see and ask about them. Plaques on the wall are usually too high for kids to read or even just recognise.
my history teacher said once, after we came back from a concentration camp, "What happened isn't our responsibility but that it doesn't happen again is." That has been stuck with me since then.
Wir sollten uns bewusst machen, dass wir nie ein Konzentrationslager besucht haben, sondern eine Gedenkstätte (auch "Mahn- und Gedenkstätte" genannt); ein großer Unterschied, wie ich finde. Selbst ich, der Anfang der 1970er - nicht mal 30 Jahre nach Kriegsende - in Buchenwald war, habe kein Konzentrationslager gesehen.
Auf die Frage, warum die Häftlingsbaracken abgerissen wurden, sagte man damals, wegen der Seuchengefahr. Was nach meiner Meinung nicht der Grund gewesen sein kann. Wie kann in leeren Holzbaracken eine Seuchengefahr bestehen? Wenigstens eine hätte man stehen lassen sollen/können. Selbst ein originaler Nachbau wäre wohl möglich gewesen. Stattdessen betritt man eine riesige Freifläche. Die Gedenkstätten sind vollgepackt mit Symbolik und man schaut sich Fotos an.
In meiner Wohngegend lebte Bruno Apitz, der Häftling in Buchenwald war und das Buch «Nackt unter Wölfen» geschrieben hat. Man konnte ihm jeder Zeit auf der Straße begegnen. Ein Deutschstunde mit ihm empfand ich als wesentlich eindrücklicher als das Pflichtprogramm in Buchenwald.
As a German, I find these Stolpersteine immensly important. I would never step on them on purpose, always walk pass them. Everytime I see one of these, I feel an instant connection to the people, mentioned on them. I understand the controversy of course and it is not up to me, to say, especially jewish people, how to feel about it or what is right or wrong, just for me, I am thankful for these daily little reminders. They raise awareness and realization, that, no matter how nice life in Germany is right now or for the last several decades, there was a time, when life was completely different, when people feared for their lives, lost everything and sometimes everyone they loved... It is important to respect that and to take responsibility, not only as a German but as a human being, no matter where you are or what your religion or nationality is. I am not responsible for what happened back than, neither are my parents or grand parents (who were little children at that time), but I am responsible to do whatever I can to never letting it happen again. "not forgetting, not forgiving"
As a French national, I go by the same exact principles. You just have to listen and respond accordingly.
I took English as a second language since I was living in India at that time.
But to my German "voisins", I will tell this. Stick to your word, Democracy is primordial, and above all, let's talk...
We will have disagreements, but that doesn't mean "war".
Let's talk about "all of this" with some black wine and "Snacks".
Edit: "Marbach am Neckar" is the town I visited when I was 15.
Wonderful memories, especially from the Principal's Daughter, Julia.
Still remember her name 30 years afterward.
The point with the stumbling stones (in my opinion) really is that people with a conscience who come across them do notice them and want to be respectful. With them in the ground, they are noticeable, because when you’re walking, you pretty much always look at the pavement, and you can’t help but see them, because they break the visual pattern of the pavement. When mounted on a wall, you will just pass them without even realizing they are there. Disrespectful people, and people without any semblance of moral decency will disrespect or damage either form of installation. Therefore, I personally approve of the placement in the pavement. FYI, these are for all the groups of victims, not just those of the Shoa, but also for Sinti, Roma, Homosexuals, people persecuted for their political stances, victims of „euthanasia“ (murder of people who were deemed „genetically unworthy to live“, including autistic children and even in some cases adults with severe depressions!), „anti-social elements“ and even members of the „Jehovah‘s Witnesses“ or other religious/political dissenters.
I believe the stumbling stones on the ground to be a superior memorial than the plaques. Reasoning as follows.
We don't actually LOOK at walls. We recognize them for being there, we register them subconsciously, and we pass them unnoticed unless they are truly outstanding visually. That's the nature of walls. Even animals recognize walls as something that limits their movement naturally; they don't have to look at them and go:"Ah, a wall blocks my way, let's look at it a different way and analyze what's on it."
All land creatures with a visual cortex however understand that something on the ground that stands out visually has to be looked at, scrutinized, analyzed, understood, for it might pose danger to our lizard brains. That makes the Stolpersteine pop out from the more or less uniform ground of city sidewalks. They make us take active notice of something. Once it enters our conscious observation people who know about them recognize them immediately for what they are.
Those who have never heard of them may take a look at them; and even ask what they are. In this case, mission accomplished is completely accurate.
An everyday situation is turned into a short but powerful memorial to the victims; furthering education and respectful rememberance.
I understand, recognize, and accept the arguments for respect from the Jewish community. However I do not agree with them; not maliciously or with bad intent. I just believe that a plaque on a wall becomes part of the wall; thus it fades into the background of our perception, becomes less noticable, thus less memorable. That's why I disagree, in the most respectful way, with the Jewish community leader. I believe the plaques reduce the impact of the memorial it was intended to have. Agreed, there is a chance for despoiling and disrespectful behavior. However most people who even unwittingly step on them, then notice what they did, will almost immediately turn around and show respect, often by cleaning them.
Those who willfully do such disrespect aren't the targets for such memorials anyway; those individuals are anti-anything that involves the Holocaust. It doesn't matter if it is a stone on the ground, or a plaque on a wall.
I live in Stuttgart, South West Germany and right in front of my front door embedded in the pavement there is such a stumbling stone - and each day I leave the house or come home, for a few seconds I think of that murdered person who once lived where I live now. And always, really always I avoid to step directly on that stumbling stone! Love to you all 🧡
🙏 that's great, kind, 🙏🌿
Grüße aus Hessen 🙂
I live in Berlin. They are everywhere and I never stepped on a stumblingstone. I don't even think about it. You notice them on your way and make a bigger step over or besides them.
The thought behind the stumbling stones is that you have to bow your head to read the engraving. A posture of mourn, regret and showing/paying respect, I get the other argument as well.
Personally, I think the placement in the pavement is way better than on the walls. Someone already said the whole point of them being on the ground is so that looking at them/ reading them you bow your head and thus bow to the memory of the victims. The brass also gets polished by every shoe stepping on it, everyone who steps on the stumbling stone will make it shine brighter so to speak. But as pretty much nobody steps on them and the vast majority of people tries to go around or step over them a lot of voluntary workers clean them because the original plan of them being polished by people walking over them didn't work.
Also: there is so many freaking plaques on walls that people just wouldn't even look at them if they were put onto the walls instead of the pavement. The amount of plaques on house walls telling you stuff about some historical figure or some historic event or even something interesting about the way the house was constructed (plus a shit ton of advertisements etc) is enormous. In the pavement they catch your attention because they are special, they make you stop and read, they make children and tourists ask about them and provoke thought processes, everywhere else they are just another plaque on a wall.
Niemand tritt darauf, es sei denn mit Absicht, sie sind nicht zu übersehen. Aber Gold verliert seinen Wert nie, auch wenn es im Schmutz liegt nicht. Ich mag die Steine. In meiner Stadt liegen auch ein paar.
I think these stumbling stones are enormously important and I am extremely grateful to the initiator for bringing them into being! Personally, I bend down at each stone to read the data and pause briefly to honor the memory of these victims. I think it's a great idea: you show humility, symbolically "bow down" to the victims and pay them respect. I don't know anyone who would deliberately step on these stones, quite the opposite... It is living history and keeps the memory of our dark past alive - and admonishes us that we are responsible for never allowing such atrocities to happen again!
I also regularly go to a Jewish cemetery nearby and look after the graves of the Nazi victims there with a few others. This grave care means a lot to us! None of our family members were involved in the crimes in any way (quite the opposite - we are all descendants of resistance fighters etc.) - and perhaps that is why we feel the need to follow in their footsteps and do our tiny bit to ensure that all the victims are never forgotten!
On a plane to Berlin right now so interesting viewing, as a Brit I harbour no ill will towards the German people because of the wars, among our closest allies these days!
Guess most of germans learned from history. The rest votes AFD!
Dit is heel mooi wat er staat is dat er mensen zijn afgevoerd en nooit meer terug zijn gekomen duitsland heeft veel mee gemaakt en veel geschiedenis geschreven en zij willen dit laten zien heel eerlijk 😊
@UntilWeregoing You asked for german music to react to.. in relation to this video check out Die Ärzte - Deine Schuld
imho it explains perfectly sentiment/vibe/moral of the average based german.
The refrain says "It´s not your guilt the world is like she is, but it would be your guilt if she stays that way!" means WE are the ones to change the bad things happening!
That goes to you, MAGA!
I recommend the book mentioned by Nick. It's by Brit who lived on and off in Germany (before and after reunification). It's a look at British society and politics mirroring them with Germany's. But it also delivers insights into Germany that were new and refreshing, even for me as a German.
The power of the stumbling stones lies in changing history from abstract concepts into personal fates.
Nobody in their right mind steps on a stumbling stone, that's why the bronze cubes have to be cleaned regularly. When you see one you automatically bend down to read the text - and think about the person's life and death while paying your respect.
Some people may see the stumbling blocks as disrespectful because you're practically trampling on people.
However, I see it from a completely different perspective.
They are meant to wake people up. If someone strolls through the streets unsuspectingly, e.g. as a tourist in Germany for the first time, and comes across these stones, then it should remind them of what happened here 70 years ago. To wake them up and touch them. To make him curious to question why these people had to lose their lives. Something visible to remind people that they have to prevent such horrible things from happening in order to be able to live in peace. We all want that.
Excuse me, but what happened 70 years ago? the economy wonder ?
World War II has been over for 79 years.
80 years ago, at least.
They are called STUMBLING stones = you will stumble, and get woken up from every day life, and remember.
Americans and Canadians should never forget ITS YOUR HISTORY TOO. White Americans and Canadians are from Europe. The US and Canada are so much connected to Europe that history is ours!
As Michael Mittermeier once used to say: Well, in the 70s and 80s we had "guilt" as a subject three times a week in school and on Fridays we had "shame". No, that certainly was a joke, but it felt like this.
The problem that other countries do not understand what these "stumbling blocks" mean is easy to explain...."YOU HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED IT", now in the "modern age called INTERNET" someone should get to work on connecting a QR code to the stumbling blocks, which would connect you to a "multimedia" page with the "tattooed registration numbers" or to a LINK to the horrendous experiments that were carried out at that time...! And I'm not talking about the "quick-fix method" of eliminating Jews (in gas chambers and crematoriums), disabled people or those with different political views, but about the "everyday" horrors that led to human "lampshades" and other abominations....! which nowadays only young people know from video games like "Wolfenstein". These are not video game inventions, they really happened.... not as exaggerated as in the game but still.......
then things like "Guantanamoe's" Soldiers walking Humans on Dog leashes would not be "repeated"
We have also those stul stones.
On th Blue Bridge (Vivli Brücke) near the trainstation, is a memorial "Der vergessene Mantel" (the vorgotten coat) which is in memory of the jews who was sent to the KZ Gurs.
Due to the dark part of our history, the 3. Reich, we take it very serious to remember this time and the crimes that happened to prevent that this could happen again. By this in my school time we had 3 times a theme of WWII and the holocaust including a visit of the concentration camp of Buchenwald, where 56.000 people have been killed. We have got the term of „Vergangenheitsbewältigung“ which means not to forget the terms of the past. In this context it is strictly forbidden to deny the holocaust (up to 5 years jail), to show the Hitler salute (up to 3 years jail) or to paint or print the twisted cross (up to 3 years jail).
Futhermore the politician Björn Höcke from the right wing AfD has been convicted a short time ago to a fine for using a Nazi - parole in a AfD-campaign which was engraved into a SA-dagger („Alles für Deutschland“ = everything for Germany).
Still today there are campaigns in the context of „Vergangenheitsbewältigung“ like the mentioned stumbling stones which are placed in front of houses of Nazi-victims, mostly jews, who were deported to concentration camps, where most oft them were killed. Or a school class in Zierenberg, a little town near Kassel, which listed the names and the places of graves of jewish people who were burried in a graveyard in their town. They used the help of a wife of a Rabbi in Kassel to translate everything from jewish into german, wrote down everything in a book and presented it to the mayor of Zierenberg.
Btw, it's not that particular bookstore in Schwäbisch Hall that was opened in 1596. The predecessor of the book store chain opened their first store in Tübingen in 1596. The store in Schwäbisch Hall opened in 2010. (All information according to Wikipedia)
Between 1452 and 1454 their the first "Gutenberg-Bibel" was created. The invention of the printing press with movable types came at this times. And 'your' bokkstore came very quick - 200 years later... :o)
Because "Zeit Zeugen" are slowly dying away we need to remember in many ways. Education is terribly important.
i think in 1596 the first nation lived alone on vancouver island
Moin, Mace!
the first few of this "stumbeling stones" were actually raised a little higher than the ground, so you actually could slightly stumble, but it was seen as not practical, as if it goes wrong, somebody, could get hurt, by falling over them, so they were set even to the ground.
the first idea was, that you stumble and look what made you stumble, and find, that it was the memorial, that this way, brought itself back to your attention, so we never forget...
I'm really thankful that he talked about the responsibility. While a lot of people even here say it is about guilt and feeling guilty - it really is not. We're responsible laying our finger into the wound of today's society. That we may never forget what fascism and hating humans because of their religion, their place of origin and their ideology leads to.
Writing his hate down with black ink onto white paper was the first step. And it didn't take long from the printing of "mein Kampf" to it escalating into the loss of a lot of innocent lifes. For no real reason. Just people thinking they made them lose the war or they're taking their jobs or their money. Lies that started in medieval times.
Because not enough people stood up against it.
Germany does a great job of recognising it's past.
It's open and honest. Everyone growing up learns about these dark times along with the good. So much so that the average German has an aversion to nationlistic pride.
I'm Irish living here with my German wife and find it sad actually. It's become so entrenched that flying German colours is really only something you do when the national football team is playing, and winning, in the Euros.
It's sad that at any other time randomly flying your country's flag is often seen as siding with right wing ideals. My gut says the longer this is the norm, the more the flag will be hijacked and come to represent the right.
Our local mill in Lichtenstein was founded in 1454 by the way.
i victims dont want to be remembered.. than dont install them. because lets be real.. the plaques on the walls need consent to be installed because its private property.. and not everyone wants those things on the side of their house. on the pavement.. it was public ground
Thank you for this Video. 👍
I can understand the munich city....its realy important to remember RESPECTFULLY. I can understand that they say that the victims went throu so much It is also important that the memory of People and their Legacy is not trampled on and that people do not look down on the victims from above again. For me personaly it feels better to put the Names high on the wall that everyone can see and regonize it instead of go over them.
2:02
I would argue that.
Stalin, Mao, Great Britin in India, USA and Genocide and then Slavery plus segregation.
there are a lot of them right here in berlin.
Saved the moment at the last second, eh?😅😂 1:07
I live in Vienna, and there are lots of stumbling stones on sidewalks. I do not like the concept too much - after the first enthusiasm blows over, the Stolpersteine tend to be neglected, dirty, and not very impactful. I also share the view that it is not very respectful of the victims to have their memorials on the ground where people walk over them and dogs piss on them. The concept of plaques on the ground was chosen, because lots of building owners did not want to consent to having wall plaques placed on the outside of their property, it was easier to get permission for ground plaques from municipalities to attain a relevant number of memorial plaques.
Hier in Bremen über 800 Steine. 😢
Sarah, Moses, Mary, Jacob live there. Your life ends in a concentration camp.
- These were people from the middle of society who were picked up and put to death because of their faith. And now the stumbling blocks remind us of what happened.
Wasn't that wrong?
the sad thing, that they weren´t deported because of their faith, but because they were jewish, like being jewish is like belonging to a race or a country... pleople back then could be christians or any other religion, it was enough that your parents or grandparents or even great-grandparents were jewish, it was not the really the faith of a person but belonging to a random group of people, accidently descending from someone that was jewish... I think, this makes it even more horrible. Not to mention all the other groups of people that shared the same fate, like homosexuals, sinti, roma, disabled... there were so many victims and the reasons were always stupid and cruel
It definitely was wrong that this happened, and it is definitely important that this will not happen again!
"who were picked up and put to death because of their faith."
No, it was worse: They were deported because they were members of Jewish families, the religion did not matter.
The "funny" thing is that the European Jews were hit really hard, while the German Jews (around 500,000 at the time) got off "relatively well". Because 2/3 of the German Jews were able to flee from the Nazis in time. And this was particularly true of countries that Hitler's troops (not all of them were German) never reached...
Europeansß Wikings? Crusaders ? hmmmm who was first ß
Neanderthals? Homo Sapiens? The only constant is change.
Respectfully yes??? Do you realize that thousands of people trample on this name every day? I find it perverse.
And millions DON´T trample on them and pay decent respect to the names and the persons.
BTW: There is an important reason these stones are placed really near to the houses: Most people stay clear of the walls to not smudge their clothes. So they don´t step so much on the stumbling stones either.
Most of the stones are also located in front of the entrance of these houses. You unintentionally look down to the door threshold to see if anything blocks your way and you see these stones. Because they shimmer metallic you don´t step on them!
Omg was für Blödsinn sie reden keine Ahnung von allem traurig !!!
they have not always do it better ,in ww 2 they did at very bad. THE NETHERLANDS ARE VOL OF THOSE ,MEMORIAL PLACE IN THE SIDEWALK
You‘re from the Netherlands? The kingdom ruled by the German House of Nassau? The country with one of the most widespread systems of collaboration during occupation? The one that elected enough far-right radicals to parliament for them to form / head a coalition government earlier this year? You might want to shout a little less loud about „DE MOFFEN!!!!“, as you probably would like to call us in Nederlandstalig.
PS: According to English Wikipedia, the „Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging in Nederland“ had over 100,000 members in 1944. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialist_Movement_in_the_Netherlands - any thoughts on that? Yes, Germans were evil - and by the way, not only from 1939 to 1945 (we were the ones who introduced chemical warfare to the world in early 1915 - but someone from the Netherlands wouldn’t care about that, because the Netherlands stayed neutral all the way from 1914 to 1918, even though the other branch of the House of Nassau, the rulers of the Grandy Duchy of Luxembourg, had to suffer German occupation of their country despite their country’s neutrality from Day 1 of the war until the very end). But maybe we weren’t the only ones who could have done with less evil or at least morally very… ambiguous… actions or lack thereof.
Some guys just cant be taken serious.
The whole point is to remember what bad have been done.
So you captn caps should shut up.
Btw, nearly no one of us, has lived back then. We are all not guilty. But we have to make sure that its remembered how easy it happend.
And not let it happen again.
Fashists are on the rise all around the globe. In netherlands, us, ger, fr, hungary…..
Dont just blame, fight against them
That is interesting. I did not know this.Very good.
#Project25 #HisFight ..... is best read in it´s native language ... GERMAN .. ;)
WTF?!
If you tried to be funny, you are most certainly NOT FUNNY! You should be ashamed of yourself recommending to read this book under a video about the victims of the Shoah. Please go get some real education and emotional abilities before commenting again on the internet!
You mean "Mein Kampf"?
@@macdieter23558 Ja, meint er. Kann aber weder genug Deutsch um es so zu schreiben noch genug Englisch, um its / it's richtig zu verwenden, der Herrenmensch 😆
👍
🤣🤣🤣 ...a book-store, build 1596 and open today !!!!!!!!!!!
... im laughing because im a German and those Things are "normal" here !!
... im laughing because Americans to this times ....................... and always sooooooo proud of themselfs .........
True Facts: Germany and the whole europeen Countrys have a HISTORY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! back 3000 years .............. America ????????????
... fun fact: Americans "the leader of the World" ... but have absolutly no Clue about other nations !! 🤣🤣
Greetings from Germany my Friend🥰🥰
I see absolutely no respect here, why? People step on their names with dirty feet. It would be better to have signs at eye level ❤🩹 It goes even further: thousands of women and children have died in the bombings of the USA and the English throughout Germany, not a single family is named or even mentioned, it is rather embarrassing. We should pray for all people, not just JEWS. We are all human 💓