‘Stumbling stones’ unveiled in memory of Occupation victims
A GERMAN artist and an Occupation historian came together yesterday to lay 15 stolpersteine – ‘stumbling stones’ – around the island to commemorate those who were victims and survivors of Nazism.
The small gold plaques are flush with the pavement and are located at locations where the person lived.
Artist Gunter Demnig initiated the project in 1992, and there are now more than 100,000 stolpersteine laid across Europe.
‘The background of this project is not a reason to be glad or happy about, but when I got the idea it was conceptual art because everyone knows the number of victims, but forgets the people and their stories which is what the Nazis wanted,’ he said.
‘It was a project I wanted to do and I started small, now there are more than 100,000 stones in 31 countries in Europe. This art project is really important, we want to spark the interest of young people and have them learn so it never happens again.’
The locations of the stolpersteine were decided months ago and the holes drilled earlier this week.
Each memorial was laid and filled in on the day, before those involved visited each stone throughout the afternoon to unveil them and pay respects.
There was a ceremony at the Castel Hospital yesterday where the stones dedicated to Auguste Spitz and Therese Steiner were laid, and included a presentation by Occupation historian Dr Gilly Carr, who had to take an excursion on a private plane after she was stuck in Jersey due to fog.
The first and only stolpersteine in England was laid in May 2022 in London, where Dr Carr approached Mr Demnig and asked if he would consider taking the project to the Channel Islands.
‘I first became aware of stolpensteines in 2006 when I started my research into Nazi Germany and these stones mark the last voluntary chosen addresses of people persecuted by the Nazis, most of whom were deported to concentration camps and forced labour camps and mostly to their deaths,’ she said.
‘The stones as we see them are the brainchild and design of Gunter Demnig and we are so honoured to have him in the Channel Islands.’
Dr Carr initiated the project with Guernsey and Jersey Museums.
In Guernsey, the 15 stones are dedicated to the Guernsey Eight, who died in Nazi prisons and camps, three Jewish women who were deported and murdered in Auschwitz, Frank Falla of the GUNS news service, a Jewish woman who was deported to Biberach and two local policemen who were deported.
‘We know over 220 people were deported to Nazi prisons and camps in the Channel Islands, that doesn’t include the 2,300 people sent to concentration camps and forced labour camps,’ said Dr Carr.
‘It is my sorrow that these people suffered, but my joy to be here to witness this today.’
