Stolpersteine: Stumbling Stones – Small but Powerful Memorials

Every city has its hidden stories waiting to be discovered. Few memorials manage to honor history as sensitively as Stolpersteine, or Stumbling Stones.

These inconspicuous brass-capped cobblestones set into the pavements, serve as a memorial of the victims of the Holocaust. A reminder of the individual lives affected by one of history’s darkest chapters. More than 100,000 of these stones have been laid across Europe so far.

Ordinary streets take on new significance with Stolpersteine. They become places where we can stop, reflect, and keep alive the memory of those whose lives must not be forgotten.

The Origins of Stolpersteine

The Stolpersteine project was initiated in 1992 by the German artist Gunter Demnig. His main idea was that there should be no central monument. He wanted the memory of the murdered to be individual, so that we could imagine specific people behind it.

“A person is only forgotten when his name is forgotten.”

Inspired by this Talmudic saying, Demnig designed Stolpersteine to honor victims at the very places they once lived. As Demnig explains, “To read the stone, one must bow down before the victim.”

The name “Stolpersteine,” roughly translated as “stumbling stones,” is metaphorical. It was chosen because the stones make people “stumble” with their gaze, their thoughts. Each stone invites passersby to stop and reflect on the lives lost during the Holocaust.

In Czech, we call these stones ‘Kameny zmizelých,’ which can be translated as ‘Stones of the Disappeared.’ The first ever Stolperstein was placed in front of the town hall in Cologne, Germany. Since then, however, it has grown into the largest decentralized memorial to Holocaust victims in the world.

What Stolperstein Looks Like and How it is Made

Each Stolperstein is a 3.9 x 3.9 in. (10 cm) brass plate engraved with “Here lived”, the victim’s name, date of birth, deportation and fate. The stones are placed in front of the person’s last known voluntary residence, reconnecting them with the communities where they once lived.

The stones are crafted in a Berlin workshop by sculptor Michael Friedrich Fielander in collaboration with the German foundation Stiftung – Spuren – Gunter Demnig. Information about each victim is hand-engraved into the brass plaque, ensuring every detail is accurate and personal.

Once completed, the Stolpersteine are installed in the pavement, which is usually accompanied by a ceremony often attended by relatives, local residents and community leaders. These ceremonies are deeply emotional, as they serve as both a memory and a reminder of the horrors of the past.

A Symbol of Personal and Collective Memory

The uniqueness of Stolpersteine lies in their intimate scale. Unlike large monuments that can feel distant, these small plaques integrate Holocaust remembrance into everyday life.

Perhaps you’re on your way to work or a café when you notice a Stolperstein. At that moment, the past becomes tangible. Each Stolperstein tells a deeply personal story, often of ordinary people – neighbors, shopkeepers, teachers – whose lives were tragically cut short.

By bringing history to the streets, Stolpersteine challenge indifference and encourage reflection. They foster a deeper understanding of the Holocaust and its impact, as well as ongoing dialogue and education about the dangers of intolerance and hatred.

Stolpersteine in Prague

Prague, a city with a rich Jewish history, has warmly embraced the Stolpersteine project. Since 2008, Prague was one of the first cities outside Germany where Stolpersteine appeared. More than 50,000 Jews lived in Prague before the Second World War. After 1945, however, only a fraction returned home.

The project was introduced in the Czech Republic thanks to the Czech Union of Jewish Youth. The first Stolperstein in Prague was laid in October 2008 in Jáchymova Street in Josefov, followed by others in Maiselova Street.

Today, Stolpersteine are scattered throughout Prague, with approximately 100 new stones added each year. The most recent installation took place in October 2024, bringing the total number in Prague to 759. More installations are planned for June and October 2025.

The term “stones of the disappeared” has become synonymous with Stolpersteine in the Czech Republic. This form of memorial and tribute to Holocaust victims remains vibrant, thanks to individuals like František Bányaie, chairman of the Jewish Community in Prague, and organizations that support Holocaust survivors.

Trevor Sage, a British volunteer living in Prague, took on the task of cleaning all the city’s Stolpersteine in 2018. He also created a catalog of these memorials, published as Prague’s Stolpersteine – Stumbling Stones: Defiant in Their Memory 2008–2021. The book details 466 stones laid by 2021, with a sequel already in the works.

Commemorating Holocaust Victims

Today, over 100,000 Stolpersteine are installed in more than 26 countries, including Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary. The project continues to grow, with new stones added every year.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which falls on 27 January, is a day when the whole world remembers the millions of innocent people who were murdered during the Holocaust in World War II.

The date 27 January was chosen deliberately – it was on this day in 1945 that the Red Army, led by Marshal Konev, liberated the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, located near Krakow, Poland.

This year marks 80 years since that liberation, which ended one of the darkest chapters in human history. Auschwitz-Birkenau, a symbol of the Holocaust’s horrors, operated from May 1940 to January 1945. At least 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, were murdered there, along with Poles, Roma, Soviet prisoners of war, and others.

This day invites us to reflect, to remember the victims, and to recognize the importance of tolerance, respect, and the fight against hatred and discrimination in all forms.

On Holocaust Remembrance Day, activities often include cleaning Stolpersteine. These acts, carried out by survivors and volunteers, honor the victims and symbolically keep their memories alive.

Stolpersteine: Small Stones, Big Stories, Unforgettable Memorials

These small memorials are easy to miss. But now that you know about them, you’re likely to notice them more often. While Stolpersteine may be inconspicuous, their significance is immense. By placing memory into everyday spaces, they invite us to engage with history in the streets we walk daily.

Stolperstein serves as a powerful reminder that the lessons of the Holocaust must not be forgotten. The lives of the victims matter and their stories deserve to be told. So the next time you come across one of these brass memorials, stop for a moment. Bend down, read the name. Remember the person. And carry their story with you.

Useful Travel Resources

I want to share and recommend these travel resources that I personally use, as they can be helpful when planning your visit to Prague.

Accommodation: Booking.com has the largest selection of incredible places to stay.

Tours: Getyourguide.com has the widest selection of guided tours and experiences from various providers, conveniently sortable by rating.

Getting around: PID Lítačka mobile app lets you buy public transportation tickets and plan your journey easily.

Last article update: January 27, 2025

Author and photo: Vera Nemochovska