Stolpersteine
“Stumbling Stones”
The horror did not begin in Auschwitz,
Treblinka or in other camps ...
... it began in our neighborhoods,
in our house, in front of our door!
Das Grauen begann night erst in Auschwitz,
Treblinka oder in anderen Lagern
… es begann in unseren Nachbarschaften,
in unserem Haus, vor unserer Tür!
— Gunter Demnig
Stolpersteine
“Stumbling Stones”
The Stolpersteine project was launched by German artist Gunter Demnig in 1992.
Under the project Demnig lays commemorative brass plaques at the last address or place of work which was freely chosen by victims of Nazi persecution before they were forced from that place; relocated to concentration or extermination camps; fleeing persecution; suicide, or otherwise falling victim to Nazi terror, euthanasia or eugenics.
With more than 75,000 Stolpersteine laid in over 1200 towns and cities, the Stolpersteine project is the world's largest decentralized memorial.
The Nelki and Russo family members who were displaced or killed by the Nazi regime have been memorialised with Stolpersteine.
Elisabeth Olga Esther Nelki, born 29 May 1861 in Berlin, deported on 19 July 1942 to Theresienstadt, where she died on 2 February 1943. (In my documents, this picture is listed as Alice by my father. I don’t know which is right.)
Commemorative stones for Elisabeth and Alice Nelki lie in front of the dwelling at Schellingstrasse 12 in Hamburg.
Alice Nelki, born 5 May 1886 in Hamburg, deported to Riga on 6 December 1941. Probably killed in the massacre on 8 December 1941 in Rumbula forest. (In my research, this picture is another Alice….again we don’t know which is correct.)
Stolpersteine at Zwickau
Recently in June 2022, stolpersteine were laid in Zwickau dedicated to Ruth Mannes (my uncle Fritz’s wife) and her family who had to flee German in 1935. A local school gave a ceremonial performance and one of the pupils played Bach’s cello suite no.1 in G major as the stolpersteine were laid. Many people came, local and from afar.
Benno & Clara Russo’s Stolpersteine
On 14 April 2009, after long debates in the local council, Gunter Demnig installed 22 stumbling stones in Wernigerode to mark all the Jews who had fled and were murdered. They were financed by donations from local people. Benno & Clara’s stolpersteine were installed outside the Villa while musicians played and a group gathered. It ensures they are not forgotten,
Benno Russo born in Vienna on 1 January 1871, deported 1942 to Ghetto Halberstadt and Theresienstadt, died 18 April 1943.
Clara Russo née Jaffe born in Eberswalde on 14 June 1876, deported 1942 to Ghetto Halberstadt and Theresienstadt, died in Auschwitz
