Since 1995 , the Cologne artist Gunter Demnig has been commemorating victims of National Socialist tyranny with his STOLPERSTEINE project by placing small memorial stones in front of their last voluntary residence . The stones are intended to keep alive the memory of the victims of National Socialism — Jews , Romas , Jehovah ’ s Witnesses , homosexuals , “ euthanasia ” victims , and political dissidents . Each Stolperstein ( stumbling stone ) is dedicated to a person who was stripped of their rights , persecuted , or murdered during the National Socialist era .
Yes , stop and think . We know the staggering numbers of people victimized by the Nazi regime , but the Stolpersteine give us names . And , if we take the time , we can begin to see faces and hear stories .
STOLPERSTEIN DEDICATION TO THE SALOMON / HEYMANN FAMILY
Five direct descendants of the Abraham and Sophie Salomon family , flying in from New York and Texas , joined ten AWCH members to dedicate the Stolperstein sponsored by the AWCH in January 2020 to honor and remember holocaust victim Lea Salomon Heymann . Today , six Stolpersteine dedicated to Lea and her family , sponsored by anonymous donors , can be found on Grossneumarkt and a neighboring street . Although the COVID-19 pandemic had prevented a dedication ceremony when the first Stolperstein was placed , the elapsed time allowed an intensive family search , ultimately leading to the reunification of the Salomon family descendants now living in the States . by Carol Harbers
STOLPERSTEIN : STUMBLING BLOCK — SOMETHING THAT CAUSES DIFFICULTY OR HESITATION
along with her husband , her daughter Wilma ( age fourteen ), son Alfred ( age seventeen ), and her two sisters , Rosa and Fanny , were all deported from their homes in Hamburg-Neustadt to concentration camps in Minsk and Riga . None returned . Luckily , Lea and Paul ’ s eldest daughter was able to immigrate to Texas ( via Shanghai ) with the support of a cousin , the daughter of Lea ’ s oldest brother , Sally .
Our dedication ceremony was highlighted by a short , personal reflection from AWCH member Joana M . -O . on the impact of the Stolperstein project for the victims , the survivors , and the community . A pamphlet was distributed with details to the lost family members , including surviving photos and excerpts from letters they sent before their deportation .
The family descendants were deeply moved as the Kaddish hymn was recited in memory of their family members : mothers , fathers , sisters , brothers , aunts , uncles — torn away from a normal family life under their neighbors ’ eyes .
The Stolperstein Initiative in Hamburg started in 2001 with strong support from the City of Hamburg . Today , more than 6,581 memorial stones have been placed in the sidewalks of Hamburg , with each name being attached to a bibliography researched by the initiative . Go to the Stolpersteine website to sponsor a Stolperstein or get involved in the project by translating bibliographies into English . https :// www . stolpersteine-hamburg . de
The youngest of seven children , Lea Salomon grew up in Hamburg-Neustadt . She met her husband , Paul Heymann — a merchant , hairdresser , and translator — in 1919 . The couple had three children , who struggled to stay in school and learn a trade during the rise of the Nazi regime . In 1941 , there was an abrupt change . Lea ,
For me , this has been an extremely personal journey that has brought alive the atrocities that happened during this dark time in my adopted home . I sincerely hope this project has opened the eyes of other members and will remind us of the importance of remaining vigilant against human rights transgressions .
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