Stumbling blocks

With the "Stumbling Stones" campaign, Cologne-based artist Gunter Demnig has initiated an internationally recognized new form of commemoration in Germany. The idea of commemorating the victims of the Nazi regime with Stolpersteine in front of their former homes has been taken up in many cities since the project was launched in 2003.

Gunter Demnig has so far laid more than 75,000 Stolpersteine in over 300 German cities. A few more in other parts of Europe. In Wiesbaden, for example, there are already around 700 of these Stolpersteine. The campaign involves placing a stumbling stone in the ground on the street or sidewalk at the last place of residence chosen by the victims of National Socialism.

In February 2007, the Hofheim am Taunus town council unanimously decided that the district town and its districts should also take part in this project by the Cologne artist. Citizens are to be given the opportunity to sponsor individual Stolpersteine.

The first laying of a total of 13 Stolpersteine took place on April 22, 2008 in Hofheim's town center. Further layings took place: on February 16, 2009 in the city center and in the district of Marxheim; on October 13, 2009 in the districts of Diedenbergen and Wallau; on May 10, 2010 in Hofheim, Wallau and Langenhain; on August 27, 2013 in Hofheim/Kurhausstraße 53 and on November 14, 2014 in Hofheim/Kurhausstraße 53. On November 14, 2014, the 6th stumbling stone was laid on the connecting path between Kurhausstraße and Rossertstraße, in front of the property at Kurhausstraße 26.

Stumbling stones are 10 x 10 x 10 cm concrete blocks with a brass plate anchored to the top. The names and dates of people who were persecuted and murdered during the National Socialist era are inscribed on the brass plates.

You can find more information about the Stumbling Stones on Mr. Demnig's homepage:
https://www.stolpersteine.eu/