Subject: Stolperstein
I was leafing through my global guide book (TAKE THE HIGH ROAD - SECOND EDITION: A Primer for the Independent Traveler - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V...) and happened on a description of the history of the Jews in Salzburg, Austria. Then I thumbed further to follow the story of the Stolperstein.

The Stolpersteine Project
Stolperstein (Plural: Stolpersteine, Translation: literally "stumbling stone", metaphorically a "stumbling block")

A Stolperstein is a 10 by 10 centimeters (4 in × 4 in) concrete cube bearing a brass plate inscribed with the name and life dates of victims of Nazi extermination or persecution inserted flush with the surface of the sidewalk. As of late 2024/early 2025, over 116,000 Stolpersteine (Stumbling Stones) have been placed across Europe in more than 1,860 municipalities in 31 countries, making it the world's largest decentralized memorial, commemorating victims of Nazi persecution at their last freely chosen homes. Hordes of tourists wander by and walk over these plaques without ever noticing them.

The Stolpersteine project was initiated by the German artist Gunter Demnig in 1992 to commemorate individuals at the last place of residency—or, sometimes, work—which was freely chosen by the person before he or she fell victim to Nazi terror or was deported to a concentration or extermination camp. As of 23 October 2018, 70,000 Stolpersteine have been laid making the Stolpersteine project the world's largest decentralized memorial. It is sobering to realize that this massive multi-decade effort by a single individual, despite its obvious evidence, has not yet covered even one percent of those murdered in Nazi concentration or extermination camps. It’s also important to realize that many cities do not allow these memorials to be placed and some relatives of those deported have objected to placing them where they can be walked on.

While the majority of Stolpersteine commemorate Jewish victims of the Holocaust, others have been placed for Sinti and Romani people (commonly called "gypsies"), homosexuals, the physically or mentally disabled as well as a number of other religious, political and demographic group members who the Nazis persecuted.

The name of the Stolpersteine project invokes multiple allusions: In Nazi Germany, an anti-Semitic saying, when accidentally stumbling over a protruding stone, was: "A Jew must be buried here". In a metaphorical sense, the German term Stolperstein (stumbling block) can mean a "potential problem". The term "to stumble across something", in German and English, can also mean "to find out (by chance)". Stolpersteine are not placed prominently, but are rather discovered by chance, only recognizable when passing by at close distance. In contrast to central memorial places, which according to Demnig can be easily avoided or bypassed, Stolpersteine represent a much deeper intrusion of memory into everyday life.

When research on a particular person is completed, Demnig sets out to manufacture an individual Stolperstein. The person's name and dates of birth, deportation and death, if known, are engraved into the brass plate. The words Hier wohnte... ("Here lived...") are written on most of the plates, emphasizing that the victims of prosecution did not live and work at any anonymous place, but "right here". The Stolperstein is then inserted at flush level into the roadway or sidewalk, at the individual's last known place of freely chosen residence or work, with the intention to "trip up the passer-by" and draw attention to the memorial.

The above is attributed mostly to Wikipedia.

The Judengasse in the old town of Salzburg stretches from the Waagplatz to the Getreidegasse. There lived in the Middle Ages, until the second exile in 1404, most of the Jews of Salzburg. In the house Judengasse 15 was possibly the synagogue (called the Jewish school).

In 1439, a new synagogue was built in the city. This is the house on today's Kranzlmarkt 2, corner Sigmund-Haffner-Gasse. The Jews were subsequently accused of having stolen a golden monstrance from the Benedictine monastery of Nonnberg , Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach ordered the final expulsion of all Jews in 1498 and they were no longer allowed to settle in Salzburg.

In 1520, a relief carved panel was attached to the town hall on the Waagplatz, showing a mother pig suckling Jewish children. The tablet was popularly called Judensau. It was removed over 250 years later, in 1785, by order of Archbishop Hieronymus of Colloredo.

It was almost two centuries until Archbishop Johann Ernst Graf von Thun and Hohenstein (1687-1700) allowed a group of Jews to return for the first time despite the resistance of the Salzburg estates.

The constitution of 1867 finally ended the legal discrimination against Jewish citizens and, in fact, Theodor Herzl, the founder of Zionism had his legal practice in Salzburg. He only left the city of his birth because, as he himself wrote, "As a Jew ... he would never have been promoted to the position of judge”.

With emancipation, anti-Semitism grew, and Salzburg and nearby towns introduced Aryan paragraphs and anti-Semitic language into their laws.

After their seizure of power in 1938, the National Socialists (Nazis) in Austria began a massive persecution. Jewish property was "Aryanized", whoever was lucky escaped and the rest of the City’s Jews were deported to nearby concentration camps (such as Dachau, near Munich, but more often to Auschwitz) where few survived the Second World War. Many of their former houses are memorialized by the, now expected, 10cm X 10cm brass plaques (Stolperstein, literally "stumbling stones") embedded in the sidewalk around town to commemorate individuals who were deported to Nazi concentration camps.

Brno, Czech Republic:
During our wanderings around the town, we came upon a number of the brass “stumbling blocks” set into the pavement (common throughout much of Europe) commemorating Jews who were deported to concentration camps by the Nazis. These are located at the last address where they were free – either their home or place of work. Interestingly, these were slightly larger than the “standard” 4”x4” found in other cities.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

As in other towns along Germany’s river system, every now and then, on the sidewalks, you find brass plaques (known as “stumbling blocks”) showing the houses of Jews who were taken to the local concentration camps during the 1940’s.

We were told a story about neo-Nazi’s demonstrating in the town (but we also heard the identical story yesterday in Wertheim am Main and we suspect it is a stolen bit of propaganda from there). While the town was, because of freedom of speech laws, forced to allow the gathering, the local priest rang all of the church bells, completely disrupting the rally until they left. They sued the priest and his defense was that traditionally the churches bells were rung when the town faced some danger and he felt that the collection of brutish looking characters in the marketplace constituted a threat (and he was acquitted).

I came across this written by a local German Jew somewhat earlier (but some things do not seem to ever change):

“Why Should I Wander Sadly?” – A poem by Susskind von Trimberg, 13th Century:

WHY should I wander sadly,
My harp within my hand,
O’er mountain, hill, and valley?
What praise do I command?

Full well they know the singer
Belongs to race accursed;
Sweet Minne doth no longer

Reward me as at first.

Be silent, then, my lyre,
We sing ’fore lords in vain,
I’ll leave the minstrels’ choir,
And roam a Jew again.

My staff and hat I’ll grasp, then,
And on my breast full low,
By Jewish custom olden
My grizzled beard shall grow.

My days I’ll pass in quiet,—
Those left to me on earth—
Nor sing for those who not yet
Have learned a poet’s worth.

Miltenberg, Germany

Established in 1406, the cemetery of the former Jewish community is one of the oldest in Germany and was in use up until the 1930's. As is common in European towns, there are brass plaques (Stolperstein, literally "stumbling stones") inset in the sidewalk in front of houses to commemorate the names of Jewish inhabitants who were deported to concentration camps and died during the Second World War. There is a home along the path from the ship to the center of town, that had a Star of David mounted on its face during the 1970's by the mayor of the town as a symbol of unity and recognition of the family’s sacrifice.

Lubeck, Germany

While walking, we came across a grouping of four brass bricks known as Stolperstein, or "stumbling stones” which, like others found throughout Europe, commemorate Jews which were deported to Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War.

Oslo, Norway

Along the way we noticed, inset into the sidewalk, one of the brass memorial plates (Stolpersteine or “stumbling stone” measuring about 10cm x 10cmm, 4”x4”) indicating the location of deportation to a concentration camp of a Jew by the Nazis during the WWII. We have seen these frequently in Germany and less often in Italy and France, but this was the first one we have seen in Norway. (This one honored Max Oster, born 1884, deported 1942 to Auschwitz, died December 1, 1942).

Jeff