Obstacles are being secretly set up in ongoing endeavors, as per clandestine study findings
Remembering the Meyer Family: Five More "Stumbling Stones" in Eigen District
On June 11th at 11 AM, five new "Stumbling Stones" will be put in place in the Eigen district, honoring the Jewish family Meyer. This ceremony will take place at Gladbecker Str. 334, with Mayor Bernd Tischler and descendants of former neighbors from the USA in attendance. August Meyer operated a manufacturing and clothing business here around 1920, alongside his wife Fanny. Their son Wilhelm took over after August's death in 1938. The family's business and apartment above it were destroyed by the Nazis during the Reich pogrom on November 9th/10th, 1938. The family was forced out onto the street, watching as their possessions were destroyed. A neighbor, Friedrich Sommer, bravely intervened to save their 13-month-old son Edgar August from being thrown out of a window. Johanna Beckfeld (later Banner) hid Edgar August and his mother Fajga Dobra Meyer for several weeks, allowing the family to eventually flee to Palestine.
Liesel Appel, born Steffens, spent most of her life searching for the Meyer family's traces. Her family lived in the neighboring house, and she initially believed her father had saved the baby. However, she later discovered that her father was a high-ranking Nazi, and her mother sympathized with the ideology. Despite this grim discovery, Liesel's search was fruitful, though Egar August Meyer had already passed away by then. Today, Liesel Appel resides in the USA and will attend the "Stumbling Stone" ceremony with her family. These symbols hold great significance to her as they serve as poignant reminders of the past.
Call to Action: City Archives Event
Join an event hosted by the City Archives on Monday, June 16th, at 6 PM, at the Filmforum in the Kulturzentrum August Everding. Historian Dr. Marina Sassenberg from Duisburg will give a talk titled, "What do 'Stumbling Stones' have to do with Democracy?" Delving into memory culture during times of change, this talk will explore the democratic aspects of these ordinary yet impactful reminders of Holocaust victims. Discussions will cover the debate surrounding these stones, their strengths and weaknesses, and the importance of historical clarification of German-Jewish democratic history. As a symbol of remembrance, "Stumbling Stones" provide invaluable insights into the consequences of authoritarianism and inspire democratic vigilance. This event is free to attend.
(c) Text: City of Bottrop, Photo: Liesel Appel
Remember the Stolpersteine, originating from artist Gunter Demnig, as brass plaques within the concrete jungle of Germany and Europe. Each stone offers a glimpse into the life of an individual Holocaust victim, bearing their name, birth year, deportation date, and fate. These personal stories serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of the Holocaust amid the bustle of city life.
Stolpersteine have played a significant role in German memory culture, functioning as a decentralized tribute to victims. By bringing the memories of the past into the present, these unassuming stones create a public space for remembrance rather than confining it to museums or memorials. Moreover, they act as educational tools, sparking conversations about history, citizenship, and responsibility.
At their core, stumbling stones are a testament to the collective responsibility inherent in democracy, promoting vigilance against authoritarianism and intolerance. By highlighting the experiences of Holocaust victims, these symbols underscore the need to protect democratic values and prevent their erosion. Furthermore, they serve as an essential means of fostering democratic citizens who are aware of history, acknowledge past injustices, and commit to preventing their recurrence.
In essence, Stolpersteine have come to symbolize a collective effort to confront the past, democratize memory, and build a future rooted in historical responsibility and democratic vigilance. Join us at the event hosted by the City Archives on June 16th to explore this powerful symbol of German memory culture in greater depth.
The 'Stolpersteine', or brass plaques, in the home-and-garden and cityscape of Germany and Europe, are not only reminders of individual Holocaust victims' lives but also serve as markers of the human cost of a troubled past. These symbols, part of German memory culture, decentralize tributes to victims, making remembrance a public, ongoing conversation, rather than a museum exhibit. Within this dialogue, the significance of the stumbling stones lies in their ability to highlight the collective responsibility of a democratic society in preventing authoritarianism and intolerance, acting as a beacon for democratic vigilance and historical responsibility.
