Suche
Mein Konto
30 new stumbling blocks in Chemnitz: A sign of remembrance!
On September 20, 2025, 30 stumbling blocks will be laid in Chemnitz to commemorate victims of National Socialism.
30 new stumbling blocks in Chemnitz: A sign of remembrance!
On Saturday, September 20th, Chemnitz will become a memorial to over 30 people who suffered under the cruel National Socialist regime. 30 new stumbling blocks will be laid and inaugurated in twelve places in the city, commemorating important citizens whose fates are closely linked to the dark history of this time. These brass plaques, which document the lives of the honored individuals, mark their last known places of residence or work, which represents a powerful invitation to passers-by to pause and reflect. [Chemnitz](https://www.chemnitz.de/de/aktuell/presse/pressemitigungen/detail/weitere-30-stolpersteine- Werden-in-chemnitz-verlegen) reports that this year, among other things, Jewish, political and euthanasia victims will be honored.
The initiative for this honorable act comes from committed citizens and students from Chemnitz schools who have sponsored the memorial plaques in order to ensure their financing. This shows that the memory of the past is still actively maintained today and is important to a broad public.
A day of remembrance
The day is made particularly touching by the presence of relatives of the honorees, who come from far away, including Israel and Switzerland. This connection to the history of the victims gives the ceremony additional weight. Mayor Ralph Burghart will welcome those present at 9 a.m. in front of the TIETZ at Moritzstrasse 20. The artist Gunter Demnig, who launched the Stolperstein project in 1993, will also be present at the first stops.
The evening before, September 19th, there will be a lecture by Gunter Demnig at 6 p.m. in the State Museum of Archeology Chemnitz. Those interested should find out about the registration details on the Free State of Saxony's participation portal in order to take part in this important evening. The organization of the event is regulated by data storage that complies with data protection guidelines. [Citizen participation Saxony](https://buerger participation.sachsen.de/portal/chemnitz/ participation/themen/1055233) has provided more information on this.
The meaning of the stumbling blocks
Stolpersteine are the largest Holocaust memorial in the world, with over 100,000 markers across Europe. These small, handcrafted stones are intended to honor the last known addresses of Holocaust victims. First installed in Cologne, they have now spread across national borders. Each copy bears the message “lived here” followed by names and important life dates. World War II Monuments highlights that the decentralized placement of these memorials enables direct contact with history and underlines the individuality of each victim.
Despite the positive response, there are also critical voices. Some complain that the stumbling blocks placed in the sidewalk could cause negative associations. There is now a ban on installation in Munich. But the majority sees the stumbling blocks as a respectful way to keep the memory of the victims of the Holocaust alive.
The laying of the 30 stumbling blocks in Chemnitz is eagerly awaited and is an important time to keep alive the memory of the history and the fates of those affected. It is a day when the community comes together to remember and learn.