REMEMBERING THE SHOAH IN BERLIN

The task of remembering Berlin’s involvement in every location and every person who was affected by the Shoah is a virtually implausible and impossible task. Nevertheless, the installation of stolpersteines is a successful way of grasping the widespread reality of historic Nazi presence. The small brass plaques have been implanted into the pavements of residential neighbourhoods, side streets, outside houses, offices and other ordinary places which are passed as part of a daily routine. This illustrates the localness of where terror began and operated and provides a way in which contemporary Berlin can outline the close proximity of Nazi operation, literally having taken place on people’s doorsteps.

The commemorative plaques in the ground are a particularly powerful memory aid as it catches the interest of passers-by. The memorial can take people by surprise and can to some extent alter their normal routine as individuals pause their venture to read and attempt to understand the historic events that took place at the exact location of the plaque; in stopping and pausing daily life the memorial changes their behaviour. Ideally the stolpersteine should stimulate interest and inspire people to research further into what took place in their local area thus forming a close synergy between the Holocaust victim and the modern-day passer-by. The proximity of the stolpersteine makes the victims dramatic fate seem so close and personal. By placing the stones in everyday places in contemporary Berlin it makes it possible to effectively juxtapose Berlin during the Nazi regime and Berlin in the present day; viewers can reflect on the entirely contrasting ways of life. The act of stumbling upon these commemorative blocks suddenly renders the past to become physically present and eternalizes the lives that were lost in the tragedy of the Shoah.

The audience of this memorial is substantially different to traditional memorials which are treated as sacred, removed from daily life. Stolpersteines target locals, people who may be less inclined to go to the visible national monuments. The blocks generate interest in the communities where they are placed: new plaques are welcomed by dedication ceremonies and in some cities groups gather to clean them.