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Removing Memories in Bochum: Stumbling blocks in the city of Bochum are being cleared once more

Memorial stones placed by Cologne artist Gunter Demnig, commemorating the victims of National Socialism, are a common sight in numerous cities. These stones have been a permanent feature of Bochum's landscape since 2004.

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Removing Commemorative Stones in Bochum Re-emerges as an Ongoing Process
Removing Commemorative Stones in Bochum Re-emerges as an Ongoing Process

Removing Memories in Bochum: Stumbling blocks in the city of Bochum are being cleared once more

Bochum, Germany, is set to host a city-wide cleaning action for its Stolpersteine and Stolperschwellen from September 22 to November 9, 2021. This initiative aims to clean and maintain these powerful memorial sites, marking the 87th anniversary of the Reich Kristallnacht.

The stumbling stones, an art installation remembering victims of National Socialism, have been a permanent feature in Bochum since 2004. A total of 374 stumbling stones and four stumbling thresholds have been laid throughout the city, commemorating victims who are Jewish women and men, Sinti and Roma, politically persecuted people, people with disabilities, and victims due to their sexual orientation.

Engaged school classes, associations, initiatives, and individuals have taken on sponsorships for the stumbling stones. These sponsors intensively deal with the biographies of the victims and make their stories publicly visible. The Municipal Integration Center Bochum and the Children and Youth Ring Bochum are organizing this city-wide cleaning action.

The goal of the cleaning action is twofold. Firstly, it aims to clean as many stumbling stones and stumbling thresholds as possible, ensuring that these memorial sites remain well-maintained and visible. Secondly, it seeks to strengthen awareness of historical responsibility and democratic values, serving as a reminder of the importance of remembrance and encounter, especially in times of political uncertainty and social polarization.

Interested groups and individuals can register for the cleaning action by email at [email protected] or by phone at 0234 - 51 64 61 56. The needed cleaning materials will be provided during the cleaning action.

This initiative is driven by local groups or project teams inspired by Gunter Demnig's Stolpersteine project; however, a specific named person or group leading this initiative in Bochum is not mentioned in the search results. The action is particularly important in times like these, serving as a reminder of the past and a call to uphold democratic values in the present.

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