In a poignant tribute to those who suffered under Nazi occupation, the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey are set to install 35 Stolpersteine "Stumbling Stones" next week. These small brass cubes, engraved with the names of persecution victims, will be embedded in pavements at the last known addresses of those affected by Nazi brutality during World War II.
German artist Gunter Demnig initiated this powerful memorial project in 1992.
Demnig cites the Talmud saying that "a person is only forgotten when his or her name is forgotten". The Stolpersteine in front of the buildings bring back to memory the people who once lived here. Almost every “stone” begins with HERE LIVED… One “stone”. One name. One person."
Denmig, who explains that these stones cause people to "stumble with your head and your heart," will personally oversee their installation.
There are already Stolpersteine in at least 1200 places in Germany, as well as in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine.
The Channel Islands, the only British territory occupied by Nazi forces during the war, will join over 30 European cities in this act of remembrance.
In Guernsey, 15 stones will commemorate 11 individuals who perished and four who survived Nazi persecution. The victims include the "Guernsey Eight" who died in Nazi prisons and camps, and three Jewish women murdered in Auschwitz. Survivors to be honored include resistance members, deportees, and those who endured internment camps.
Jersey will lay 20 stones, primarily honoring survivors. These memorials will recognize those persecuted for their Jewish heritage, resistance fighters, forced laborers, and internees.
This project, led by Occupation historian Dr. Gilly Carr and local heritage experts, aims to raise awareness about the island's wartime experiences. It offers a tangible connection to a dark chapter in history, ensuring that the stories of those who suffered are not forgotten.
* Jewish News and the official Stolpersteine website contributed to this article.
