Stolpersteine

OK, I know I should be editing Munich 888 videos, but I've been travelling a lot and this one required practically no effort to get edited & uploaded.

I explain pretty much everything in the video, and I'd especially like to hear German opinions on these things. There seems to be a pretty big variation in how they are received.


Links:

Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolpersteine

Artist's site (in German):
http://www.stolpersteine.com/

The concept of 'Vergangenheitsbewältigung' or 'coming to terms with the past':
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vergangenheitsbew%C3%A4ltigung

A further reading article suggested by monoCluttermatt (in German):
http://www.hanauonline.de/content/view/12028/421/



This video was made following a request by my good friend Jordan (blueastcoast). You can check him out at:
http://au.youtube.com/user/blueastcoast


Honours:

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Category:

Education

Tags:

• Stolpersteine
• Nazi
• Jewish
• memorial
• denkmal
• Germany
• Neustadt
• an
• der
• Weinstrasse
• Gunter
• Demnig
• Zebidee55
• blueastcoast

[rantanplan36]

Hello zebidee55!

I'm a 30 year old German from nearby Frankfurt. You asked in your post about the opinion of Germans on that. I can give you only poor statistical evidence by my answer but for me it is a great idea. I always have been interested in the way people deal with our past, the very humble, effectice way Demnig is doing it is for me better than any weird "policital correctness" behaviour, any museum and any visitable concentration camp. It simply says:if you want, you can remember me.

[zebidee55]

Ah cool! Thanks for your answer. I agree with what you say, these are simple and easily ignored if you're not interested but easily found if you are.

Germany's past is a simple fact, made complicated by people's attitudes to it. I want modern Germans to be able to be proud to be German. At the same time, people must remember that the war is a fascinating subject for outsiders and our wanting to know sometimes clashes with people wanting to forget.

[KevinAM1]

Wow. I can certainly understand why the German people would not want to be reminded of the events of WWII. My own grandparents were Austrian Jews who fled the country when Hitler came to power. However, I think most intelligent people know the present day German people had nothing to do with what occurred, and the country is a totally different place today. I can also understand the mixed emotions regarding the memorials. Tough subject. It must be interesting to go there in person.

[zebidee55]

The funny thing was this weekend, my girlfriend was asked if she felt guilt over the British colonial era racist and arguably genocidal treatment of the Australian Aborigines. She was asked this by a 60 year old Austrian woman. Apparently she had no sense of irony.

[CharTres1717]

Thank you for your answer; this explains some of your travel. This is certainly a beautiful town to live in. I wish you best of luck in moving. Your video brings up the entire subject of how people recognise/respect their relatives and friends after they pass. There are proably many different ways throughout the world. Interesting.

[zebidee55]

I'm glad it helped. The vast majority of my travel has been to see specific people though, and to check out things while I'm out of the house. It kind of feeds on itself.

Yes, this one is definitely interesting (and controversial) but the relatives are involved. They're generally the people who do the research & gather the support info, and pay for the plaque to go in. I'm glad you got something out of it.

[Doroske]

Wann kommen die Stolpersteine vor ehemalig palästinensischen Häusern in Israel zu Ehren der ermordeten Hausbesitzer?

boringgeobi

[steinstop]

Nice Visiter-Video. I know this Stolpersteine activeties. Only remembering this silent wittnesses that will bring nothing. Many times in german television they show the time of hitler and parts of his weekly propaganda movies. The moderation is like ,,Thís is the bad and this was the good". Its a new kind of philosophy. The bad past. Do´nt remember me whats going on today, not only in politic - mobbing by neighbours is a new kind of world war III. Are we all crazy?

[ThreeofThree]

Yeah you!