The Cobblestone-like cubes can already be seen scattered around the world, inlaid in pavements and roads, all in commemoration of those who were victims and survivors of Nazi persecution.
Mr Demnig decided to name the stolpersteine [pictured top – credit States of Guernsey] ‘stumbling stones’ because they make you “stumble with your head and your heart”.
The Channel Islands project to install 15 of these stones in Guernsey and 20 in Jersey is being led by Dr Gilly Carr, an Occupation Historian from the University of Cambridge. Dr Carr is working with Helen Glencross from Guernsey Museum and Chris Addy from Jersey heritage to complete this project.
11 of the stones erected in Guernsey will commemorate ‘The Guernsey Eight’ who died in Nazi prison camps, the other three stones are dedicated to the three Jewish women deported to Auschwitz.
The following four stones dedicated to the fortunate survivors of the Nazi occupation will commemorate members of thecommunity:
Frank Falla– A GUNS (Guernsey Underground News Service) member who fought long and hard for those who had been deported from Guernsey, directly opposing the Germans in control.
Elisabet Duquemin– A Jewish woman who arrived in Guernsey in 1937 but was later deported to Compiègne and Biberach internment camps as a British Jew.
Frank Tuck & Kingston Bailey– Two police officers who were deported to concentration camps, ultimately surviving but taking on unfortunate life altering injuries alongside PTSD.
Family members of those who are being honoured have been invited to view the memorial stones, many of them agreeing to travel far and wide to get a glimpse into their ancestors’ pasts. Unfortunately, nobody has been able to locate any relatives of the three Jewish women killed in the concentration camps.
Mrs Cross has urged people to come forward if they have any information on possible surviving family members of these three women.
Dr Gilly Carr said: “I’m thrilled to be able to bring Gunter Demnig to the Channel Islands so that victims of Nazism here can be honoured as they are elsewhere on the continent.” She further went on to state, “I am proud to be involved in doing this for those who suffered so much during the Occupation”.
The project was initiated by MrDemnig in 1992and there are now more than 100,000 stolpersteine all across mainland Europe.
Now in his 70’s Gunter finds himself no longer able to hand paint all of the stolpersteine, but aims to try lay as many of them as he can, refusing to abandon his project even after 32 years of work.
The first stolpersteine to be laid in the UK was only two years ago in memory of Ada van Dantzig, a Dutch woman murdered in Auschwitz, aged only 25. The stone lies in her name in London at her initial place of work.
MrDemnig will visit Guernsey on the 26 July to lay down the 15 stones.
Below is a list of everyone being honoured by a stone:
- Therese Steiner
- Joseph Gillingham
- Percy Miller
- Auguste Spitz
- Charles Machon
- Herbert Smith
- Marianne Grunfeld
- Frank Falla
- Frank Tuck
- Elisabet Duquemin
- John Ingrouille
- Kingston Bailey
- Sidney Ashcroft
- Marie Ozanne
- Louis Symes