German Stolpersteine Stumbling Stones in Polish cities - In a metaphorical sense, the German term Stolpersteine can mean "potential problem"! - In Warsaw German Storperstein should cover the entire pavement of numerous streets for several kilometers.

The owner of the first German Stolpersteine in Stockholm, Erich Holewa. For only nine (9) weeks, starting June 17, 1938, Erich Holewa lived in Stockholm at his brother's place at Kungsholmstorg 6. According to his application for a Swedish Residence Permit, he had a German alien's passport with a return visa that was valid until September 20, 1938. Erich Holewa had signed an undertaking upon entering Sweden, stating that if he did not receive a residence permit in Sweden, he would return to Germany, where his wife and son lived (had a permanent address in Berlin). Why he got German Stolpersteine in Stockholm is therefore not clear. The photo shows Günter Demnig's tools at 6 Kungholmstorg in Stockholm.

In a metaphorical sense, the German term Stolperstein can mean "potential problem".  It is actually not a potential but a real problem.

For a long time, Warsaw, despite being home to the largest Jewish population and also the largest ghetto in Nazi-occupied Europe, had no Stolpersteine. I fully agreed with that situation. German memorial stones should not appear in Polish cities for several reasons. 

Before World War II, in big cities in Poland like Warsaw and Lodz, about a third of the city's total population was Jewish. In Warsaw, nearly 400,000 Jews lived, and approximately 230,000 Jews lived in Łódź. Most of them were murdered during the Holocaust era.

 A.o., therefore, it is not commemorative to have German Stolperstein for quantitative reasons in these big cities.  German Stolperstein supporters should understand that in these cities, several hundred Jews were living in the same building. That was the situation before World War II, and also later when the ghettoization process started. 

To install one or two (1-2) German Stolpersteine (Stumbling Stones) Memorial stones commemorating only one or two (1-2) murdered Jews in front of such a building where 400 Jews lived and were murdered during the Holocaust is just ridiculous. 

Planting of two German Stolpersteine is like denying or trivialization the Holocaust, and must be regarded as highly controversial. Now and in the future. 

Furthermore, German Stolpersteine Stumbling Stones are meant to be stepped on. In Jewish tradition, it is not considered appropriate or respectful to step on a Jewish grave or gravestone.

German Stolpersteine, stones are usually installed on the pavement outside each victim’s last freely chosen residence, read, before WWII started, and the residents had to move to other locations. Before World War II, the majority of Warsaw's nearly 400,000 Jewish residents lived in a densely populated area often referred to as Dzielnica Północna (the Northern District). This area corresponds to the present-day districts of Muranów, northern Śródmieście, and parts of Wola.

In the Muranów district, which was the heart of the Jewish community, Jews made up nearly 90% of the residents in some parts. This area was later, starting in November 1940, a part of the Warsaw Ghetto called the Great Ghetto. The population in the Warsaw Ghetto became extreme, with an average of 7.2 to 9.2 persons per room, leading to appalling conditions, starvation, and rampant disease that caused thousands of deaths even before mass deportations began in late June 1942.

I personally feel as undignified if the stones with the names of Holocaust victims are stepped on. The density of German Stolpersteine Stumbling Stones in such an area should, if one wants to be honest and perform the project in the right way, cover the entire pavement for several kilometers. To install a single German Stolpersteine on the pavement that should be covered by thousands of stones is an act of desecration. Only one family is usually remembered in front of the building where 10-20 families lived. It is like to remember only 2 million of 6 million murdered Jews. In the future, such a single German memory stone might be used for revisionists who claim that the Holocaust never happened!

German STIFTUNG – SPUREN – Gunter Demnig foundation charges one €132 for international installations, like these in Poland. This price covers the cost of material, organization, consultation, follow-up research, educational support, handcrafting, and installation by artist Gunter Demnig or his team, so they are always additional if the installation requires Gunter Demnig to stay in a hotel overnight, those accommodation costs may be added.

There are special, local Stolperstein initiatives in many countries. It says that the foundation works on a non-profit basis, ensuring all funds go towards the project and related educational work....

It is likely that the non-profit basis for the German STIFTUNG – SPUREN – Gunter Demnig foundation is very special.

I wrote earlier about fake Swedish White buses and also about three (3) fake German Stolpersteine (Stumbling Stones) that were installed by Gunter Demnig in Stockholm. They cost about 10,000 Euro each - 30 000 Euro, alltogether!

I wrote actually to Günter Demnig, who agreed to the installation of German Stolpersteine (Stumbling Stones) is a trivialization of the Holocaust and the victims of it, and also of his project, see below.

Dear Gunter Demnig,

Mr. X. Xxxxxx contacted you yesterday after I raised the question about two persons that Swedish journalist Ola Larsmo chose as the representative for your project in Sweden.

As I admire your project a lot, I checked earlier the names Mr. Larsmo suggested. None of them fits the criteria of your project Stolpersteine as none of the named persons was deported from Sweden. One of them, in March 1938, yes 1938, did not receive a stay and work permit in Sweden. The second one lived for a while in Sweden but was found guilty of spying and moved to Finland. Later, he was deported from Helsinki to Tallinn. Both were indeed murdered during the Holocaust, but this is just one of your criteria for your project. "The second person" I described got his name inscribed on the monument in Helsinki, and a stone with his name is planned in this city.
Concerning the first person, I just want to add that there were hundreds of people who were applying for the permit to enter Sweden, so if one uses Ola Larsmo criteria, there should be hundreds of Stolpersteine in Sweden.
There is also more false information in this article.
After your letter from yesterday, likely, Swedish Newspaper - Dagens Nyheter and others (ao, Forum Levande Historia) are using you and your name.

However, the most important and sensitive issue is that having Stolpersteine in Sweden with these two names they suggested will ruin Your entire project........