Stumbling Stones North Rhine-Westphalia - Digital Experience
One stone, one person, one story: The mobile app "Stolpersteine NRW" by Westdeutscher Rundfunk makes the lives of people who fell victim to the Nazi terror digitally visible.
Ein Stolperstein für Martha Piel ist im Boden eingelassenOriginal Source: WDR / Claus Langer
Stolpersteine digitally expanded
Throughout Europe, Gunter Demnig's Stolpersteine commemorate people who were persecuted, deported, murdered, or driven to suicide by the National Socialist terror regime. "Stolpersteine NRW" extends the art project for North Rhine-Westphalia to become digitally accessible
Stolperstein von Martha Piel in der WDR-AppOriginal Source: WDR / Claus Langer
Discover the stories behind the names
There are about 15,000 Stolpersteine in North Rhine-Westphalia – and every single name represents a very personal life story. The German broadcaster Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) makes the stories of these people experienceable through sounds, texts, and pictures.
See, experience, remember
Who are the people, how were they living, and what happened to them? With the help of texts, photos, audios, illustrations and augmented reality, users can learn about the history behind the name of each stone.
Stories about life and death
Stories like that of Martin Goldstein from Bielefeld, whose father is Jewish and his mother Protestant. When his father boards the freight train to Theresienstadt, Martin Goldstein suspects: "You'll never see him again." Only a few weeks later, he is to join such a transport as well.
Martin Goldstein is sent to a forced labor camp in September 1944, before his mother brings him back. In March 1945, the next deportation impends. The graphic story by Florian Biermeier illustrates Martin making the decision. The app and the website contain over 200 of these illustrated stories, some of which are set to music. The illustrations are made by students and graduates of the Kunsthochschule Kassel.
Graphic Story zu Martin Goldstein: Blick aus dem FensterOriginal Source: WDR / Florian Biermeier
Letter from the Gestapo
In March 1945, Martin receives a notice from the Gestapo. He doesn't know exactly what awaits him after the announced transport, but he knows he doesn't want to go. Martin flees – into the Teutoburg Forest.
Graphic Story zu Martin Goldstein: Versteck im WaldOriginal Source: WDR / Florian Biermeier
Forest hideout
He knows every cave in the forest from playing there as a child. However, there is only little to eat here. Martin eats what he finds: Beechnuts, mushrooms, and whatever else he can chew. The cold is almost unbearable, which is why he sneaks back into town once a week.
Graphic Story zu Martin Goldstein: ExplosionOriginal Source: WDR / Florian Biermeier
Air raid on Bielefeld
One night, bombs are dropped over Bielefeld during an air raid. Meanwhile, Martin is at his parents' house to warm up when the windows burst and doors are torn out of their frames.
Graphic Story zu Martin Goldstein: zerbomte GebäudeOriginal Source: WDR / Florian Biermeier
Destruction in the neighborhood
The next day, Martin walks around the neighborhood. Filled with anger, he hopes that as many things as possible have been destroyed. The time of persecution should finally be over. When he passes the Gestapo headquarters, he notices that the building has been completely destroyed.
Graphic Story Martin Goldstein: Akte wird von einer Rauchwolke davongetragenOriginal Source: WDR / Florian Biermeier
Finally free!
Eventually, the weight is lifted from Martin’s mind, because now he knows: "I no longer exist, I’m free now." His file, which had been stored at the headquarters, is probably destroyed. Martin makes use of his new freedom.
Martin Goldstein survives, studies medicine after the end of the war and later works under the pseudonym "Dr. Sommer" to answer questions about sexuality and love of pubescent boys and girls for the magazine “Bravo”. He died in Düsseldorf in 2012 at the age of 85.
Transporte mit Jüdinnen und Juden werden 1941 von Bielefeld nach Riga geschicktOriginal Source: WDR / picture alliance / Mary Evans Picture Library
A little boy among many
Others like Bruno Schönewald don't survive the darkest chapter of German history. Bruno is four years old when the National Socialists deport him to Riga in December 1941 together with his father, mother, and grandmother.
Jüdische Ghetto in Riga während des Zweiten WeltkriegsOriginal Source: WDR / picture alliance
Bruno's short life in the ghetto
Because his father tries to hide him from the SS during a roll call, Bruno and his parents are murdered outside the ghetto in July 1944 when he is six years old.
Eine junge Frau nutzt die WDR-App "Stolpersteine NRW - Gegen das Vergessen"Original Source: WDR / Claus Langer
Stolperstein stories for listening
Bruno Schönewald's story is one of many you can listen to. Speakers of the WDR make events from the lives of Nazi victims audible and experienceable in the app and on the website. Aside from historical facts and sound recordings, they also use authentic sounds.
Kartenausschnitt in der WDR-App "Stolpersteine - gegen das Vergessen"Original Source: WDR / Claus Langer
From stone to stone with the app
In addition to graphic and audio stories, "Stolpersteine NRW" offers further background information in the form of texts, historical photos, graphics, and a comprehensive glossary. An interactive map is also integrated to guide users from stone to stone.
More information on the project "Stolpersteine NRW – For Remembering" on stolpersteine.wdr.de
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.