I decided to take part in the stumbling stones seminar because I wanted to do something meaningful. Before the seminar started, I was not aware of the extent of the medical crimes of the National Socialists, although I had heard about them. I was certain that educational work is urgently required and wanted to make a personal contribution. Naturally, I also found it interesting to be able to work with files.

This was very moving for me, because we occupied ourselves with the lives of real people. We had already familiarised ourselves with medical crimes (in particular the murders carried out in the course of the “Aktion-T4”) and with the Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring. Nevertheless, working with the files was something quite different altogether. The information that you get in history lessons, at most communicated in a clinical language, was suddenly very tangible. It is only through the files – which sometimes contained photos – that you learn so much about how it probably was for people at the time. You are touched because here you are talking about particular human beings, not just general cases any more. You learn about their lives, their families and their dreams, also how terribly they suffered. In particular, when you see them before you it sometimes gets very emotional.

It was also very moving for me to participate in the laying of the stumbling stones and to see our work bearing fruit. I remember two guests in particular. I spoke to one of the men for some time and in some depth about the terrible past and in the end, I really had the feeling that I had done something good. I had made a contribution to the process of coming to terms with these crimes, even though, of course, they cannot be undone. The feeling that our work is important, was particularly strong for me during the laying of the stone. It was touching to hear an invited relative speak about his family and experiences. Initially these people were unknown to us, but there are people who have never forgotten them and who asked themselves what had actually happened. To be able to help them in this respect was especially moving.

I think stumbling stones are a good way to remember and pay tribute to people, even though they should not be the only way. Especially important is, I find, laying the stone at the person’s last freely chosen place of residence. The stones could be anywhere and then remembering the person would not be centred on a specific location. In addition, the person is treated as a human being and retains – through the specific placement – a small part of their individuality, even though the biography and the personality cannot be made explicit on such a small stone.

Following our seminar work, it has for me become even more important that we reflect on our own behaviour and to ask questions about how we treat other people who are perhaps different from us. It is alarming to discover what the medical consensus was at that time. I also believe that the history of the abnegation and intentional murder of sick and disabled people strongly influences the way we treat people today. Therefore, it is especially important to review the past, be all the more aware of signs of abuse and act accordingly.

Julia Ebert, July 2021