The Stolpersteine Project
What are Stolpersteine?
The name Stolpersteine (in the singular Stolperstein) comes from the German "stolpern" - to stumble, and steine "stones". In English it is translated as "stumbling stones", in Czech they are often called "stones of the disappeared".
Stolpersteine are small memorial stones set in the sidewalks in front of the houses of people who were persecuted or murdered during the Nazi regime. They commemorate specific human destinies - with their name, date of birth and the place from which they were taken. Each stone marks the last chosen place where the person lived, worked or taught.
How the project came about
The project was created by German artist Gunter Demnig in 1992. The first Stolpersteine in the form we know them today were laid in Berlin in 1996.
Today, they form the largest decentralised monument in the world - more than 120,000 stones in more than 2,000 cities, in 31 countries across Europe.
In Prague, the first stone was laid in 2008. By the end of 2025, 886 had been installed.
What they commemorate
Most Stolpersteine commemorate Jewish victims of the Holocaust. However, the stones are also dedicated to other groups persecuted by the Nazi regime - Sinti and Roma, Jehovah's Witnesses, homosexuals, political opponents or people with disabilities.
Each stone is engraved with the name, year of birth and basic information about the fate of the person. Most of the stones contain the word "murdered", which, according to Gunter Demnig, accurately describes the fate of people who died as a result of Nazi persecution.
However, the Stolpersteine also commemorate not only those who were murdered, but also those who survived the concentration camps or managed to escape.
How they are made
Each stone is handmade. Up to 450 are made per month. Handcrafting is an integral part of the project - the Stolpersteine were never meant to be a mass-produced monument.
Why are they important
The Stolpersteine bring names back to where they were lost. To the streets where people lived their daily lives. Passersby have to stop for a moment and bow their heads to read the name. That is their power.
Taking care of the future
The brass on the stones tarnishes over time. The names are lost under the dust of everyday life. That is why an adoption program was created - so that these names remain visible.
How to have a new stone installed
If you are interested in laying a new Stolperstein in Prague, you can contact the project via the website stolpersteinecz.cz or by e-mail info@stolpersteinecz.cz