Stumbling Stones (Stolpersteine) are small, brass-plated concrete cubes that are installed in the pavement, typically in front of the last voluntarily chosen residence or place of work of victims of Nazi persecution. Each stone bears an inscription with the name, birth year, and fate (e.g., deportation date, death date, and location) of an individual victim. The stones are placed with community support and paid for by private contributions.
The name "Stolpersteine" literally translates to "stumbling stones" or "stumbling blocks," and the idea is that passersby will "stumble" upon them, causing them to pause, read the inscription, and remember the individual whose life was taken
The Hirsch Family lived in Speyer Germany before the war. The two children, Ernst and Ilse were able to escape to NY in 1937 and 1938 respectively. They both settled in Detroit Michigan and lived there into the 1980's. Their parents were not so fortunate, in 1942 Karl went to Auschwitz and Franziska to Theresienstadt, Czechoslovakia. Both perished in 1944.
Hirsch Home as it is now, Speyer Germany.
