Joseph Goldschmidt

DE

Joseph Goldschmidt
Joseph Goldschmidt
Location
DE
Category
heritage historic sites
Coordinates
48.778508, 9.1881405
Best time
Morning or early afternoon
Weather tip
Check the local forecast before visiting.

Overview

The Joseph Goldschmidt site, located at Moserstraße 13, serves as a poignant memorial dedicated to the memory of Joseph Goldschmidt, a victim of the National Socialist regime. This location is marked by a Stolperstein—a 'stumbling stone'—which is part of the world's largest decentralized memorial project initiated by artist Gunter Demnig. Visitors come to this site to engage with the personal history of those persecuted during the Holocaust, offering a moment of quiet reflection on the lives extinguished in Stuttgart. As you explore the city, this site serves as a somber reminder of the historical impact of the Nazi era on local families. It is an essential stop for those seeking to understand the human scale of historical tragedy, and it provides a deeper perspective on the city's past. When considering trip ideas in the region, including such historical markers in your itinerary allows for a profound connection to the local heritage. The site is best visited during the morning or early afternoon when light is optimal for reading the inscription on the stone. As this is an outdoor memorial located on a public sidewalk, please be mindful of the surrounding residential area and check the local forecast before visiting to ensure a comfortable experience while paying your respects.

General information

The Joseph Goldschmidt site, located at Moserstraße 13, serves as a poignant memorial dedicated to the memory of Joseph Goldschmidt, a victim of the National Socialist regime. This location is marked by a Stolperstein—a 'stumbling stone'—which is part of the world's largest decentralized memorial project initiated by artist Gunter Demnig. Visitors come to this site to engage with the personal history of those persecuted during the Holocaust, offering a moment of quiet reflection on the lives extinguished in Stuttgart. As you explore the city, this site serves as a somber reminder of the historical impact of the Nazi era on local families. It is an essential stop for those seeking to understand the human scale of historical tragedy, and it provides a deeper perspective on the city's past. When considering trip ideas in the region, including such historical markers in your itinerary allows for a profound connection to the local heritage. The site is best visited during the morning or early afternoon when light is optimal for reading the inscription on the stone. As this is an outdoor memorial located on a public sidewalk, please be mindful of the surrounding residential area and check the local forecast before visiting to ensure a comfortable experience while paying your respects.

Did you know

  • The Stolpersteine project is the largest decentralized memorial in the world, with over 75,000 stones installed globally.
  • Each Stolperstein is hand-crafted from brass and set into the pavement in front of the last known freely chosen residence of a victim.
  • The term 'Stolperstein' literally translates to 'stumbling stone', intended to make passersby literally and figuratively 'stumble' over the history of the individual commemorated.

History

The Stolperstein at Moserstraße 13 commemorates the life of Joseph Goldschmidt and his wife, Auguste. These stones serve as a historical record of individuals who were deported or forced to flee due to the systematic persecution of Jewish citizens by the Nazi regime between 1933 and 1945. The installation of these markers is based on extensive archival research, documenting the lives of residents who were once an integral part of the Stuttgart community before being targeted by state-sponsored violence. By placing the stone at their former residence, the project restores the names and identities of the victims to the physical space where they once lived, ensuring their personal history remains part of the city's collective memory.

Cultural significance

The Joseph Goldschmidt memorial is a significant element of Germany's 'Erinnerungskultur,' or culture of remembrance. Unlike monumental statues or grand museums, the Stolpersteine project aims to integrate the memory of the Holocaust into the fabric of everyday life. By placing these markers in front of residential buildings, the project forces a confrontation with the past in the middle of modern urban activity. It emphasizes the individual rather than the collective, shifting the focus from abstract statistics to the specific, lived experience of neighbors who were removed from their homes. This approach encourages empathy and historical literacy among both residents and visitors.

Geography and landscape

The site is located at Moserstraße 13 in Stuttgart, Germany. It is situated within an urban residential setting, consistent with the typical placement of Stolpersteine on public sidewalks. The landscape here is defined by the dense, historical architecture of the city, where the brass memorial stone is embedded directly into the pavement. Because it is a public sidewalk, the site is integrated into the daily transit paths of local residents. Visitors will find the area to be a typical urban streetscape, which provides a stark contrast between the normalcy of modern-day life and the gravity of the history represented by the memorial stone.

More facts

  • Imported from OSM batch

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