Minna Joelsohn

This memorial commemorates Minna Joelsohn, born Jonas, whose life was ended tragically. It marks her last known place of residence before her deportation. The memorial serves as a stark reminder of the individual lives affected by historical atrocities, ensuring that the personal stories behind the larger events are not forgotten. It focuses on her birth year, her deportation date and destination, and the date of her death, providing specific details of her fate. This serves to humanise the history, connecting a name and a place to a profound loss, and stands as a poignant tribute to her memory.

This type of memorial, known as a 'Stolperstein' or stumbling stone, is part of a widespread European project designed to commemorate individual victims of persecution. These small, brass-plated cubes are set into the pavement in front of the last voluntarily chosen residence of those who were persecuted or killed. They are a poignant reminder of lives lived and lost within a community. The project aims to bring the memory of individuals directly into the public space, making history tangible and accessible to passers-by in their daily lives. Such memorials emerged from a desire to remember individuals rather than just numbers, reflecting a deep societal commitment to remembrance.

The memorial for Minna Joelsohn is a 'Stolperstein', or stumbling stone. These small, brass plaques are typically embedded into the pavement, often directly outside the last address where the commemorated individual lived. Visitors will find it at street level, integrated into the urban landscape of Berlin. These memorials are designed to be discovered by chance, encouraging reflection and remembrance in an everyday setting. Respectful observation of the plaque and its surroundings is encouraged.