Rastede commemorates Nazi victims: stumbling blocks and memorial walk planned!

Rastede commemorates Nazi victims: stumbling blocks and memorial walk planned!

A new association has been founded in Rastede whose mission is to remember the victims of National Socialism and to establish a strong culture of remembrance. The “Stolpersteine ​​Rastede” association is planning to lay memorial stones dedicated to the Jewish Hattendorf families and other persecuted people. The initiative is led by the committed teacher Anja Szyltowski, who is also chairwoman of the association and was largely responsible for its founding. As nwzonline.de reports, the first laying of four stumbling blocks is scheduled to take place on February 9, 2026 in Schloßstrasse.

But what exactly are stumbling blocks? These small, square memorial stones, which are embedded in sidewalks, commemorate the fate of Jews, political persecutees and other groups who suffered under the National Socialist regime. Since 1996, more than 100,000 stumbling blocks have been laid in Germany, and the project is being launched by the Cologne artist Gunter Demnig, who will also lay the stones in Rastede. As ndr.de explains, these memorial stones are a strong symbol against forgetting.

Historical context and location in Rastede

The memorial stones in Rastede are dedicated to the victims of the Hattendorf family, whose life story is in the shadow of National Socialism. Karl and Klara Hattendorf were murdered in the Theresienstadt concentration camp in 1942, while their daughter Selma and grandson Hinrich survived the horror. During the Nazi regime, Karl Hattendorf, a butcher, was threatened by SA men, underscoring the brutal conditions of the time. This important memory is kept alive by the stumbling blocks. As rasteder-rundschau.de reports, the local council has now given the green light and the first laying of stumbling blocks will take place on February 9th at 9 a.m.

But that's not enough. The association also plans to lay further stumbling blocks for the Jewish families Hoffmann and Pagener on Raiffeisenstrasse. The consent of the Ammerland district is still required for this. If everything goes well, these memorial stones could soon find their way into the streets of Rastede. The stumbling blocks represent a deeper connection to history that goes far beyond mere memory and is intended to inspire future generations to think.

Community projects and memorial walks

A central part of the association's work is promoting a broad base in the population and cooperation with other organizations. The club already has 28 members and is happy about any support. Financial resources are collected, among other things, through donations to enable the laying of the stumbling blocks. In view of the last memorial events in Rastede, in which around 100 people took part, it is clear that the commemoration of the victims of National Socialism has a lively support base in the community.

Another memorial walk will take place on November 9th to remember the Jewish victims of the November pogroms. This meaningful act begins at 4 p.m. at the town hall in Rastede. The organizers hope that people will come in large numbers to commemorate together and send a strong message against forgetting.

In Rastede it is clear that the culture of remembrance is kept alive in the community, and the “Stolpersteine ​​Rastede” association has taken an important step in the right direction. The necessary reminder of the dark chapters of history should serve not only for the past, but also for the future. Information from the public about other Nazi victims is welcome at any time.