Stumbling Stones Jan Lutmastraat 8

These small brass memorial plaques (Stolpersteine or stumbling stones) commemorate four members of a family who lived here:

* Fanny Weinberg-Weinberg, born 1869, deported 1943 from Westerbork, murdered 12 February, Auschwitz.
* Rika Weinberg, born 1898, deported 1943 from Westerbork, murdered 12 February 1943, Auschwitz.
* Leo Weinberg, born 1900, deported 1942 from Westerbork, murdered 21 August 1942, Auschwitz.
* Arnold Weinberg, born 1902, deported 1942 from Westerbork, murdered 22 August 1942, Auschwitz.

Fanny Weinberg was a widow whose husband Lasarus died in May 1936. During their 40-year marriage, they had at least 4 children: Sally, Rika, Leo, and Arnold, all born in Groningen. Sally became a merchant, Rika a correspondent who also taught at the Jewish Council, Leo a musician and cello teacher, and Arnold a travelling sales representative. Sally married and moved to another Groningen address.

The dates that Arnold and Leo Weinberg were taken to Westerbork are unknown. Arnold was deported from Westerbork on 15 July 1942 with over 1,130 others, arriving at Auschwitz on the 17th, and Leo was deported the next day, also arriving at Auschwitz on the 17th with over 800 more deportees. Only 9-11 persons from these two transports survived the war.

Fanny Weinberg at first had a document exempting her from deportation (een Sperre) because she was the mother of two deserving children – Sally and Rika. But the exemption was only temporary, and Fanny and Rika were deported to Westerbork on 04 February 1943. Their onward deportation to Auschwitz probably happened on 09 February with 1,182 others. On 12 February 1943, Fanny and Rika were murdered in Auschwitz.

Sally Weinberg lived at Petrus Campersingel 149a in Groningen with his wife, Ella Weinberg-Perls, and their 3 daughters, Annie Else, Nora, and Else. The whole family of 5 was murdered in Auschwitz on the same day as his mother Fanny and sister Rika -- 12 February 1943. The girls were ages 16, 13, and 7 years old.

"Stolpersteine" is an art project for Europe by Gunter Demnig to commemorate victims of National Socialism (Nazism). Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) are small, 10x10cm brass plaques placed in the pavement in front of the last voluntary residence of (mostly Jewish) victims who were murdered by the Nazis. Each plaque is engraved with the victim’s name, date of birth, and place (mostly a concentration camp) and date of death. By doing this, Gunter Demnig gives an individual memorial to each victim. One stone, one name, one person. He cites the Talmud: "A human being is forgotten only when his or her name is forgotten."

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!