Stumbling Stones Jan Lutmastraat 15

These small, brass memorial plaques (Stolpersteine or stumbling stones) commemorate the Stoppelman family:

* David Stoppelman, born 1896, deported 1943 from Westerbork, murdered 28 May 1943, Sobibor.
* Elisa Johanna Stoppelman-Goudsmit, born 1898, deported 1943 from Westerbork, murdered 28 May 1943, Sobibor.
* Samuel Stoppelman, born 1929, deported 1943 from Westerbork, murdered 28 May 1943, Sobibor.
* Isidore Stoppelman, born 1931, deported 1943 from Westerbork, murdered 28 May 1943, Sobibor.
* Jozef Oscar Stoppelman, born 1933, deported 1943 from Westerbork, murdered 28 May 1943, Sobibor.

David married Elisa Johanna Goudsmit in October 1928. He was a partner with his brother in a business for wholesale mirrors, paintings, frames, and related articles. She was training as a childcare worker. They moved into the house at Jan Lutmastraat 15. They had 3 sons: Samuel, Isidore, and Jozef Oscar.

The business grew and continued to be successful. Then in 1942, an administrator was appointed, justified by an "Order for the removal of Jews from business." During the war, David worked for the Jewish Council (Joodse Rad).

On 4 February 1943, the Stoppelman family was taken to Westerbork transit camp. Almost four months later, on 25 May 1943, they were deported on the 13th of 19 trains from Westerbork to Sobibor in 1943. Of the 34,313 deported on those 19 trains over the span of 5 months, only 18 persons are known to have survived. The Stoppelmans were murdered on arrival. Samuel, Isidore, and Jozef Oscar Stoppelman were only 13, 12, and 9 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."

Borne was the first place in Netherlands where Stolpersteine were installed -- on 29 November 2007.

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Source

• Text: Anne Palmer
• Photos: Suzanne Matrosov-Vruggink
• Biografie Familie Stoppelman
• Stichting Sobibor
• Stolpersteine.eu