Stumbling Stone Willy-Lessing-Straße 8

This small, brass memorial plaque (Stolperstein or stumbling stone) commemorates:
* Willy Lessing, born 1881, victim of the Pogrom, vilified & mistreated, died 17 Jan 1939.

Willy Lessing was a WWI veteran, a respected, successful businessman and benefactor in Bamberg. In 1938 he became the Chair of the Assembly of Representatives of Bamberg’s Jewish community. On Kristallnacht (9 Nov 1938) he learned of the synagogue fire and rushed there. He was abused, insulted and badly beaten. He managed to get home. He eventually was taken to a hospital but died there 2 months later.

"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."

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