Stumbling Stone Allerheiligenstraße 26

This small brass memorial plaque (Stolperstein or stumbling stone) commemorates:
* Balthasar Sauer, born 1883, arrested 1942, Dachau, dead 1945 in Auschwitz.

Balthasar Sauer was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany who worked for the railways until an accident led to the end of that job. Then, starting in 1926, he ran an inn, called "To the Green Forest," at this address, where he lived with his wife and son. Trade union, SPD members and others used his restaurant as a meeting place. A 1933 boycott and raids by the Nazi Storm Troopers (SA) meant a drastic drop in business. In July 1942, the police arrested Balthasar Sauer, accusing him of preparations for high treason: he had tolerated Jews and Marxists as guests, had not stopped discussions critical of the state, and had even participated in them. Although he was not convicted, his restaurant license was cancelled and he was sent to Dachau for "retraining." Later, he was photographed on arrival at Auschwitz.

The building the family lived in at this address was destroyed in bombing raids in 1944. His wife and son survived.

"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."

For more information and pictures, please visit Stolpersteine Frankfurt am Main (in German). Go to: Stolpersteine in der Innenstadt, Allerheiligenstraße 26.

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Source

• Text: Fedor de Vries & Anne Palmer
• Photos: Sascha Stefan Ruehlow
• Frankfurt.de
• USHMM: Balthazar Sauer
• Stolpersteine.eu