Stumbling Stone Sandower Straße 3

This Stolperstein / Stumbling Stone commemorates:
* Pauline Krautz née Rehnus, born 1890, arrested 1938, Cottbus women’s prison, dead as a consequence, 16 September 1941.

As a child, Pauline Krautz (Pawlina Krawcowa) developed a love of handicrafts, especially sewing and embroidery. It was her hobby and then her occupation. She first sewed traditional Sorbian costumes for people in her village. Then as people gradually stopped wearing traditional dress, she created dolls dressed in traditional costumes. These became popular souvenirs of Spreewald. She even exhibited them outside her area.

But the Nazis did not want traditional languages or cultures. They arrested her in August 1938 for "insidious attacks on State and Party:" she had advocated for Slavic (especially Sorbian/Wendish) language and culture in the form of her exhibitions. Eleven months later, she was released, but her health was poor and production and distribution of the Spreewald dolls was no longer possible. She beame ill and died in September 1941.

A photograph of the plaque in her memory can be seen on p. 17 of Cottbus befriet! 70 Jahre, 22 April

"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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