La Spezia: the municipality joins the “PIETRE D'INCIAMPO” project
"Stumbling Stones", an idea born from the German artist Gunter Demnig to deposit in the urban fabric of European cities the widespread memory of the citizens deported to the Nazi extermination camps.
La Spezia: the municipality joins the “PIETRE D'INCIAMPO” project.
The participation of the Municipality of La Spezia in the project was approved by the Peracchini Council “Stumbling Stones”. An idea born from the German artist Gunter Demnig to deposit in the urban fabric of European cities the widespread memory of the citizens deported to the Nazi extermination camps. The initiative consists in incorporating into the road pavement, in front of the last homes of the deportation victims or in another significant place, square stone blocks covered with a brass plate on which the name, year of birth, date and place of deportation are engraved and date of death of the deportee to whom the stone is dedicated. These are small monuments that aim to restore the dignity of human beings to those who were killed, to make people reflect on the horror of what happened and to ensure that what happened is never repeated again. The “Stumbling Stones” they are therefore intended for all victims of National Socialism, for anyone who was persecuted or murdered by the Nazis between 1933-1945.
The mayor of La Spezia Pierluigi Peracchini declares: “The decision to join the “Stumbling Stones” project testifies to our desire to preserve historical memory and honor the La Spezia victims of Nazi-fascism. The brass stones that we will place near the homes of people deported to Nazi concentration camps will be symbols of remembrance, which will invite us not to forget the suffering of the past, the violence and intolerance of the regime, they are dedicated to people who they gave their lives for our freedom and democracy. Participating in an initiative like this is important to keep the memory alive and ensure that these tragic episodes are never repeated again, as well as being a sign of commitment and respect for human rights."
“The laying of the Stumbling Stones for La Spezia represents a symbol of Memory. It is not simply a ritual but a moment of high civil value, which restores dignity, identity, humanity, but also a name, a face, a soul to those citizens of La Spezia who were persecuted and torn from their lives as victims of National Socialism. Taking up a theme from the Talmud: "A person is forgotten only when his name is forgotten", we want to remember." declares the Councilor for Toponymy Maria Grazia Frijia.
To date, over 56.000 Stumbling Stones have been placed in numerous European countries, making it the largest monument widespread on European territory.
The Municipality of La Spezia has therefore joined, by making adequate technical and logistical support available, the proposal put forward by the National Association of Former Deportees in the Nazi Camps of La Spezia, ANED, to create and disseminate the Stumbling Stones in the La Spezia area, building a memory municipality of Nazi persecution, through the direct request of the relatives of the deported to whom the Stones would be dedicated.
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