Steine der Erinnerung

Steine der Erinnerung (Stones of Remembrance) is an Austrian private association (Verein) founded in 2005 and based in Vienna. It is dedicated to commemorating the Jewish victims of the Holocaust and to keeping alive the memory of Jewish life and culture in Vienna before the Nazi takeover. The association places small commemorative stones and plaques at the last known addresses of Jewish Viennese who were murdered, giving them back a place in their home districts. The project was initiated by Elisabeth Ben David-Hindler, who led the association until her death in 2016. The association is run largely by members of the Hindler family, including Daliah Hindler, Zahava Hindler, Vally Steiner, Ernst Fitzka, and Matthias Beier. Its office is located at Schottengasse 3A/1/4/59, 1010 Vienna. The association is active primarily in Vienna's 2nd (Leopoldstadt), 20th (Brigittenau), and 9th (Alsergrund) districts, but has also placed stones in numerous other districts, including the 1st, 4th, 5th, 7th, 10th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, and 21st. It organizes regular opening ceremonies for new stones and guided walks along the "Weg der Erinnerung" (Path of Remembrance) through the Leopoldstadt, which comprises 102 stations. The association relies on donations, sponsorships, and volunteer work, including local residents who clean and maintain the stones. It has received recognition such as the Dr. Karl-Renner-Preis in 2010 and a celebration of its 10th anniversary at Vienna City Hall in 2015. The association's work is part of a broader movement of remembrance in Vienna, inspired by Gunter Demnig's Stolpersteine, though it uses its own name due to trademark restrictions.

Steine der Erinnerung was founded in 2005 as a small, private association in Vienna. Its aim was to commemorate the Jewish victims of the Holocaust and to keep alive the memory of Jewish life and culture in Vienna before the Nazi takeover. The initiative was led by Elisabeth Ben David-Hindler, who served as the association's spokesperson until her death on 11 May 2016. The association grew out of the broader movement of Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) initiated by German artist Gunter Demnig, but because Demnig holds the trademark rights to the term "Stolpersteine," the Vienna group adopted the name "Steine der Erinnerung." In Vienna, five separate initiatives emerged to place memorial stones in different districts; Steine der Erinnerung is the only one active across multiple districts, having placed stones or plaques in fifteen Viennese districts. The association's core work involves placing small commemorative stones in public sidewalks and, where permitted, plaques on building facades at the last known addresses of Jewish victims. Because many property owners refuse permission for facade plaques, the association relies primarily on stones set into the pavement. Over the years, the association has organized numerous opening ceremonies and guided walks along the "Weg der Erinnerung" (Path of Remembrance) through the Leopoldstadt, which now comprises 102 stations. It has also received public recognition, including the Dr. Karl-Renner-Preis in 2010 and a 10th-anniversary celebration at Vienna City Hall in 2015. The association is run largely by members of the Hindler family and relies on donations, sponsorships, and volunteer maintenance of the stones. In 2015, due to illness, no new stones were laid. As of 2026, the association continues its work, with planned openings of new stations in various districts.

• 2026

  Planned openings of new Stations of Remembrance in multiple districts

• 2016

  Death of founder Elisabeth Ben David-Hindler on 11 May

• 2015

  10th anniversary celebration at Vienna City Hall; no new stones laid due to illness

• 2010

  Awarded the Dr. Karl-Renner-Preis

• 2005

  Association founded in Vienna

A grassroots, volunteer-driven memorial association that anchors Holocaust remembrance at the local level in Vienna, involving residents, schools, and relatives of victims.

• Steine der Erinnerung

  Small commemorative stones set into public sidewalks at the last addresses of Jewish Holocaust victims.

• Gedenktafeln

  Commemorative plaques on building facades, placed where property owners grant permission.

• Weg der Erinnerung

  A guided path through Leopoldstadt with 102 stations, including explanatory plaques, stones, and markers.

• Weg der Erinnerung
• Patenschaften und Bausteine

1. 1Steine der Erinnerung official websitesteinedererinnerung.net
2. 2Über uns | Steine der Erinnerungsteinedererinnerung.net
3. 3Wikidata entry for Steine der Erinnerungwikidata.org
4. 4German Wikipedia article on Steine der Erinnerungde.wikipedia.org