This page was translated from the German original with the help of AI. The German version is authoritative.

As the information event announced for 24 March 2020 and further events unfortunately had to be cancelled because of the coronavirus measures, we are publishing the documentation online. The research was interrupted by the coronavirus measures; the documentation will be supplemented as soon as possible.

The Stolperstein laying

The first  laying of the Stolpersteine (“stumbling stones”) in Bruchhausen-Vilsen took place on 25 June 2020.

Source: http://www.nordsehen.tv/Videos/stolpersteine/

The descendants of the Lindenberg families, who had intended to travel from several countries for the laying, were unfortunately unable to attend because of the current travel restrictions. The journeys will be made at a subsequent laying date.

Owing to technical requirements set by Mr Demnig, 15 stones are being laid on this first laying date. At least 2 stones are being laid at each of the six laying sites; the remaining stones will follow at the next laying date. A total of 23 stones have been planned so far.

Donations for the second laying date are still welcome. The school’s “Schule ohne Rassismus. Schule mit Courage” working group (AG) at the Gymnasium (grammar school) is also looking for sponsors for the Stolpersteine. Contact:
04252/9090120 (contact: Tim Schöning) 
gym.bruvi@schulnet.diepholz.de. 

The documentation

The research project was initiated in 2009 by Ezequiel Lindenberg (Argentina), whose grandfather fled Vilsen as a child in 1938. Relatives of the family in the USA, Argentina and Israel support the project (see here). Its aim is to give the descendants of the Jewish victims and of those who fled Bruchhausen-Vilsen their history back, and to commemorate the families of whom no one survived.

Our families pray for those who came before us and wish for all who follow to always remember and to protect our children and families for the rest of time. Never Again.
Lindenberg family

The website is run by relatives of the Lindenberg family (Argentina). It brings together documents and research findings from the last 30 years on the subject of “Jewish life in the area of the present-day joint municipality (Samtgemeinde) of Bruchhausen-Vilsen” and is continually being expanded.

Since 2018 the project has been cooperating with the “Schule ohne Rassismus. Schule mit Courage” working group at the Gymnasium Bruchhausen-Vilsen, which has been campaigning for the laying of the Stolpersteine since 2016.

We hope that the findings brought together here will provide not only a factual foundation for a constructive examination of the past but, above all, a basis for prevention and youth work, which is becoming ever more important at present.

The sources

The research is drawn, in equal shares, from:

• 1/4 research and documents of the Lindenberg families
• 1/4 research by Heinrich Bomhoff and his circle
• 1/4 research from school projects and regional publications
• 1/4 supplementary archival and literature research

We are grateful for support with the research to:
The relatives of the Lindenberg families (Argentina, USA, Israel); the “Schule ohne Rassismus. Schule mit Courage” working group at the Gymnasium Bruchhausen-Vilsen; the archive of the Samtgemeinde Bruchhausen-Vilsen: Ms Meyer; contemporary witnesses in Bruchhausen-Vilsen; Arbeitskreis Synagoge und Museum Hoya: Ms Hornecker and Ms Mallus-Huth; Kirchenarchiv Vilsen: Ms Wimmer; Archiv Syke: Mr Greve; Kreismuseum Syke: Mr Weber; the “Spurensuche” project course, Gesamtschule Brinkum: Ms Zelle (Henneberg); Kreisarchiv Diepholz: Mr Kathe, Mr Liebezeit; Archiv Twistringen: Mr Kratzsch; Förderverein Regionalgeschichte Verden: Dr Wook; Hoyerhagen cemetery: Mr Schmidt-Bollmann; for the Oldenburg-Westerstede area: Mr Vahlenkamp; University of Hamburg: Ms de Rudder; Buchenwald Memorial: Ms Dellemann; Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv; Arolsen Archives: Ms Seidenstuecker; The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR): Ms Jawett; Neuengamme Memorial: Dr von Wrochem; and many more!