German Town Halts Holocaust Memorial Plaques, Sparking Outrage

A German town's decision to stop placing Holocaust memorial plaques has sparked backlash, with critics calling it an attack on remembrance.

Editorial Desk

September 27, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Geneva, Switzerland — A city council in eastern Germany has drawn sharp criticism after deciding to halt the installation of Holocaust memorial plaques, known as Stolpersteine, which commemorate victims of Nazi persecution.

The move by Heidenau’s city council, which includes members from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has been condemned by Jewish leaders and historians. The plaques, created by artist Gunter Demnig, are small brass stones placed in sidewalks to honor individuals who were deported or murdered during the Holocaust.

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Israel’s ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, expressed deep disappointment, noting that some of the plaques honored his own relatives. The decision has also raised concerns about the growing influence of the AfD, which has been labeled an extremist group by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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