Sint-Truiden - Stolpersteine

Information: Wikipedia

A Stolperstein literally "stumbling stone", metaphorically a "stumbling block" is a sett-size, 10 by 10 centimetres (3.9 in × 3.9 in) concrete cube bearing a brass plate inscribed with the name and life dates of victims of Nazi extermination or persecution.

 

The Stolpersteine project, initiated by the German artist Gunter Demnig in 1992, aims to commemorate individuals at exactly the last place of residency—or, sometimes, work—which was freely chosen by the person before he or she fell victim to Nazi terror, euthanasia, eugenics, was deported to a concentration or extermination camp, or escaped persecution by emigration or suicide. As of 29 March 2018, over 67,000 Stolpersteine have been laid in 22 countries, making the Stolpersteine project the world's largest decentralized memorial.

 

The majority of Stolpersteine commemorate Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Others have been placed for Sinti and Romani people (then also called "gypsies"), homosexuals, the physically or mentally disabled, Jehovah's Witnesses, black people, members of the Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party, and the anti-Nazi Resistance, the Christian opposition (both Protestants and Catholics), and Freemasons, along with International Brigade soldiers in the Spanish Civil War, military deserters, conscientious objectors, escape helpers, capitulators, "habitual criminals", looters, and others charged with treason, military disobedience, or undermining the Nazi military, as well as Allied soldiers.

 

List of Stolpersteine in the city of Sint-Truiden

Diesterstraat 47: GEORGE FRANS KOEKELBERGH

Gasthuisstraat 37: HERMAN HENRI LAMBILLOTTE

Grote Markt 39: PAUL JEAN PIERRE CORTHOUTS

Haardstraat 31: GERARD JOS WILLEMS


Diesterstraat 47  

hier woonde

GEORGES

KOEKELBERGH

geb. 1914

gearresteerd 25.5.1943

gedeporteerd

Theresienstadt

overleden 7.6.1945

Diesterstraat 47  

here lived

GEORGES

KOEKELBERGH

born 1914

arrested 25.5.1943

deported

Theresienstadt

died 7.6.1945

Born in Duras 6 April 1914.  George was a resistance fighter. After Breendonk he arrived in Esterwegen, Gross-Strehlitz, Laband and Buchenwald. 

Died in Theresiënstadt, on 7 June 1945.


Gasthuisstraat 37   

hier woonde

HERMAN

LAMBILLOTTE

geb. 1919

gearresteerd 25.5.1943

vermoord 7.5.1945

Nordhausen

Gasthuisstraat 37   

here lived

HERMAN

LAMBILLOTTE

born 1919

arrested 25.5.1943

murdered 7.5.1945

Nordhausen

Born in St Truiden, on November 16, 1919. Soldier, before his military service he witnessed the mobilization and campaign in May 1940. Fueled by his sense of duty and patriotism he came to the Resistance. He was a serious and diligent boy, enjoyed everyone's friendship, but also fell victim to the betrayal of May 1943.

With his fellow sufferers he went along Breendonk, Esterwegen, Gross-Strehlitz and Gross-Rosen and there the trail is lost. The last message that reached us reads: 'Lambillotte Herman was at Gross-Rosen. Matr. Nr 82215. Herman died on May 7, 1945 in Nordhausen.


Grote Markt 39   

hier woonde

PIERRE CORTHOUTS

geb. 1916

gearresteerd 25.5.1943

vermoord 5.5.1945

transport

uit Buchenwald

naar Theresienstadt

Grote Markt 39   

here lived

PIERRE CORTHOUTS

born 1916

arrested 25.5.1943

murdered 5.5.1945

transport

from Buchenwald

to Theresienstadt

Born 02.03.1916. Paul was a resistance fighter, arrested and deported to Germany on 05.25.1943. He was murdered in Theresienstadt around 05.05.1945 at the age of 29.

Mobilized in 1939, soldier until May 1940, imprisoned and back home he joined the St. Truiden sector. He is also one of the victims of May 25, 1943. He was transported to Breendonk, Gross-Strehlitz, Blechhammer, Laband and Buchenwald. His fellow countryman Willems Gerard seems to have fallen on May 1, 1945, so Pierre died on May 5 during the evacuation of Buchenwald in Theresiënstadt.


Haardstraat 31   

hier woonde

GERARD WILLEMS

geb. 1907

gearresteerd 25.5.1943

vermoord 1.5.1945

transport

uit Buchenwald

naar Theresienstadt

Haardstraat 31   

here lived

GERARD WILLEMS

born 1907

arrested 25.5.1943

murdered 1.5.1945

transport

from Buchenwald

to Theresienstadt

Born in St Truiden on August 9, 1907. Husband of Maria Renquin and father of 3 children. He was mobilized and took part in the 18-day campaign in 1940. After his liberation, he joined the B.N.B.-A.S., where he served as a soldier.

Arrested with the other comrades, he ended up in the concentration camps of Breendonk, Esterwegen, Gross-Strehlitz and Laband in Upper Silesia. Gerard succumbed to the overcrowded transport that transported him from Buchenwald to Theresienstadt; in the night of April 30, 1945. Gerard died on May 1, 1945 during the transport from Buchenwald to Theresiënstadt.