Perhaps you’ve never considered that stones could whisper tales of sorrow and resilience. We are standing before the Wohnblock Sächsische Straße 21, 22 Wittelsbacherstraße 1, 2. This building stands as a silent witness to a dark chapter in Berlin’s history.
Before us lies more than just a residential building. The Wohnblock Sächsische Straße 21, 22 Wittelsbacherstraße 1, 2, is a memorial. It reminds us of the individuals who once called this place home. Their lives were tragically cut short during the Holocaust.
Let’s step back in time to understand the significance of this location. Imagine pre-war Berlin. The Sächsische Straße was a vibrant street. It bustled with families, shops, and a strong sense of community. Among those residents were Martha and Minna Geballe. They lived at Sächsische Straße 22. Martha, born in 1870, was a skilled seamstress. She worked alongside her sister Minna and their relative Amalie.
The rise of the Nazi regime cast a dark shadow over their lives. Laws were enacted to isolate and persecute Jewish people. The Geballe sisters faced increasing discrimination and hardship. In 1939, only Martha was officially registered at their Sächsische Straße address.
The sisters were forced to leave their home shortly before deportation. They moved to Wittelsbacherstraße 13. They were joined by their lodger Fritz Jacob Eisenberg. This was a common practice. Jewish residents were moved into collection points before deportation.
On September 8, 1942, Martha and her sisters were deported to Theresienstadt. This was a concentration camp in what is now the Czech Republic. Martha Geballe was murdered there on June 7, 1944. Her sisters Cäsar, Christa, and Minna also perished. Fritz Jacob Eisenberg was deported to Auschwitz on March 1, 1943. He was murdered there.
Today, Stolpersteine memorial stones are set in front of the Wohnblock Sächsische Straße 21, 22 Wittelsbacherstraße 1, 2. They bear the names of Martha Geballe and Fritz Jacob Eisenberg. The Stolpersteine serve as a constant reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. These small brass plaques disrupt the everyday life. They force passersby to confront the past.
In 1999, a great-niece of Martha, Lea Ben Abraham Geballe, submitted memorial pages to Yad Vashem. She honored these victims of the German fascists. These pages are filled with Hebrew script.
The Wohnblock Sächsische Straße 21, 22 Wittelsbacherstraße 1, 2 is more than bricks and mortar. It is a living memorial. It embodies the stories of those who suffered and perished. The building serves as a reminder of the importance of tolerance, understanding, and remembrance. It urges us to learn from the past. We must ensure that such horrors never happen again. Let’s carry these stories with us. Let’s ensure that the memories of Martha Geballe and Fritz Jacob Eisenberg are never forgotten.