World & BusinessHeidenau bans new memorial stones for Nazi victims on public streets and sidewalks
MDR SACHSEN reports that councillors approved a motion from AfD, CDU and the Oberelbe citizens’ initiative. Existing Stolpersteine—brass pavement plaques commemorating victims of Nazism—will remain, the mayor said.
TLDR
MDR SACHSEN reported on September 25, 2026, that Heidenau’s council approved a ban on new Stolpersteine on public streets and sidewalks. Citing the city administration, it gives the vote as 13–6, with one abstention.
AfD and CDU argued that placing victims’ names where people could step on them was inappropriate. The city administration opposed the motion, arguing that a central memorial could supplement, but not replace, remembrance in public spaces. Mayor Conny Oertel said existing stones would remain.
Memorial group AKuBiZ, which had requested 12 additional stones, fears victims’ individual stories will become less visible away from their former homes and workplaces. MDR also reports that Saxony’s CDU leadership distanced itself from the blanket ban, defending Stolpersteine as a legitimate form of remembrance.
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Heidenau bans new memorial stones for Nazi victims on public streets and sidewalks
MDR SACHSEN reports that councillors approved a motion from AfD, CDU and the Oberelbe citizens’ initiative. Existing Stolpersteine—brass pavement plaques commemorating victims of Nazism—will remain, the mayor said.
TLDR
MDR SACHSEN reported on September 25, 2026, that Heidenau’s council approved a ban on new Stolpersteine on public streets and sidewalks. Citing the city administration, it gives the vote as 13–6, with one abstention.
AfD and CDU argued that placing victims’ names where people could step on them was inappropriate. The city administration opposed the motion, arguing that a central memorial could supplement, but not replace, remembrance in public spaces. Mayor Conny Oertel said existing stones would remain.
Memorial group AKuBiZ, which had requested 12 additional stones, fears victims’ individual stories will become less visible away from their former homes and workplaces. MDR also reports that Saxony’s CDU leadership distanced itself from the blanket ban, defending Stolpersteine as a legitimate form of remembrance.