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Stumbling Stones Gedempte Zuiderdiep 51-A

These small brass memorial plaques (Stolpersteine / Stumbling stones) commemorate:

* Louis Meijer, born 1885, deported 1942 from Westerbork, murdered 17 October 1942, Auschwitz.
* Eva Meijer-Nieweg, born 1887, deported 1942 from Westerbork, murdered 19 October 1942, Auschwitz.
* Louise (Liesje) Meijer, born 1913, deported 1942 from Westerbork, murdered 19 October 1942, Auschwitz.

Louis Meijer, a wholesaler, married Eva Nieweg on 30 October 1910 in Groningen. They had 2 children, Louise and Bertha, who were both born in Groningen. Bertha survived the war and had her own family; she lived until age 92 and was buried in Groningen.

No information was found on the deportation dates for the parents and Louise. There were 28 possible transports (all trains) for them from Westerbork to Auschwitz from mid-July (the first one) through 16 October 1942 (which was the last departure date that would arrive by 19 October). A few deportees from these trains were selected for work, but very of these survived the war. The rest of the deportees were murdered in the gas chambers. Louis Meijer was murdered in Auschwitz two days before his wife and daughter. Louise, an office clerk, was 29 when she was killed.

"Stolpersteine" is an art project for Europe by Gunter Demnig to commemorate victims of National Socialism (Nazism). Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) are small, 10x10cm brass plaques placed in the pavement in front of the last voluntary residence of (mostly Jewish) victims who were murdered by the Nazis. Each plaque is engraved with the victim’s name, date of birth, and place (mostly a concentration camp) and date of death. By doing this, Gunter Demnig gives an individual memorial to each victim. One stone, one name, one person. He cites the Talmud: "A human being is forgotten only when his or her name is forgotten."

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