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Stolpersteine in Offenbach Defaced With Swastikas

Police have opened a criminal probe seeking witness tips as the city cleans the memorials.

Overview

  • A passerby discovered eight Stolpersteine on a sidewalk in Offenbach city center that had been smeared with swastikas.
  • The police say an unidentified group of students had been at the site and that a youth from the group reportedly gave the Hitler salute.
  • The brass memorial stones were cleaned after the vandalism was reported to authorities.
  • Offenbach police have launched an investigation for the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations and are asking witnesses to provide information to help identify those responsible.
  • Stolpersteine are ground-level plaques that mark the last freely chosen residences of people persecuted and murdered by the Nazis and the public display of Nazi symbols and the Hitler salute is a criminal offense in Germany, which frames the legal and community response.