Stolperstein memorial dedicated to Johanna Magdalena Ketterer in Baden-Baden, Germany

Stolperstein Dedicated To Johanna Magdalena Ketterer

Stolperstein Johanna Magdalena Ketterer, Baden-Baden: Visiting Hours, Tickets, and Historical Sites Guide

Date: 03/07/2025

Introduction

The Stolperstein (“stumbling stone”) dedicated to Johanna Magdalena Ketterer in Baden-Baden is a profoundly moving public memorial. It offers visitors a tangible and personal connection to one of the darkest chapters in German history—the Nazi era and its policies of persecution. Embedded into the sidewalk at Johanna’s childhood home, this Stolperstein is both a tribute to her memory and a powerful reminder of the victims of Nazi violence, specifically those targeted in the “Aktion T4” euthanasia program. This comprehensive guide explores the history and significance of Stolpersteine, provides practical information for visiting Baden-Baden’s memorials, and offers resources for further exploration and education (Stolpersteine.eu; IamExpat).

Introduction
What Are Stolpersteine?
Johanna Magdalena Ketterer: Her Story
- Who Was Johanna Magdalena Ketterer?
- Aktion T4: The Nazi “Euthanasia” Program
Visiting the Stolperstein in Baden-Baden
Cultural and Historical Significance
Community Involvement and Memorial Care
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Practical Visitor Tips
Responsible Remembrance
Summary and Call to Action
References

What Are Stolpersteine?

Stolpersteine are small, brass-plated cobblestones installed in sidewalks throughout Europe. Each stone marks the last freely chosen residence of a victim of Nazi persecution, inscribed with their name, birth year, fate, and, when known, date and place of death. Initiated by artist Gunter Demnig in 1992, the project has grown into the world’s largest decentralized Holocaust memorial, with over 100,000 stones in more than 20 countries (Stolpersteine.eu; IamExpat; Folklife Magazine).

Unlike grand monuments, Stolpersteine bring remembrance into everyday life, inviting passersby to pause and reflect on individual stories in the very places where victims lived.

Johanna Magdalena Ketterer: Her Story

Who Was Johanna Magdalena Ketterer?

Johanna Magdalena Ketterer was born on January 25, 1920, in Baden-Baden. She lived with her mother and grandparents at Beuerner Straße 111 in Oberbeuern. Due to a cognitive disability, she was institutionalized at age eight in the St. Josefsanstalt in Rheinfelden (Herten), later transferred to Emmendingen, and ultimately deported to the Grafeneck killing center. Johanna was murdered on August 21, 1940, as part of the Nazi “Aktion T4” euthanasia program (gedenkbuch.baden-baden.de; SWR2 PDF, p. 1).

Her Stolperstein was laid at her childhood home on November 28, 2011, restoring her name to the public sphere and honoring her life and memory (claudiatravels.com).

Aktion T4: The Nazi “Euthanasia” Program

Beginning in 1939, Aktion T4 systematically murdered people with mental and physical disabilities. Victims were forcibly taken from institutions or their homes and transported to killing centers such as Grafeneck, where they were murdered in secrecy. Johanna’s fate is representative of thousands whose lives were cut short by state violence and medicalized murder.

Visiting the Stolperstein in Baden-Baden

Location and Accessibility

Address: Beuerner Straße 111, 76534 Baden-Baden (Oberbeuern district) (gedenkbuch.baden-baden.de; mapcarta.com)
How to Get There: Accessible by public transportation, car, or on foot. The area is pedestrian-friendly, and buses from the city center serve Oberbeuern.
Accessibility: The stone is embedded at sidewalk level. Most visitors, including those with mobility aids, can access the site, but some sidewalks may be uneven.

Visiting Hours and Tickets

Hours: The Stolperstein is accessible 24/7 year-round.
Tickets: No entrance fee or ticket is required. This is a public memorial.

Guided Tours and Educational Resources

Guided Tours: The Baden-Baden Tourist Information Office and local remembrance organizations offer guided walks that include Stolpersteine and other historical sites (baden-baden.com).
Educational Apps: The Stolpersteine Guide app provides biographies, context, and walking tour options.

Nearby Historical Sites

While visiting Johanna’s Stolperstein, consider exploring:

Brahms House
Lichtenthal Abbey
Jewish cemetery and other Stolpersteine in Baden-Baden (de.wikipedia.org)

Cultural and Historical Significance

The Stolperstein project is rooted in the principle that “a person is only forgotten when their name is forgotten.” Johanna Magdalena Ketterer’s Stolperstein personalizes the tragedy of the Holocaust and the Nazi euthanasia program, restoring dignity and memory to her life (goodnews4.de). Stolpersteine also foster community reflection on the dangers of ableism, exclusion, and state violence, ensuring that the lessons of the past inform the present.

Baden-Baden’s involvement in the Stolpersteine project includes active research, school partnerships, and community ceremonies, integrating remembrance into the city’s contemporary identity (Gedenkbuch Baden-Baden).

Community Involvement and Memorial Care

Stolpersteine are installed in collaboration with local historians, school groups, and residents. Community members often participate in research, sponsor stones, and organize maintenance rituals, such as cleaning the brass on remembrance days (goodnews4.de; Stolpersteine.eu). This ongoing care keeps the memory alive and visible in daily life.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is there an entrance fee or ticket required to visit the Stolperstein?
A: No, the Stolperstein is a free, publicly accessible memorial.

Q: What are the best times to visit?
A: The site can be visited at any time, but daylight hours are best for reading the inscription and reflecting in a quiet setting.

Q: Are guided tours available?
A: Yes, guided remembrance walks can be arranged through the Baden-Baden Tourist Information Office (baden-baden.com).

Q: Is the memorial accessible for people with disabilities?
A: Generally, yes. The stone is at sidewalk level, but some older streets may be uneven.

Q: Can I leave flowers or other tokens?
A: Yes. Visitors often leave small stones or flowers as signs of remembrance.

Q: Is photography permitted?
A: Discreet photography is allowed. Please respect the residential context and the memorial’s purpose.

Practical Visitor Tips

Engagement: Read the inscription, pause for reflection, and consider bringing a small stone or flower to leave at the site.
Respect: Avoid standing directly on the plaque. Be mindful of the quiet, residential setting.
Photography: Take respectful photos to share the memorial’s story and raise awareness.
Combine Visits: Explore other Stolpersteine or historic sites in the area for a broader perspective on Baden-Baden’s history (claudiatravels.com).

Responsible Remembrance

Visiting the Stolperstein for Johanna Magdalena Ketterer is both a historical encounter and a moral act. By engaging with the memorial, you help ensure that the lessons of the past remain active in the present, fostering a culture of vigilance against exclusion, violence, and forgetting.

Summary and Call to Action

The Stolperstein for Johanna Magdalena Ketterer stands as a powerful reminder of individual lives lost amidst the mass crimes of Nazi Germany. It calls on each visitor to participate in remembrance and reflection, transforming everyday streets into places of memory and ethical awareness. To deepen your experience, consider using digital resources like the Stolpersteine Guide app and the Audiala app for tours and historical insights. Stay connected with local cultural updates through baden-baden.com.

By honoring Johanna’s memory and all those commemorated by Stolpersteine, you become part of a living tradition of remembrance and resistance against forgetting.