Stolperstein Dedicated To Gertrude Babette Fraenkel

Stolperstein Gertrude Babette Fraenkel Mainz: Visiting Hours, Tickets, and Historical Significance

Date: 14/06/2025

Introduction

The Stolperstein dedicated to Gertrude Babette Fraenkel in Mainz, Germany, is a profoundly moving memorial, commemorating one of the many Jewish victims of Nazi persecution. These “stumbling stones” are part of an expansive, decentralized project initiated by artist Gunter Demnig in the 1990s, with more than 100,000 stones installed across Europe as of 2025—over 340 of which are in Mainz (Folklife Magazine; Germany.info; mainz.de). Positioned outside the last freely chosen residence of each victim, Stolpersteine transform everyday city spaces into sites of memory, reflection, and education.

Gertrude Babette Fraenkel’s Stolperstein is located in Mainz’s historic Altstadt (Old Town), serving as both a personal remembrance and an entry point into the broader narrative of Mainz’s Jewish heritage and the city’s efforts in Holocaust remembrance (Stolpersteine Dinslaken; Stolpersteine Mainz). The memorial is accessible at all hours, requires no entry fee or ticket, and can be visited independently or as part of guided city tours offered by local organizations (mainz-tourismus.com; Stolpersteine official website).

This detailed guide covers the historical background of Gertrude Babette Fraenkel, the origins and artistic significance of the Stolpersteine project, practical visitor information (including hours and accessibility), nearby historical sites, and ways to engage respectfully and meaningfully with this unique memorial.

The Stolpersteine Project: Origins and Purpose
Gertrude Babette Fraenkel: Life and Fate
Visiting the Stolperstein in Mainz
Artistic and Cultural Significance
Community Involvement and Preservation
FAQ: Visiting the Stolperstein in Mainz
Conclusion and Call to Action
References and Further Reading

The Stolpersteine Project: Origins and Purpose

The Stolpersteine (“stumbling stones”) project, conceived by artist Gunter Demnig in the 1990s, is the world’s largest decentralized Holocaust memorial. Each Stolperstein is a 10 x 10 cm brass plaque, engraved with the victim’s name, birth year, fate, and, if known, date of death. These stones are embedded in front of the last freely chosen residences or workplaces of those persecuted by the Nazis, including Jews, Roma and Sinti, political prisoners, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others (Holocaust Educational Trust; Germany.info).

This approach brings remembrance into daily life, inviting passersby to “stumble upon” the memory of individuals and sparking reflection within local communities (Folklife Magazine).

Gertrude Babette Fraenkel: Life and Fate

Born in 1923 in Mainz to Oskar and Pauline Fraenkel (née Oppenheim), Gertrude Babette Fraenkel was part of a once-thriving Jewish community. Alongside her younger sister Eva Klara, she endured escalating persecution following the Nazi rise to power in 1933. After being sent to the Israelitisches Waisenhaus (Jewish Orphanage) in Dinslaken and surviving the violence of Kristallnacht, Gertrude was evacuated via Kindertransport to Belgium. While initially finding refuge in Middelkerke and later Brussels, her circumstances worsened under German occupation, and in 1942 she was forced into labor (Stolpersteine Dinslaken).

Her Stolperstein, placed at Emmerich-Josef-Str. 5 in Mainz, marks not just her last home but the tragic trajectory of countless Jewish families uprooted and eradicated by the Holocaust (Stolpersteine Mainz).

Visiting the Stolperstein in Mainz

Location and Accessibility

Address: Emmerich-Josef-Str. 5, Mainz, Germany. The stone is found embedded in the sidewalk in front of the building.
Getting There: Mainz’s Altstadt is easily accessible by train, bus, and foot. The main train station (Mainz Hauptbahnhof) is a short walk or tram ride from the site.
Accessibility: The Stolperstein is set flush with the pavement, making it accessible for wheelchairs, strollers, and those with mobility aids. Most sidewalks in Mainz’s center are pedestrian-friendly (mainz.de).

Visiting Hours and Tickets

Hours: The Stolperstein is located in a public space and can be visited at any time, 24/7.
Admission: No ticket or fee is required. Visits are free and open to all (Stolpersteine official website).

Guided Tours and Community Engagement

Guided Tours: Local museums, remembrance groups, and the Mainz Tourism Office offer guided Stolpersteine walks that contextualize Gertrude Fraenkel’s story within the broader history of Mainz’s Jewish community (mainz-tourismus.com; haus-des-erinnerns-mainz.de).
Commemorative Events: Annual ceremonies, especially on International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27) and Kristallnacht (November 9), involve community members cleaning and caring for the stones.

Nearby Sites and Photography

Nearby Attractions: Enhance your visit by exploring the Mainz Cathedral, Jewish Museum, Haus des Erinnerns (House of Remembrance), and other Stolpersteine in the city (mainz.de).
Photography: Respectful photography is encouraged to document and share these memorials. Consider taking a moment to pause, read the inscription, and, if you wish, gently clean the stone or leave a small token of remembrance.

Artistic and Cultural Significance

The Stolpersteine project is both a work of art and an act of public history. Each handmade plaque incorporates minimalist design and direct language—“Hier wohnte” (“Here lived”)—personalizing the memory of victims and returning them to the fabric of daily life (pragueviews.com). The act of stooping to read a Stolperstein is a symbolic gesture of respect, making remembrance an embodied experience (Folklife Magazine; mainz.de).

This approach stands in contrast to monumental memorials, bringing history quite literally to street level, where it cannot be ignored or forgotten.

Community Involvement and Preservation

The Stolpersteine in Mainz are maintained through cooperation between city authorities, local organizations such as the Verein für Sozialgeschichte Mainz e.V., and the Haus des Erinnerns (haus-des-erinnerns-mainz.de). Relatives, students, and residents participate in installation ceremonies, cleanings, and educational programs, ensuring that remembrance remains a living, communal process (stolpersteine-mainz.de).

FAQ: Visiting the Stolperstein in Mainz

Q: Where exactly is the Stolperstein for Gertrude Babette Fraenkel?
A: Emmerich-Josef-Str. 5, Mainz, in the Altstadt.

Q: Is there any cost or ticket for visiting?
A: No. Stolpersteine are public memorials, free to visit at any time.

Q: Are guided tours available?
A: Yes. Local organizations and the tourism office offer guided walks focused on Mainz’s Jewish history and Stolpersteine (mainz-tourismus.com).

Q: Is the site accessible for people with disabilities?
A: Generally yes, as the stones are flush with the sidewalk. Most of Mainz’s city center is wheelchair-friendly.

Q: What is the best way to learn more during my visit?
A: Combine your visit with a guided tour or explore online resources like stolpersteine-mainz.de and haus-des-erinnerns-mainz.de.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Visiting the Stolperstein for Gertrude Babette Fraenkel is a deeply meaningful way to engage with the history of the Holocaust and honor individual lives lost to Nazi persecution. Free and always accessible, this memorial is part of a wider network connecting Mainz’s rich Jewish heritage to the present day.

To make the most of your visit, consider joining a guided tour, exploring nearby heritage sites, or participating in remembrance events. Download the Audiala app for interactive maps and audio guides, and follow local organizations to stay informed about new installations and commemorative activities.

By pausing at Gertrude Babette Fraenkel’s Stolperstein, you help keep memory alive—ensuring the past is not forgotten and its lessons are carried forward.