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Stolpersteine Memorials to Honor Victims of Nazism in Solsonés

Barcelona, March 19, 2025 – The European Observatory on Memories of the University of Barcelona Solidarity Foundation joins the Solsonès Regional Council and the Democratic Memorial in the installation of a series of Stolpersteine—memorial cobblestones—to honor local residents deported to Nazi concentration camps. These tributes will be held in various locations with the participation of institutions, local schools, and community organizations. The events will take place at the town councils of Guixers, Lladurs, Navès, Odèn, Sant Llorenç de Morunys, and Solsona.

The project will be inaugurated on Tuesday, April 1, at 11:30 a.m. in front of the Solsona Town Hall. The event will begin with official speeches, the reading of a manifesto, and the screening of an audiovisual presentation.

Following the ceremony, the first Stolpersteine will be placed in front of the Town Hall in memory of Lluís Fornell Call, Miquel Jordana Tarque, and Francesc Orriols Cots—Solsona residents whose addresses remain unknown. A tribute with white carnations will accompany the installation.

The remembrance will continue with further Stolpersteine placements throughout the city to honor:

  • Pere Mosella Besora (Carrer de l’Hospital Vell, 1)
  • Josep Nosàs Augé (Plaça de Sant Joan, 4)
  • Pedro Frutos Otón (Carrer de Sant Roc, 2)

The installations will be accompanied by live musical performances from local secondary school students. The commemorations will extend throughout the first week of April, with additional events held in different municipalities:

  • Wednesday 2 April: Lladurs (10.30 am) and Odèn (12.30 pm) Lladurs: Pere Muntada Villaró. Odèn: Josep Riba Orrit
  • Thursday 3 April: Navès (10 am) and Guixers (12 pm) Navès: Miquel Call Plana. Guixers: Agustí Costa Cardona
  • Friday 4 April: Sant Llorenç de Morunys (12 pm) Sant Llorenç de Morunys: Pedro Hidalgo Pérez

‘The Station’: Peace Takes the Stage

As part of the commemorative initiative, the theatrical production L’Estació—created by Joma and inspired by Mercè Rodoreda’s story of the same name—will offer an artistic reflection on peace. The performance will take place on April 1 at 7 p.m. at the Solsona Regional Theatre and on April 3 at the Sant Llorenç de Morunys Theatre. Admission is free, with tickets available for reservation via Entradessolsones.com.

An Educational Project on Memory and Peace

To foster historical awareness and democratic values among younger generations, several educational institutions have developed projects exploring themes of deportation, Nazism, war, and peace:

  • Escola Arrels Secundària has researched the biographies of the deported individuals and recorded a special radio program on Solsona FM.
  • Francesc Ribalta Institute has created audiovisual profiles of each victim. These can be accessed via QR codes on plaques placed at the Stolpersteine locations. Additionally, students interviewed Jordi Guixé from the European Observatory of Memories (EUROM) of the UB Solidarity Foundation.
  • Vall de Lord School Institute conducted research on the two deportees originally from the Lord Valley.
  • Lladurs and Aiguadora schools focused on the concept of peace.

Honoring the Victims, Preserving Memory

The placement of the Stolpersteine marks the culmination of research identifying 12 individuals from Solsonès who were deported to Nazi concentration camps due to exile and the Spanish Civil War. This initiative aims to keep historical memory alive, pay tribute to the victims, and reinforce democratic values and human rights.

This project is led by the Democratic Memorial of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the European Observatory of Memories (EUROM), the Solsonès Regional Council, the Lacetan Studies Centre, and the town councils of the involved municipalities.

Stolpersteine: A Global Memorial

The Stolpersteine, created by German artist Gunter Demnig (Berlin, 1947), form the world’s largest decentralized memorial project. These small golden plaques are placed in front of victims’ last known residences, inviting passersby to pause and remember. Each one bears the name of a deported individual, along with their birth year, place of origin, and place of deportation. Handcrafted in Germany, the stones serve as a powerful act of remembrance and humanity.

Catalan version (PDF)

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