Stolperstein tour commemorates Jewish club members

The Stolperstein tour, led by Thomas Spengler and Marc Rainer Balbaschewski from the club’s historical department, focused on commemorating Jewish club members and their fates. The event aimed to honour individuals whose stories had received little attention for decades and to keep their memory alive. The walking route, covering approximately six kilometres, led from the Lilien fan shop on Wilhelminenstraße to the Böllenfalltor stadium. Dr. Karl Heß—a former chairman of SV Darmstadt 98—once had his law practice at the starting point. From there, the tour proceeded to the former practice of Hugo Berger, who was known in 1928 as the „Angel of the Old Town.“ Berger treated patients free of charge if they could not afford medical care. His connection to the Lilien began with his involvement in track and field; he was later appointed the club’s physician. Berger’s life changed drastically when the National Socialists seized power. In November 1933, he lost his medical license and was deported to the Osthofen concentration camp. Following his release, he emigrated to Israel in 1934. Yet, his bond with the club remained; Berger returned to Darmstadt for the first time in 1954. His story exemplifies the fates of the Jewish club members honoured by the Stolperstein tour.

Another stop brought the group to the Stolpersteine (memorial stones) commemorating Herbert and Moritz Wieseneck, who were also members of SV Darmstadt 98. While Moritz served in an administrative capacity, Herbert was active in the club as a track-and-field athlete and handball player. In September 1933, Herbert Wieseneck became one of the last Jewish members forced to leave SV 98; prior to this, the club had counted around 20 Jewish members. In October 1933, SV Darmstadt 98 finally implemented the so-called „Aryan Paragraph,“ excluding Jewish individuals—as well as others who did not meet National Socialist criteria—from membership. Continuing on the way to the Böllenfalltor stadium, the group stopped at the Darmstadt Jugendstilbad (Art Nouveau swimming pool). There, the approximately 35 participants learned more about the book burning that took place on June 21, 1933. Organised by the Darmstadt Student League, participants marched with torches from the Bismarck Tower to the Jugendstilbad to publicly burn books that had been singled out and labeled as „trash and filth literature.“ This action was part of the National Socialist campaign to persecute literature and authors deemed objectionable. In this context, a famous quote by Heinrich Heine serves as a reminder of the profound implications of such acts: „Where they burn books, they will ultimately burn people as well.“

The Stolperstein tour concluded at Dr.-Karl-Heß-Platz near the Böllenfalltor stadium. With this stop, Thomas Spengler and Marc Rainer Balbaschewski brought the event full circle: having begun at the site of Karl Heß’s former law office, the tour ended by recounting the story of the former Lilien club chairman and his deep bond with the club.

Karl Heß is one of the most prominent Jewish figures in the history of SV Darmstadt 98. He served as club chairman from 1928 to 1933 before fleeing into exile to escape Nazi persecution and eventually emigrating to Brazil. In the 1960s, Heß returned to Darmstadt with his wife; the connection to his hometown and the Lilien had endured throughout the intervening years. To conclude the tour, an anecdote from Heß’s life provided a lighthearted moment. In the club newsletter of that time, he wrote about his wedding day and the wonderful time spent with his wife. Yet, he noted that an even more delightful highlight was the fact that the SV Darmstadt 98 general meeting took place that same evening—an event where he was ultimately elected president. This story offered a personal illustration of the significant place the Lilien held in Heß’s life.

Another noteworthy aspect of the tour was the written accounts from Jewish club members who re-established contact with SV Darmstadt 98 after the end of World War II. These documents offer insight into the personal relationships and the sense of connection to the club that persisted despite the persecution and the war years. For these former members, their affiliation with the Lilien evidently remained a vital part of their identity. Many of these documents also record that they frequently praised Heinz Lindner, despite his problematic actions during the Holocaust. Yet for the members, only one thing mattered: „He is a ’98er, and ’98ers stick together.“

This quote, which also marked the conclusion of the Stolperstein tour, illustrates the solidarity within the Lilien and demonstrates the importance of standing together, even in particularly difficult times.