Stolpern in Mödling

Stumbling through Mödling

Before the Nazi-era, Mödling was one of the major communities of Jewish life in the Vienna region. The entire Jewish population, approx 300 persons, were deported in 1941 and 1942, most were killed in the death camps, very few survivors are known to date.

In 2005, pupils of a Mödling high-school researched the history of 14 Jewish families and published a short documentation, which you can download and study here (in German language only):  www.moedling.at/stolpersteine/doku_stolpersteine.pdf

In August 2006, cobblestone plaques („stumbling stones“) were placed into the sidewalk in front of the houses of  14 Jewish families, in order to commemorate the deported Mödling citizens.

The cache-walk is easy to walk and can be done also with kids and strollers. Walking distance from the Final to the recommended Parking is max 10 min. Total walking distance is less than 2km.

Stage 1 is a bit off the track (500m), all other stages are within very short distances. You can park your cache-mobil at the Museum (N 48 05.182/ E 16 17.285). Parking fee applies on weekdays until 6 p.m., else free parking.

Stage 1:  Helene

(N 48° 05.321 /  E 16° 17.807)

The only non-Jewish person on this commenorative walk is Sister Helen Kafka, who was arrested in 1942 for defending her faith and that of her Jewish fellow citizens. She was decapitated by the Nazis in 1943.

In arm-length from the stone there is a berch tree. Somebody has carved a heart with a letter into its stem. Convert the letter into a number (A=1, B=2, … Z=26) and  use it as the value for variable A =  _____.

Stage 2: Ferdinand

(N 48° 05.185 / E 16° 17.508)

How many door-bells does the house feature today?  (B =    )

Stage 3:  Hermann

(N 48° 05.058/  E 16° 17.418)

Who inhabits the house today?  Which two letters spoil the else perfect symmetry of the name?  Convert them to a digit on your cell-phone to  obtain C.

Stage 4: Emanuel

(N48° 05.186/  E 16° 17.211)

How many cobblestones does the innermost ring of the stone ornament in front of the door consist of?  (D =   )

Stage 5: Hedy  (11 years)

(N48° 05 154/  E16° 17.124)

A world-known person lived in this house even earlier. A plaque above the door shows three years. Take the crossfoot of the central year to obtain E.

Stage 6:  The Monument

N 48° 05. (B *C + 4*D + A + E + C +3

E 16° 17. 0( 3*E)

No stumbling stone this time, but a small monument. How many years are between erection and destruction of the mentioned and depicted building?   ( F =   )

The Cache:   

N =  N6 - F + C 

E =  E6 + A +C +F +3

(Ver 6.2, 17 Aug 10)