Information: Wikipedia

A Stolperstein literally "stumbling stone", metaphorically a "stumbling block" is a sett-size, 10 by 10 centimetres (3.9 in × 3.9 in) concrete cube bearing a brass plate inscribed with the name and life dates of victims of Nazi extermination or persecution.

The Stolpersteine project, initiated by the German artist Gunter Demnig in 1992, aims to commemorate individuals at exactly the last place of residency—or, sometimes, work—which was freely chosen by the person before he or she fell victim to Nazi terror, euthanasia, eugenics, was deported to a concentration or extermination camp, or escaped persecution by emigration or suicide. As of 29 March 2018, over 67,000 Stolpersteine have been laid in 22 countries, making the Stolpersteine project the world's largest decentralized memorial.

The majority of Stolpersteine commemorate Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Others have been placed for Sinti and Romani people (then also called "gypsies"), homosexuals, the physically or mentally disabled, Jehovah's Witnesses, black people, members of the Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party, and the anti-Nazi Resistance, the Christian opposition (both Protestants and Catholics), and Freemasons, along with International Brigade soldiers in the Spanish Civil War, military deserters, conscientious objectors, escape helpers, capitulators, "habitual criminals", looters, and others charged with treason, military disobedience, or undermining the Nazi military, as well as Allied soldiers.

List of Stolpersteine in the city of Wichelen

Boterhoek 17: FRANCISCUS VAN HECK

Son of Alphonsus Van Heck and Julia Goeman. Stone moulder at Asbestile in Schoonaarde. Compulsorily employed in the Stalingrad-Lager II in Magdeburg since March 1943. Died in Magdeburg (Germany), 21 July 1945 hospital Altstadt, died on his way back home

Excavated on February 18, 1948 at the Westfriedhof in Magdeburg, reburied on February 23, 1948 at the Cimetière National Français (C.N.F.) in Berlin-Frohnau. Reburied in the municipal cemetery of Berlin-Heiligensee, Belgian field of honour, grave no. 2062.

Pro-Justitia of 16 July 1951 of the Rural Police Wichelen on behalf of the Ministry of Reconstruction: 'The grieving parents do not wish any new mourning which would take place when the remains of their son Frans were transferred, to which they gave their consent. reject it.'