In Sæby today there are pebble, which reminds us of the people who lost their lives during The Second World War. The small brass stones are part of an international memorial project found throughout Europe, and they are placed in the pavements in front of the victims' last voluntary residence.
The stories behind the stumbling blocks show that the occupation in Sæby was marked by both bravery and tragedy. The city became an important starting point for Illegal flight routes to Sweden, where resistance fighters, Jews and other persecuted people were sailed to safety across the Kattegat.
The most dramatic incident took place on the night between 23 and 24 January 1945, when Gestapo an attack on a house in Klostergyden. The master shipbuilder lived here Ditlev Pedersen, - who was behind many of the illegal sailings. The Gestapo threw hand grenades into the house to break in. Pedersen was arrested, and his daughter's fiancé, Jørgen Blæhr, was seriously wounded and captured. Both were taken to Aalborg and later interned in Frøslevlejren until liberation.
The Stumbling Stones in Sæby today we remember that the resistance movement It wasn't just the big cities that were active. Ordinary families also risked their lives in the small market town during the occupation. The small brass stones in the pavement make the history present – and tell us that the dramatic traces of the Second World War can still be found in Sæby's streets.
Sources
The story has been compiled in collaboration with Jens Thidemann, museum inspector at the Coastal Museum in Sæby, who conveys with great insight the town's role during the occupation.
