Lleida city has recently installed five new Stolpersteine, or 'stumbling stones', bringing the total to 46 commemorative plaques honouring victims of Nazi concentration camps. The latest installations remember Carmel Chacó Palau, León Luengo Muñoz, Ramon Vidal Tomàs, Sabino Vallejo San Pedro, and Antoni Mir Jové, the only survivor among them.
The commemorative itinerary began at Carrer Comerç, continued along Blondel, and concluded at the Fita sculpture on Carrer Jaume II, where three of the stones were placed. The ceremony was attended by local authorities, memorialist organisations, and families of the victims, some travelling from France, Santander, and Romania, including former Romanian Prime Minister Petre Roman.
Roberto Pino, Lleida City Council's Councillor for Civil Rights, emphasised the council's commitment to democratic memory, describing it as a "city priority". He stated that almost 30% of his department's budget is allocated to activities related to remembering deportees.
Josep Ramon Segura from the Centre Excursionista de Lleida reiterated the urgent need for a Civil War interpretation centre in the city. He noted that while progress has been made, "much work still remains to be done, and there are still groups, such as the international brigadists, whose history remains unknown." Similarly, Josep San Martín of Amical de Mauthausen paid tribute to those "who paid a high price, even with their own lives, for remaining faithful to democracy," urging the public to "always keep memory alive in our streets."
Remembering a Survivor's Story
Patricia, the granddaughter of Antoni Mir Jové, shared her grandfather's harrowing experience. Originally from Alcarràs, he endured more than four years of "hunger and slave labour" at Mauthausen concentration camp, emerging weighing just 33 kilograms. Patricia recounted that her grandfather "never uttered a word of hatred or resentment" and consistently urged her "not to let anyone forget what they went through." She added that he survived by "remembering the names of his dead comrades."
Looking ahead, students Marc Majós, Laura Gallart, and Carla Martínez from INS d'Almenar and Caparrella expressed their anticipation for a "great experience" next May. They are set to travel to Mauthausen camp as part of the Buchenwald-Mauthausen Project, continuing the tradition of educating younger generations about the atrocities of the past and the importance of remembrance.
