Stolperstein dedicated to César Blasco Sasera

The Stolperstein dedicated to César Blasco Sasera is a small brass memorial stone set into the pavement in central Madrid. It commemorates a Spanish Republican officer who, after years of exile and internment, died a victim of the Nazi concentration camp system during the Second World War. This is a place for quiet reflection rather than a conventional sightseeing stop, and it rewards visitors interested in the history of Spain's Republican exile and its unexpected links to the Holocaust.

What is a Stolperstein, and why is one set into a Madrid pavement?

Stolpersteine, or "stumbling stones," are part of an international memorial project created by German artist Gunter Demnig. Each stone is a small brass-topped cobble embedded in the pavement outside the last freely chosen home of a person persecuted by the Nazi regime, engraved with the victim's name, date of birth, and fate — where they were interned, deported, or killed. While most stones are found in Germany and Central Europe, the project has reached Spain as well, since thousands of Spanish Republicans went into exile in France after the Civil War, and some of them later fell into Nazi hands when Germany occupied French territory. The stone honoring César Blasco Sasera was laid in Madrid as part of an effort to recover the memory of Spanish victims of Nazism, alongside several other stones dedicated to men who shared a similar fate.

Who was César Blasco Sasera?

César Blasco Sasera was an officer of the Spanish Republican Army, 66 years old at the time of his arrest. Like hundreds of thousands of Spaniards, he went into exile in France after the Republic's defeat in 1939. In December 1943, the Gestapo detained him together with seven other Spanish officers — a group now remembered as "Los Ocho de Vernet" (the Eight of Vernet). The arrest followed a tip-off from a former Republican officer who had gone on to collaborate with the SS. The eight men were first held at the citadel of Perpignan, then transferred to the Vernet d'Ariège internment camp in southern France. From there, after roughly two months, they were deported to the Dachau concentration camp in Germany. Only one of the eight, Lieutenant Colonel García-Miranda, survived, liberated in a state of severe physical exhaustion. César Blasco Sasera did not survive the deportation.

How do you get there, and what will you actually see?

The stone sits on a pavement in central Madrid (coordinates: 40.417095, -3.710807), within walking distance of the historic city centre and its main landmarks. The memorial itself is deliberately understated: a roughly 10-centimetre brass-topped cobblestone, level with the surrounding paving, with no plaque, fence, or signage marking its location. It is easy to walk past without noticing — which is precisely the intent of the project. Passers-by are meant to "stumble," quite literally, upon the memory of someone who once lived at that exact spot.

When is the best time to visit?

The stone is accessible at any hour, free of charge, since it is simply part of the public street. Early morning tends to be the best time to visit, when foot traffic is lighter and the brass surface is easier to photograph cleanly. Many visitors combine this stone with a self-guided walk connecting the other Stolpersteine scattered across Madrid, turning a short detour into a broader route of historical memory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is a Stolperstein? It's a small brass-topped cobblestone embedded in a pavement to commemorate a victim of Nazi persecution at the place where they last lived or that mattered most to their story. The project was started by artist Gunter Demnig and now spans thousands of locations across Europe.

Why is a memorial to a Nazi victim located in Madrid rather than Germany? Because Spaniards who fled to France after the Spanish Civil War became targets of Nazi persecution once Germany occupied France. Madrid's Stolpersteine make the point that Spanish citizens, too, were interned and deported by the Nazi regime, even though the events took place on French soil.

Who were "Los Ocho de Vernet"? A group of eight Spanish Republican officers, including César Blasco Sasera, arrested by the Gestapo in December 1943 and deported via the Vernet d'Ariège camp to Dachau. Only one of them survived the war.

Do you need to pay or book a visit in advance? No. The stone is set into open public pavement and can be visited freely at any time, day or night.