Stolperstein dedicated to Enrique Calcerrada Guijarro

The Stolperstein dedicated to Enrique Calcerrada Guijarro is a small brass memorial stone set into the pavement at Calle Bravo Murillo 20, in the Chamberí district of Madrid, close to Glorieta de Quevedo. It was the first Stolperstein ever laid in the city — today part of a network of several hundred such markers across Madrid honoring Spanish victims of Nazism.

Who was Enrique Calcerrada Guijarro?

Enrique Calcerrada Guijarro was born in Madrid on July 15, 1918. He was only 18 when the Spanish Civil War broke out, and he joined the Popular Militias, taking part in the defense of Madrid and several of the war's major battles on the Republican side.

After the Republic's defeat, many of its soldiers fled to France. When the German advance became unstoppable in 1940, Calcerrada was captured at Saint-Dié in the Vosges and held as a prisoner of war in a stalag. The situation of Spanish Republicans changed drastically after agreements signed between Hitler and Franco in September 1940: they lost their prisoner-of-war status and were transferred to Nazi concentration camps, most commonly Mauthausen.

On January 22, 1941, Enrique was deported from the Trier stalag to Mauthausen, where he was assigned prisoner number 4479. He spent the following four years, from 1941 to 1945, in the Gusen subcamp, one of the harshest forced-labor sites in the Mauthausen system. He was among the small group of Spanish Republican prisoners who survived and lived to see the camp's liberation in 1945. He died on March 16, 2004.

What is a Stolperstein, and why is this one here?

Stolpersteine ("stumbling stones") are an ongoing international memorial project by German artist Gunter Demnig: small brass plaques embedded in the pavement outside the last freely chosen home of a Nazi victim. Each stone records the person's name, date of birth, and fate — deportation, place of imprisonment, and, where known, date of death or survival.

Calcerrada's stone stands at Bravo Murillo 20 because that is where he lived in Chamberí before the war and his deportation. Its unveiling launched the Stolpersteine program in Madrid, which has since grown to several hundred memorials across the city commemorating Spaniards deported to Nazi camps.

How to get there?

The stone is set into the sidewalk at Calle Bravo Murillo 20, a short walk from the Glorieta de Quevedo roundabout in the Chamberí district. The easiest way to reach it is by metro to Quevedo station (Line 2), followed by a short walk along Bravo Murillo. The surrounding area is a lively, everyday Madrid residential neighborhood with plenty of cafés and shops, so a visit pairs easily with a wider walk through Chamberí.

What should you know before visiting?

The Stolperstein itself is a discreet, small paving stone — easy to miss unless you're looking for it. It's worth stopping and reading the engraved text on the brass plaque up close. This is a place of remembrance rather than a conventional tourist attraction, so it's worth approaching it quietly and respectfully, especially since ordinary city life continues right around it.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Stolperstein? It's a brass plaque set into the pavement, commemorating a victim of Nazism at the site of their last freely chosen home. The project was started by German artist Gunter Demnig and now spans several dozen countries across Europe.

Why does this particular stone matter for Madrid? It was the first Stolperstein unveiled in the city, which launched a broader program commemorating Spanish victims of Nazism throughout the capital.

What happened to Enrique Calcerrada Guijarro? As a Republican soldier he was captured in France, and after the Hitler-Franco agreement he was deported to the Mauthausen-Gusen camp complex, where he spent four years. He survived and died in 2004 at the age of 85.

Can you combine the visit with exploring the area? Yes — Chamberí is a calm, authentic Madrid neighborhood with local bars and shops, a good choice for a walk away from the crowds of the main tourist center.