Stolperstein dedicated to Giannetta Zipszer Lipschitz

The Stolperstein dedicated to Giannetta Zipszer Lipschitz is a small brass plaque set into the pavement in Rijeka, Croatia, commemorating a woman murdered during the Holocaust. It lies at Ante Starčevića 5 and is among the first Stolpersteine ever placed in Croatia.

What is a Stolperstein?

Stolpersteine, or "stumbling stones", are small brass plates laid in the pavement outside the last freely chosen home of Nazi victims. The project was created by German artist Gunter Demnig. Each plate carries a name, a year of birth and a brief note on the person's fate. Passers-by lower their gaze and bend slightly to read it, hence the symbolic "stumble".

Who was Giannetta Zipszer Lipschitz?

Giannetta, also spelled Gianetta or recorded as Zseni Zipszer, was born in 1893. She was married to Eugenio Lipschitz, a Rijeka shopkeeper. In 1940 Eugenio was interned by Mussolini's regime at the Campagna camp, and after his release he was barred for a time from returning to Fiume, as Rijeka was then known.

In March 1944 both spouses were arrested in the city by German forces. They were taken first to the Risiera di San Sabba near Trieste and then deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Both were murdered; the exact date of Giannetta's death is unknown.

When and where was the stone laid?

The plaque belongs to the Stolpersteine project and was installed on 21 May 2013. The first two such stones in the Republic of Croatia were laid in Rijeka, on Starčevićeva Street, in memory of Eugenio and Giannetta Lipschitz. According to the German-language list of Stolpersteine in Rijeka, each spouse has two plaques, one inscribed in Croatian and one in Italian. Later stones in the city carry both languages on a single plate.

Why stop here?

This is not a monument of grand scale. It is easy to miss, and that is exactly the idea. A small plate in the city centre recalls real people who lived steps away from today's shops and cafés. The stone also speaks of Rijeka's multilingual past, where Croatian, Italian and Jewish histories intertwined.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the stone? In Rijeka, at Ante Starčevića 5, in the city centre. The coordinates are roughly 45.3259 N, 14.4448 E.

Is there an entrance fee? No. It is part of the public space and accessible at all times.

How long does a visit take? A few minutes. It combines well with a walk through central Rijeka, and you can look for the stone dedicated to her husband Eugenio nearby.

Is the inscription in English? No. The text is in Croatian, with a separate plaque in Italian.

How should I behave? Calmly and respectfully. Pause, read the inscription and take a quiet moment.