Werner Sylten
In Gotha, Germany, a Stolperstein outside the Versöhnungskirche marks the memory of Werner Sylten. The small brass stone brings Nazi persecution into the ordinary pavement. Born in Switzerland to German parents, Sylten became a Protestant pastor with a strong commitment to social justice. His opposition to racism cost him his parish in 1936. Afterward, he joined the Confessing Church and led its office in Gotha.
From there, Sylten secretly supported Christians with Jewish roots, helping them escape and offering protection under Nazi rule. His relief network helped many people reach safety before the authorities intervened. The Gestapo arrested him in 1941. Dachau concentration camp followed, where forced labour preceded his transport to Schloss Hartheim. He was murdered immediately after arriving there. Today, the stone beside the church leaves one stark detail at street level: resistance once depended on quiet help.
- City
- Gotha
- Content updated
Take this page with you
The myTuur app is free, and once you are standing at a spot its story starts by itself.
Spots like this one are the stops myTuur strings into tours through Gotha. In the app, each story begins where you stand: walk up to a spot and it starts, read it on screen or listen as you go, then follow the route to the next one.
What is myTuur?
myTuur is a free city-guide app. Its tours are built from spots, and each spot carries a story that starts when you get there, to read or to listen to as you like.