A small town in eastern Germany has decided to stop placing special memorial plaques for victims of the Holocaust.

The town is called Heidenau. The plaques are small, brass blocks that people put into the sidewalk in front of homes where victims of the Nazis once lived. They are called 'Stumbling Stones' or 'Stolpersteine' in German. They are meant to remind people of the neighbors who were taken away and killed during World War II.

The decision to ban any new stones was made by the local town council. The vote passed because members of the far-right AfD party and the conservative CDU party teamed up to support the ban.

This move has caused a lot of anger. Many people believe these stones are a vital way to remember the dark history of the Holocaust. They argue that removing or blocking these reminders makes it easier to forget the past.

People are particularly upset because this is happening in eastern Germany, where political tensions have been high. Critics say that stopping these memorials is a step backward for a country that has spent decades trying to own up to the horrors of the Nazi era.

Local officials who voted for the ban have not given a clear reason that satisfies the public. For now, no new stones will be added to the streets of Heidenau to honor those who suffered under the Nazis.

Source: AP News