Heidelberg, 8 October 2025 Stumbling block installation in commemoration of Prof. Dr Gerta von Ubisch
On 8 October 2025, as part of the “Stolpersteine Heidelberg” initiative, a golden stumbling block ("Stolperstein") was laid in commemoration of Professor Dr Gerta von Ubisch (1882–1965) in front of her last place of residence at 71 Ladenburger Strasse. In 1929, Gerta von Ubisch was appointed the first female professor in the State of Baden, in an academic environment previously shaped exclusively by men. Her main areas of research were in physics, but above all in botany and plant genetics. In 1993, following the National Socialist seizure of power, she lost her university teaching licence due to her Jewish heritage. She then emigrated to Brazil in 1935, from where she returned to Heidelberg in 1952.
A former colleague and teacher of German and English at the International Study Centre, Dr Harro Grabolle, who is actively involved in the Stolpersteine Heidelberg initiative, had donated the teaching remuneration for a stumbling-block tour he had recently given on behalf of our students for the laying of another stumbling block. It was a fortunate coincidence that this stumbling block was to be laid in memory of Frau von Ubisch.
While preparing for the laying of the stumbling block and conducting his research on Gerta von Ubisch, Dr Grabolle came across her memoirs, which had been published and edited by Professor Dr Susan Richter (now Chair of Early Modern History at Kiel University) and Dr Armin Schlechter (now Head of the Collections Department at the State Library Centre of The State of Rhineland-Palatinate, Palatinate State Library) on the occasion of Heidelberg University’s 625th anniversary. Not only had Professor Richter worked as a lecturer at the International Study Centre during her doctoral studies, but two of our current history teachers, Michael Roth and Steve Bahn, had also contributed to the book as a research associate and as a student assistant, respectively.
So, on 8 October, not only did the former team around Professor Dr Susan Richter reunite — she offered insights into the book and provided academic support for the stumbling-block installation — but the ISZ was also represented. Alongside Mrs Gardt and Dr Deissler, all the history teachers had come to commemorate the fate of Gerta von Ubisch. In addition to the newly laid stumbling block, Gertrude-von-Ubisch-Strasse in the Heidelberg district of Kirchheim also commemorates the first female professor in Baden.
Steve Bahn & Michael Roth