Shoes on the Danube Bank
History
During the occupation of Hungary by Nazi Germany in 1944, the Arrow Cross militia took control of the country and began a campaign of violence and terror against Jews, Roma, and other minority groups. In Budapest, the Arrow Cross set up a network of detention camps, where thousands of Jews were held before being transported to concentration and extermination camps.
One of the most brutal acts of violence committed by the Arrow Cross was the killing of Jews along the banks of the Danube River. Victims were ordered to remove their shoes before being shot, and their bodies fell into the river. The shoes were left behind as a grim reminder of the atrocities committed.
The Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial was created in 2005 by Hungarian sculptor Gyula Pauer and filmmaker Can Togay. The memorial consists of 60 pairs of iron shoes, each cast in the style of the 1940s. The shoes are arranged in a row along the edge of the river, symbolizing the victims who were lined up and shot.
The memorial serves as a poignant reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust and the need to remember and honor the victims. It also serves as a call to action to prevent such atrocities from happening again. The Shoes on the Danube Bank is an important site of remembrance in Budapest and attracts visitors from all over the world who come to pay their respects to the victims of the Holocaust.
Location
The Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial is located on the Pest side of the Danube River, near the Hungarian Parliament Building. The exact address is Id. Antall József rkp., 1054 Hungary.
The location of the Shoes on the Danube Bank is significant, as it serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust in Hungary. The memorial is located in a public space, allowing visitors to reflect on the history of the Holocaust and pay their respects to the victims in a peaceful and reflective setting.
Visiting the memorial
The Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial is free and open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are no guided tours, but there is an information board that provides details about the history of the memorial. Visitors are asked to be respectful of the memorial and the victims it honors.
Tips for visiting
- Wear comfortable shoes, as there is a lot of walking involved.
- Bring a camera, as the memorial provides a somber and moving backdrop for photographs.
- Consider visiting at sunrise or sunset for a more peaceful and reflective experience.
- Be respectful of the memorial and the victims it honors.
The Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial is a powerful and moving reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust. It serves as an important symbol of remembrance and a call to action to prevent such atrocities from happening again. If you are visiting Budapest, be sure to take the time to visit this important memorial.
FAQs
What do the shoes on the Danube Bank mean?
The "Shoes on the Danube Bank" is a poignant memorial in Budapest, Hungary. It was created to honor the Jews who were killed by fascist Arrow Cross militiamen during World War II in Budapest.
In 1944-1945, the victims were ordered to remove their shoes before they were shot at the edge of the water so that their bodies would fall into the Danube River and be carried away. Shoes were valuable belongings during the war, which is why they were left behind.
How big are the shoes on the Danube Bank?
The "Shoes on the Danube Bank" memorial in Budapest, Hungary, consists of 60 pairs of iron shoes, all of which are life-sized to represent real shoes of men, women, and children. The shoes are modeled after styles worn in the 1940s, reflecting the period when the victims were killed.
The individual shoes vary in size just as in real life, but they are all designed to be true to the sizes that would have been worn by the people they represent. It is this attention to detail, as well as their positioning on the edge of the river, that adds to the impact of the memorial, providing a stark and poignant reminder of the lives lost during this tragic period in history.
