Why Are Boots, Pumps & Children’s Shoes Lining The Bank Of Danube River In Budapest?

Do you know about the memorial called ‘Shoes on the Danube Bank’? It is a quiet section in Budapest where rows of iron shoes in different styles: boots, pumps, and children’s shoes, are lined along the banks of the Danube River. The memorial honours thousands of people who were murdered during World War II.

Shoes On The Danube Bank Memorial 

Along the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary, there is a section where rows of old-fashioned iron shoes are fixed to the stone embankment. The memorial, called Shoes on the Danube Bank, honours Jews who were shot into the river during the terror of the Arrow Cross Party in World War II. Most victims were Jews from Budapest, but many civilians were also killed.

In 1944, towards the end of World War II, Hungary came under the control of the Arrow Cross Party. The regime targeted the country’s Jewish population and tried to eliminate them. Jews in Budapest lost their rights and faced extreme brutality at the hands of the party. According to Wikipedia, the memorial was erected on April 16, 2005. It was created by film director Can Togay and sculptor Gyula Pauer.

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A Memorial To Honour The Victims 

The sculptor created sixty pairs of shoes based on styles worn in the 1940s. That is why you see old-fashioned boots, pumps, and even children’s shoes. Before being shot, victims were ordered to remove their shoes, as they were valuable at the time. They were then shot at the edge of the river so their bodies fell into the water and were carried away. This haunting memorial represents the shoes left behind on the banks of the Danube.

If you look closely, the shoes appear scattered. This shows how victims removed them in a hurry and waited for their death. The shoes include women’s heels, men’s boots, and children’s pairs, showing that people of all ages were killed. Many people visiting Budapest stop at this memorial. They leave candles and flowers inside the shoes to mourn and remember the victims.

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The memorial is truly haunting and serves as a reminder of the brutality faced by Jews by the Arrow Cross Party.

Cover Image Courtesy: Shoes on the Danube Bank, Wikipedia and @HananyaNaftali/X