Shoes on the Danube Bank

The Shoes on the Danube Bank in Budapest commemorate the brutal mass executions of Hungarian Jews in 1944/45 by the fascist Arrow Cross Party. The installation of 60 pairs of cast-iron shoes along the Danube symbolizes the victims who were forced to remove their shoes before their execution. This silent memorial serves as a poignant reminder and a warning against forgetting.

Shoes on the Danube Bank – A Memorial of Remembrance

The Holocaust memorial *Shoes on the Danube Bank* (Hungarian *Cipők a Duna-parton*) in Budapest is a striking tribute to the atrocities suffered by Hungarian Jews under the rule of the fascist Arrow Cross Party in 1944/45. Created in 2005 by filmmaker Can Togay and sculptor Gyula Pauer, it is located on the Pest side of the Danube, south of the Parliament building. The approximately 40-meter-long installation of 60 pairs of cast-iron shoes symbolizes the people who were shot along the riverbank, their bodies falling into the Danube.

Background and Symbolism

During the final months of World War II, the Arrow Cross Party seized power in Hungary through a coup. An estimated 10,000 people were brutally murdered, including many Jews who were executed along the Danube. Before being shot, victims were forced to remove their shoes—a valuable commodity during wartime. These shoes, standing or lying as if “randomly left behind,” are now adorned with candles and stones placed by visitors to honor the memory of the victims.

The inscription on the memorial plaques in Hungarian, English, and Hebrew reads: *“To the memory of the victims shot into the Danube by Arrow Cross militiamen in 1944/45.”*

The memorial stands out for its simplicity and silence. It compels viewers to confront the unspoken horrors of the past. It not only honors anonymous victims but also commemorates individuals like Gedeon Richter, the founder of modern Hungarian pharmaceutical science, who was murdered at the riverbank on December 30, 1944.

Historical Events and Rescue Efforts

On January 8, 1945, Hungarian diplomat Károly Szabó and 20 policemen prevented the execution of Jewish prisoners. This courageous act saved 154 people, including scientists like Lars Ernster and Jacob Steiner, who later achieved distinguished careers.

The *Shoes on the Danube Bank* is one of Budapest‘s most renowned Holocaust memorials. This silent yet powerful monument reminds us of the horrific fates of thousands and emphasizes that such crimes must never be forgotten.

Address

Budapest, Id. Antall József rkp., 1054 Hungary

Shoes on the Danube Bank Tickets & Tours