Shoes on the Danube Bank

"Shoes on the Danube Promenade is a poignant memorial in Budapest, commemorating one of the darkest chapters in the city's history during World War II. Situated along the banks of the Danube River, this monument serves as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed by the Arrow Cross Party, a fascist and anti-Semitic regime that came to power under Ferenc Szálasi in October 1944 after Adolf Hitler ousted Hungarian leader Miklós Horthy. The Arrow Cross's terror included mass deportations and executions of Jews in Budapest. Among the most harrowing acts were the shootings along the Danube River, where approximately 20,000 Jews were murdered. Victims were forced to remove their shoes, a valuable wartime commodity, before being executed and left to fall into the freezing waters. Created by film director Can Togay and sculptor Gyula Pauer, the memorial consists of 60 pairs of iron shoes, each designed in 1940s styles to represent men, women, and children. The variety of footwear—from work boots to delicate heels and children's shoes—reflects the indiscriminate nature of the killings. Arranged casually along the riverbank, as though their owners had just stepped out of them, the sculptures evoke a haunting sense of absence and loss. Installed in 2005, the memorial includes plaques in Hungarian, English, and Hebrew, inscribed: "To the memory of the victims shot into the Danube by Arrow Cross militiamen in 1944–45." The simplicity of the monument amplifies its emotional impact, inviting quiet reflection on the lives stolen during this horrific period. Visitors are encouraged to approach the site with reverence, taking time to contemplate the weight of its history while standing before the river that bore witness to such tragedy. This powerful tribute continues to resonate, serving as a somber reminder of the importance of remembering and confronting the past."

""The composition titled 'Shoes on the Danube Bank' gives remembrance to the 3,500 people, 800 of them Jews, who were shot into the Danube during the time of the Arrow Cross terror.[2] The sculptor created sixty pairs of period-appropriate shoes out of iron. The shoes are attached to the stone embankment, and behind them lies a 40 meter long, 70 cm high stone bench. At three points are cast iron signs, with the following text in Hungarian, English, and Hebrew: "To the memory of the victims shot into the Danube by Arrow Cross militiamen in 1944–45. Erected 16 April 2005." - "

"If you are like me, you will cry at sites like this, because even thinking about the history behind this will make you think 'How can humanity be so evil?'. At the same time, sites like this help us remember what should NOT happen again. This haunting yet minimalist memorial consists of 60 iron shoes set along the riverbank. Each pair tells a story of the Jewish victims who were forced to remove their shoes before being executed into the Danube by fascist forces during WWII. It’s a place that leaves an unforgettable impression—simple, but full of emotion and history. "