YA Eco Mysteries, Memoirs, Novels & Travel
Holocaust Memorial Budapest
[The memorial] calls on us never to repeat the evils of the years gone by; it urges us to acknowledge that whatever our race, heritage or religion, we belong to the same human species.
The Nine Inheritors, by Claire Datnow Chapter 42
On a trip down the Danube you get caught up in the beauty of the land, the magnificence of the cathedrals and inviting public squares, the friendly people, the hearty food and tasty beer. Yet, somewhere along the way, like an electric probe, something is there to remind you of the Holocaust
The Shoe Memorial on the Danube Promenade in Budapest, a splendid city springing back to life after hard years of communist rule, is one such reminder. It is without doubt one of the more heart-wrenching memorials you will see. At this spot in January 1945, Hungarian Jews were marched to the banks of Danube, told to take off their shoes, and shot. The bodies floated down river, down to the sea and out of sight. As long as this memorial exists, however, what happened will never be forgotten.
During World War II, Nazi-dominated Hungary allowed thousands of its citizens to be taken to gas chambers, forced labor camps, and to be executed. The Shoe Memorial serves as haunting testimony to the murder of Jews during World War II; evidence that no Jewish community in Europe escaped the cruelty and the final atrocity of the Nazis. It is small, but significant step on the Hungarian nation's journey—and for all people of all nations—towards the realization that not all the blame falls on Nazi Germany, that every citizen has the responsibility to speak out against evil before it takes root.
For more about the colorful history and sights of Budapest enjoy our video: