Watching the 2-minute introductory video is important.
My original thought was to include this place in a collection with other tidbits; but on second thought, it deserves to stand alone.
There’s a small, but powerful memorial located along the Danube on the Pest side of the river. It’s simple – 60 pairs of shoes of men, women, and children from all walks of life are made out of cast iron.
60 pairs of shoes facing the river.
60 pairs shoes symbolizing a sense of abandonment.
60 pairs of shoes serving as a memorial to victims of horror.
60 pairs of shoes reminding us of something that humanity shouldn’t repeat.
Around December 1944 and January 1945, members of Hungary’s fascist Arrow Cross Party militia police took Jews from Budapest’s Jewish Ghetto to the river. The militia ordered the people to take off their shoes and face the river. Then the militia shot the people so the bodies fell toward the water.
Just another horror that I knew nothing about until this trip.
A Frank Angle 
Oh my Frank – this is powerful! I become speechless in the face of such inhumanity.
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Pauline,
Thank you … and to think I kept reworking this post – and it worked.
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Frank,
You were right, this deserves its own place.
I watched the video before reading your explanation, already knowing these were victims of senseless horror. It’s simply heart wrenching to think of all the lives that were stolen away. It’s madness is what it is.
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Marc,
That video was so well done. Music from Schindler’s List is perfect – and then I realized it was better than my pics, so I switched the order – which was the best move.
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The video is exceptional, paired with the music and the ending, with the ripples of sunshine in memory of the lost souls.
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Well stated.
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Hola aFrank,
Writing my comment will hopefully calm the overwhelming feelings that one has while viewing the video. As an artist, this stirs emotion which is what art is for me. Grasping the emotions of the sculpture from a place the artist was trying to recreate. A masterpiece … BRAVO 👏
Thank you for posting such an informative account of your vacation.
Isadora 😎
Ps – have been writing a short story for a WOW – Woman in Writing contest. Sorry I missed the musical. Time crunch 😳😊😎
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Isadora,
The video is so well done – yes, moving! Interesting how the artist took a simple, subtle approach to deliver a powerful message. I wonder what other ideas were considered. Thanks for letting me know about your absence. At least I know it’s not because of health concerns. Keep up the good work. Neil Diamond this weekend.
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You were so right to give this its own place, Frank. And well-timed too, so close to Holocaust Memorial Day.
Such a touching and sad memorial of yet another of the many horrors.
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Dale,
We had been to Auschwitz 2 days before … Schindler’s Factory the day before that – so reminders of the horror continued. I had no idea of this horror.
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That whole area is a huge reminder, isn’t it?
I didn’t know this one either.
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Yes it is.
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There’s not much you can add. The solitary shoes speak volumes.
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Gary,
Solitary is a good word for this … thanks!
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I was unaware of this stunning memorial. So heart wrenching!
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Holly,
Many know about Auschwitz and other places of horror. For me, it’s also reminders like this one that tell us the vast nature of the horror. I didn’t know about this event or memorial until I got there.
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I saw something else about this memorial recently, and I was thinking about it when another blogger had a (totally innocent) photograph that included a lost shoe left on some rocks. You were right to feature this separately. I am saddened that recent surveys show so many people do not know about the Holocaust or do not realize how many people were killed.
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Merril,
I had to smile thinking, another one of our serendipitous moments. 🙂 Oh the horrors – includes those who don’t know. Well stated.
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Here’s to serendipity! 🙂
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Dear Frank,
I’ve seen the video before and it always has the same effect on me. In Jerusalem we went through the children’s memorial in Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum. I don’t understand such brutality. Never have never will. And yet we see history on the cusp once more. Do I believe it can happen again? Yes. Thank you for sharing this touching video and your tidbits of commentary.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle,
Thanks for sharing your feelings here, as well as your thoughts related to the Yad Vashem. One can only hope that it wouldn’t happen again – but, at least in my opinion, I’m not sure how well humanity learns from itself – its own history. Unfortunately, genocide occurs in parts of Africa. Very sad.
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Having been to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. and seen the Holocaust Memorials at the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France, I thought I was ready for the video. I wasn’t, and I was overwhelmed. Here’s a photo I found on Wiki of the Budapest Memorial: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Shoes_Danube_Promenade_IMGP1297.jpg
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Tim,
The video is simple and powerful. Central & Eastern Europe have many memorials for that horrific period in history. Excellent image on Wikipedia!
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Things like this invariably remind me of the Milgram experiment. This is particularly significant, I submit, when the top official in the U.S. government lies regularly. The possibility exists of actually changing a people’s culture.
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Jim,
A significant change in culture is alarming – but unfortunately, others like him are around the world.
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Wow! The video, with the haunting theme from Schindler’s List brought tears to my eyes! It’s an amazing memorial. The shoes are such a poignant and dramatic way to remind each visitor of the atrocity. I’d never heard this story before, but I am deeply moved.
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Debra,
I can’t say enough how good that video is. The creator did excellent work! Unfortunately, before this trip, I admit not knowing anything about this event. Then again, it’s not surprising given those times. Sickening!!!
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Very moving, Frank.
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John,
Thank you.
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Wow, this is incredibly sad. Strange, how objects manage to carry such heavy feeling </3
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Lenora,
The mere thought of what the Nazis and their supporters did in World War II is horrifying and embarrassing to the human race. This memorial is so unique. No big statues or monuments. Actually, nothing big at all … just a row of shoes with a plaque.
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Sometimes the deepest meanings can be made with the simplest of gestures.
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Perfect!
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What a stark vision of horror! And so simple but powerful, shoes tossed about. You did a beautiful job of introducing them to us.
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Jo,
Thanks for the kind words about the post. I like your adjectives – stark, simple, powerful – those are perfect!
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This was quite stirring, to say the least. It’s one subject I shy away from because as long as I live, I will never wrap my brain around such cruelty. Humanity at its worse.
I agree…it deserved its own pedestal though nothing could really rival it.
Susannah
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Susannah,
Definitely stirring while being difficult to understand humanity at its worst. Well stated!
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My naivete knows no bounds. I still can’t get over what they did. Truly!
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It is difficult to figure out the why … and the fact that so many let it happen!
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😢
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This is a very powerful message and tribute. I can’t believe I’ve never heard about this before. Thanks so much for sharing this, Frank.
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George,
I was in the same boat before this trip. Europe has got to be filled with horror stories during this time that most of us don’t know about.
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A powerful memorial – it left me feeling very emotional.
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E R,
Haunting … and (for me) the video sets the stage for the horrifying story.
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The Schindler’s List theme music is really haunting. I often play it on my piano. Awful to realise that such cruelty and inhumane behaviour is possible. Those silent shoes certainly shout their message across the water.
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Such a poignant video, especially with that haunting violin accompanying music. That kind of monument really makes you stop and reflect.
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Monika,
Absolutely on all points. I applaud the person who did this video.
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