Shoes on the Danube Bank

Overview

The Shoes on the Danube Bank is a poignant Holocaust memorial—60 pairs of cast-iron shoes on the Pest embankment marking where Arrow Cross militia forced Jewish victims to remove their shoes before shooting them into the river.

Highlights

• 60 iron shoes: Men's, women's, and children's shoes in period 1940s styles.
• River setting: The shoes face the water where victims fell.
• Emotional impact: Simple, restrained, and devastating.

History

Created by sculptor Gyula Pauer and film director Can Togay in 2005. Between 1944 and 1945, the Arrow Cross shot 3,500 people into the Danube here.

Visitor Tips

• Free and always accessible: On the Pest embankment between Parliament and Chain Bridge.
• Quiet reflection: Take a moment of silence.
• Duration: 5–10 minutes.