Shoes on the Danube Bank

Shoes on the Danube Bank is a poignant memorial in Budapest honoring Jews killed during World War II, featuring iron shoes along the riverbank

Shoes on the Danube Bank is a powerful memorial located along the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary. Created by sculptor Gyula Pauer and filmmaker Can Togay, the installation consists of 60 pairs of iron shoes fixed to the riverbank. It commemorates the Jews who were executed by fascist Arrow Cross militiamen during World War II, as they were ordered to remove their shoes before being shot and falling into the river. The memorial serves as a stark reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust and the fragility of human life. Visitors often leave flowers, candles, or stones in the shoes as a sign of respect. The site is accessible to the public year-round and has become a significant historical landmark in Budapest, drawing both locals and tourists to reflect on this dark chapter in history.