June 18th, 2024

Shoes on the Danube in Budapest.  History does not need to ever repeat itself, , however, when we read about Ukraine and Russia plus Israel and Hamas--the on going problems are on our minds.  Someone recently was on a river cruise and noted the Shoes on the Danube.  When you are in Budapest it behooves everyone to take the time to drop by this area on the Danube and think about History and the World today.  I don't know the person who wrote this, but I've been there and kick myself for not writing about the circumstances and people myself.  So, when you take your next River Cruise on the Danube - no matter which Company you go with, keep this in mind--it's not a tour but walkable from all areas where the ships dock. It is not far from the Hungarian Parliament building, sit sixty pairs of old-fashioned shoes, the type people wore in the 1940s, belonging to men, women and children. This story is so relevant even though it happened 80 years ago, that despite its dark past, it needs to be retold. May it never happen again.

In the winter of 1944-45, with the continued persecution of Jews everywhere, particularly in Europe, those with the dreaded gold star attached to their clothing were rounded up and brought to the edge of the Danube River… the river that dissects Buda and Pest (Budapest) to be killed. Women, men, children. It mattered not. These victims were either shot or tied together, and thrown into the frigid water. Before that happened, they were ordered to remove their shoes at the river’s edge. Many were unaware until it was happening, just why they were being mandated thusly. Soon, horrifically, it became clear. Although their lives were apparently worthless to their captors, their shoes held value. 

The Shoes On The Danube Promenade, featuring 60 pairs of iron shoes (men, women, children) sits just a short distance from the Parliament Building and is a grim reminder of the baseless slaughter of thousands of innocent people. The Danube River became known as The Jewish Cemetery.

In 2005 the memorial was placed at the river’s edge. It is a reminder to all of us as we come to pay our respects, that these shoes are not a photo opportunity. They are an invitation to truly reflect on who each pair of shoes might have represented. Who might have worn these shoes? A music teacher? A construction worker? A young student? In a different time and place, could it be me?

These memorials we see on our travels hold history. They tell us a story if we are only listening.

#myvikingstory #budapest #kadlin #capitalsofeasterneurope

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