Tourist desecrates historical monument in Budapest
Budapest is a popular destination among tourists, as it has many attactions to offer. The sculpture group “Shoes on the Danube” is also a monument that many people visit during their stay here. However, in recent days, this monument has been desecrated by the behavior of a tourist.
A historical monument was desecrated
The Reddit video in which a tourist desecrated a monument in Budapest went viral in an instant, writes Metropol. One of Budapest’s best-known – almost world-famous – monuments is the Shoes on the Danube bank sculpture group, which commemorates the Holocaust. This is where the archers shot the Jews into the Danube, so those who want to remember this day come here.
The tourist was probably not familiar with the background and significance of the monument
It is possible that not everyone knows the background of this historically significant monument. A tourist in a black-and-white polka-dotted dress happily posed by the statues: she stepped into the shoes, posed with them and smiled, stomped on the site, and the man who came with her enthusiastically photographed her. The incident outraged many, as it seems she did not show respect for the group of statues. The news went around the world, so one of the most important English-language news portals, the DailyMail, also reported on it.
What is the meaning of “Shoes on the Danube”?
In 1944, the Nazis deposed Miklós Horthy’s government in Hungary, bringing into power the anti-Semitic and fascist leader Ferenc Szálasi. The monument establishes a permanent memorial to the Hungarian Jews who were innocently shot into the Danube by members of the Arrow Cross Party. During the executions, which were usually carried out en masse, the victims were forced to line up on the banks of the Danube, and then they were shot into the river. The location of the monument is symbolic, since Jews were shot into the Danube from almost every point of the Danube bank in Budapest, especially on the northern side of Margaret Island.
There are three separate signs in Hebrew, Hungarian and English at ‘The Shoes on the Danube’ that say: ‘To the memory of victims shot into the Danube by Arrow Cross militiamen in 1944-45.’
The Reddit video was published on THIS link; however, now, it seems it has been removed. You can check out screenshots of the video HERE.
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3 Comments
“Tears from my Eyes – Water the Flowers of my Heart” – as no doubt, that, in the reading of this article, thousands possible millions – will be APPALLED of this shear act of Stupidity and Disrespect, for the MESSAGE portrayed in the sculptured work, we know, in Budapest, Hungary, that the world knowns as – The Shoes on the Danube.
Our house, in District V, the frequency, on our world famous number 2 Tram route, in our passing, of this POWERFUL piece of sculpture, the message, its History, what it symbolizes, my thoughts and prayers are for those that where the “innocent” victims – in there thousands, that this sculpture – HONOURS – tells of there Plight – there pain and suffering, that saw them, there earthly lives ended – then “cast” – ending disappearing into the Danube River.
Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall – the tourist that come to view this sculpture on the banks of te Danube River astounds and “moves” me.
Its existence – its STORY – its History lesson, let mankind “grow” and learn from it.
In these HORRENDOUS times AGAIN we live not just Hungary nor Europe but the wider Global World, it should NEVER be allowed nor allowed to be FORGOTTEN – that History – it NEVER Lies.
Hebrew phase from – Book of Deuteronomy – could provide Solace to this blatant Act of Human Desecration.
“Zedek zedek, tirdof”
Justice justice – shall we PURSUE.
I’ve seen this before at this solemn site, and I didn’t approach the young couple smiling as they took pictures with the shoes. Not everyone notices the plaques that explain this artwork, or they notice afterward, because the piece is just so overwhelming. The kindest thing someone could do is empathetically explain to the offending person(s) the meaning of the work. I wish I had done so.
@Zoli on 10/08.
You are too kind in your approach of abssolving the responsible officers & civil servants @ the Tourism Ministry & Dept. of Historical Monuments.
Since each year, some imbecile tourist, repeatedly does it, our Tourism Officials could easily erect a larger info. stone at both ends of that sacred spot & cameras.
Notwithstanding what a tourists’ knowledge of history, Vandals are Vandals & must be heavily fined from €1.000 upwards.
We could imagine such primitive Tourists’ conduct at Sisi’s Palace near Hungaroring or Opusztaszer…
Let somebody in Tourism Office “open his/her ears & start thinking out the Box.