Shoes Memorial on the Danube Bank

Historical background

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About 15,600 Jewish people in Budapest had protective passes. The space allocated for them was limited. Thousands of forged documents were also handed out, and people who had original or forged documents were crowded into the international ghetto. Between 50-60 people were forced to live in two-bedroom apartments. People lived anywhere: in the cellar, in the attic, and even in hallways. Many protected Jews were arrested and Arrow Cross militiamen often tore up the documents that were to provide "protected" status.

The Arrow Cross regularly raided these houses and herded people to the river bank. About 3,000-4,000 Jews, mostly the elderly, women and children, as well as some non-Jewish aid-providers, were shot into the Danube. Groups of 50-60 people were herded along the entire length of the waterfront. They were ordered to take their shoes off, and were shot at the edge of the water, so that their bodies fell into the river to be were carried away by the water.


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