Street and Public Art – Shoes on the Danube Bank, Budapest

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Hi everyone, its Robbie Cheadle here today with the June post in my Street and Public Art on LatinosUSA – English Edition.

This post focuses on Shoes on the Danube Bank, a poignant Holocaust memorial located on the Pest side of the Danube River. The memorial comprises of 60 pairs of 1940s-styled iron shoes cast into the concrete promenade.

Picture caption: Seven shoes on the Danube Bank by Robbie Cheadle

Origin and tragic history

Shoes on the Danube Bank was created by film director, Can Togay, and sculptor, Gyula Pauer to honour the thousands of mainly Jewish victims murdered by the fascist Arrow Cross militia in 1944 and 1945.

Victims were forced to remove their shoes before being shot in the back and falling into the icy water. Leather footwear was a valuable commodity on the black market during World War II.

Picture caption: Twenty plus shoes on the Danube Bank by Robbie Cheadle

To save ammunition, the militiamen sometimes tied two or three victims together using shoelaces and then only shot the front person, who fell dragging the others over the edge and into the freezing river.

The 60 pairs of shoes comprising the monument include heavy boots, delicate ladies heels, and children’s sandals.

The shoes are permanently attached to the edge of the stone embankment. The memorial is a cenotaph erected to honour the victims whose bodies were never retrieved and remain within the river.

Picture caption: So many shoes on the Danube Bank by Robbie Cheadle

About Robbie Cheadle

Picture caption: Robbie Cheadle author photograph

South African author, photographer, and artist, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, written and illustrated four poetry books and written and illustrated one celebration of cake and fondant art book with recipes. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

Social Media Links

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVyFo_OJLPqFa9ZhHnCfHUA
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15584446.Robbie_Cheadle
TSL Publications: https://tslbooks.uk/product-tag/robbie-cheadle/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Robbie-Cheadle/author/B01N9J62GQ
Unsplash profile: https://unsplash.com/@r_cheadle

Reacciones en fediverso

48 respuestas a «Street and Public Art – Shoes on the Danube Bank, Budapest»

  1. Avatar de byngnigel

    The hate that drove people to commit such atrocities should never be allowed to happen again. Unfortunately it still exists and is growing in intensity daily.
    That is such a poignant memorial.
    Thank you for sharing this post. Robbie

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      It is a very intense experience, Nigel 🙏🌈

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      1. Avatar de byngnigel

        I can only imagine. Thank you for sharing, Robbie.

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      2. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

        💖

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  2. Avatar de brazannemuse

    This is sickening… I didn’t know this, there is so much of history I don’t know and am leaning more now. I can’t get my head around how anyone can be so cruel …. 💔Suzanne

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Hi Suzanne, people are easily swayed by propaganda and dehumanization tactics. These have been used in war situations over and over.

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  3. Avatar de Rosie Amber

    Very poignant and a moving tribute.

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      It really is, Rosie 🙏⭐️

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  4. Avatar de shehannemoore

    Robbie what a moving post. Anything involving shoes fascinates me. It started with the ‘For sale, baby shoes never worn,’ quote, because I always think about about the how and why, given they are such a necessary part of our lives. And here is another tremendously moving, example of something that truly took place. A monument I didn’t know about. Thank you.

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      It is very overwhelming when you stand before a memorial of this nature, Shey. That six word story always makes me sad. The death of a baby is always tragic.

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  5. Avatar de Annette Rochelle Aben

    You know, when I think of the Danube, I am imagining, music, happiness… this? Takes me aback

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Sorry, Annette. There are many dark blots on histories page.

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  6. Avatar de beetleypete

    Hungary has some dark history, and I am hopeful that the recent election might see it emerging into the light. A powerful post, Robbie, shared on Twitter.

    Best wishes, Pete.

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Everywhere has pockets of dark history. It is the nature of many leaders to be power hungry and many ordinary people to follow out of ignorance or fear. Thank you for the comment and share 🧡

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  7. Avatar de Zoe the Fabulous Feline

    A powerful post, Robbie. I read a book some time ago on the Holocaust, but I forget the title now. It was primarily an interview with a specific Nazi officer who worked at the Auschwitz camp (it may have been «The Nuremberg Interviews» but I’m not 100% sure). The interviews revealed details of horrors I truly could not even imagine, including one related to shoes, but it was not about these killings by the river; the one detailed in the book I read is actually too brutal and too graphic to put here in a comment.

    Thank you for this. I appreciated learning about it, because it’s imperative to remember history, and to learn all we can about it–or, as the saying goes, we are doomed to repeat it. And trust me, it’s happening, right now, right here in my own country, where it’s become increasingly risky to speak out against the government which has labeled those who do–those who are antifa (anti-fascist)–as «domestic terrorists.» The «Dear Leader» is working hard to eliminate the rights given us by our Constitution, including the right to our own opinions and the free speech to express them.

    America, still home of the brave but no longer land of the free.

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Hi Emily, I have read numerous books about wars including WW1 and WW2. I’m always trying to understand the psychology of war and soldiers. I agree we must not forget. I certainly never will and I like to pass on things I learn. Thank you for your interest in this post.

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  8. Avatar de Zoe the Fabulous Feline

    P.S. Shared to my Facebook page (the only social media platform I use….I know – I am a dinosaur!).

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Lots of people use FB. Thank you for the share.

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  9. Avatar de Ephemeral Encounters

    Oh my goodness Robbie 😪 this is tragic.
    Looking at those shoes is heartbreaking 💔
    Thank you for sharing this.
    Lest we forget 🙏

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Hi Maggie, I like to share knowledge. I believe remembering history is very important to prevent repeating mistakes. Thank you 😘

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      1. Avatar de Ephemeral Encounters

        You are correct Robbie 🙏💖
        Thanks again for sharing.
        I was not familiar with these atrocities 😪

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      2. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

        🙏🌈

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  10. Avatar de Dave Astor

    Terrific post, Robbie. A moving/heartbreaking memorial to unspeakable horrors by murderous fascists. I wish the lessons of that time were learned enough to not be repeated, but there have of course been several other genocides since the 1940s. 😦

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Hi Dave, I know but you and I try to share reminders of past horrors and tragedies in an attempt to educate and thus prevent. It’s important to remain optimistic about the future 🙏

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  11. Avatar de Meelosmom

    OMG! This is so chilling and tragic! Thanks for this history. People need to know.

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Hi Barbara, I agree, people need to know and remember past tragedies. Thank you 💞

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  12. Avatar de marianbeaman

    Sobering and arresting. I am sorry that such a memorial needs to be erected, but we must NEVER forget. Shoes represent such a personal part of personal apparel. And what a metaphor as well. 😦

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Hi Marian, thank you for your thoughtful comment. I agree we must never forget and it’s part of the reason I share this sort of historical post.

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  13. Avatar de Liz Gauffreau

    Such a tragic sight. The fact that shoes are so ordinary makes the horror of these people’s deaths all the more stark and appalling.

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Yes, that is right, Liz. It was a very emotional sight for me.

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      1. Avatar de Liz Gauffreau

        That’s certainly understandable.

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      2. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

        🧡

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  14. Avatar de John W. Howell

    Thank you for bringing this moving memorial to our attention. It is a sad memory of inhuman behavior.

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      It is, John. Very overwhelming to see. 🙏🧡

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  15. Avatar de T. W. Dittmer

    Those shoes are a reminder of a tragic event of history. It’s good that you posted it, Robbie, to bring it up in our minds.

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Thank you, Tim. It serves as a shocking reminder. 🤗💛

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      1. Avatar de T. W. Dittmer

        You’re welcome, Roberta. 😍 It sure is shocking!

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      2. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

        ❤️‍🩹

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  16. Avatar de Colleen Chesebro

    Your tribute gets me in the gut!! Humans are our worst enemies!! This must have been an emotional experience, Robbie.

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      It was, Colleen. A memorial is but this one was particularly bad. 🙏🧡

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  17. Avatar de Darlene

    I was incredibly moved when I saw this memorial in Budapest a few years ago. I know you felt the same. 😢

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Yes, it was very overwhelming 🤗💞

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  18. Avatar de thomasstigwikman

    It is so grotesque. What an evil and sad event. The shoe sculptures is a poignant tribute to the victims.

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Hi Thomas, it really is a very sad memorial to see. The little children’s shoes are especially horrific.

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      1. Avatar de thomasstigwikman

        Yes the little children. That is unimaginable.

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      2. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

        😢

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  19. Avatar de petespringer

    I was unaware of this memorial. Reading about the evils of the Holocaust, without any regard for human life, is tragic. When will we ever learn as a civilization that hate only takes us backward?

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Hi Pete, it is very overwhelming seeing a memorial like this. Men, women and children, all murdered with a complete lack of empathy.

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