Budapest Holocaust Memorial

The Holocaust remains one of the darkest chapters in Hungary’s history, profoundly impacting the nation’s Jewish community. Before World War II, Hungary had one of the largest Jewish populations in Europe, comprising approximately six percent of the country’s total population. However, the events of the Holocaust, particularly following the Nazi occupation in 1944, led to the tragic deaths of over 500,000 Hungarian Jews, many of whom perished in Auschwitz.Walking through the city today, you might start your historical journey near Heroes' Square, a landmark that serves as a solemn reminder of Hungary's turbulent past.

Table of Contents

• Major Holocaust Memorials in Budapest
• Memorials Honoring Rescuers
• Subtle and Distributed Memorials

Major Holocaust Memorials in Budapest

Budapest is home to several significant Holocaust memorials that honor the victims and provide powerful reminders of the atrocities committed during World War II. These sites range from iconic landmarks to quiet spaces of reflection, each carrying deep historical and emotional resonance.

Shoes on the Danube Bank

Located behind the Hungarian Parliament building, the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial is one of Budapest's most recognized tributes to Holocaust victims. It consists of sixty pairs of cast-iron shoes, symbolizing the Budapest Jews who were forced to remove their shoes before being shot into the Danube River by the Arrow Cross Party in 1944.This striking memorial captures the harrowing final moments of those lives lost, and its proximity to the Hungarian National Museum underscores the importance of preserving these stories for future generations.

• Location: Id. Antall József rkp., 1054 Budapest, Hungary
• Hours: Accessible at all times
• Cost: Free admission
• Features: This memorial consists of 60 pairs of cast-iron shoes along the Danube River, symbolizing the Jewish victims who were forced to remove their shoes before being shot into the river by the Arrow Cross militia during 1944–45.

Holocaust Memorial Center

The Holocaust Memorial Center in Budapest provides a comprehensive exploration of the Holocaust in Hungary. Through newsreels, photographs, and personal artifacts, the center details the systematic disenfranchisement, deportation, and murder of Hungarian Jews. For further insight into Hungary’s Jewish history, consider visiting Rumbach Street Synagogue, a recently restored gem in the Jewish Quarter.

• Location: Páva utca 39, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Closed on Mondays
• Cost: €6.50 (approximately 2,400 HUF)
• Features: The center offers an informative exhibition about the Holocaust in Hungary, featuring newsreels, photos, and personal artifacts. It also includes Hungary's second-largest synagogue, a memorial garden with a wall of victims, and a tower listing all communities where Jews ceased to exist due to deportations.

Emanuel Tree

Nestled in the courtyard of the Dohány Street Synagogue complex, the Emanuel Tree is a striking memorial shaped like a weeping willow. Its metal leaves are inscribed with the names of 30,000 Holocaust victims, creating a haunting yet beautiful tribute. Funded by actor Tony Curtis in memory of his Hungarian-Jewish father, Emanuel Schwartz, the memorial is part of a larger complex that includes the synagogue, a museum, and the Heroes' Temple.

Kozma Street Jewish Cemetery

The Kozma Street Jewish Cemetery is the largest Jewish cemetery in Hungary, located slightly outside Budapest’s city center. It features a modernist Holocaust memorial that lists the names of thousands of victims by their place of death. Visitors can also view plaques rescued from other Jewish buildings and the Art Nouveau tomb of Sándor Schmidl, designed by renowned Hungarian architects Ödön Lechner and Béla Lajta.

Ghetto Wall Remnants and Sidewalk Markers

The remains of the Jewish Ghetto's walls, located at 15 Király Street, offer a glimpse into the harrowing conditions faced by Budapest’s Jewish population during World War II. These remnants are complemented by 32 sidewalk markers scattered throughout the Jewish Quarter, such as those near Kazinczy Street Synagogue, indicating where the ghetto's walls once stood.

Memorials Honoring Rescuers

While the Holocaust claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Hungarian Jews, there were individuals who risked everything to save others. Budapest honors these courageous rescuers through memorials that celebrate their humanity and bravery during one of history's darkest periods.

Carl Lutz Memorial

The Carl Lutz Memorial, located near the Glass House in Budapest, pays tribute to the Swiss diplomat who saved thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. As Vice-Consul at the Swiss Embassy, Lutz issued protective documents and secured safe havens in over 70 buildings under Swiss jurisdiction. The bronze sculpture depicts an angel descending to protect a fallen victim, accompanied by the words: “Whoever saves a life is considered to have saved an entire world.”The nearby Liberty Statue, a symbol of freedom, adds another layer of meaning to this area of remembrance.

• Location: Dob utca 10, 1072 Budapest, Hungary
• Hours: Accessible at all times
• Cost: Free admission
• Features: This bronze memorial honors Carl Lutz, the Swiss Vice-Consul who issued protective documents and established safe houses, saving thousands of Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust. The sculpture depicts an angel descending to rescue a fallen victim, symbolizing Lutz's humanitarian efforts.

Raoul Wallenberg Memorial

Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, issued protective passes and provided safe houses for Jews, often directly confronting the Nazis. The Raoul Wallenberg Memorial, located on a street named after him, commemorates his heroism. Nearby, you can explore the Elisabeth Bridge, which serves as a historic link to the city’s past.

Subtle and Distributed Memorials

Not all Holocaust memorials in Budapest are grand or centralized. Many are subtle and scattered across the city, blending into everyday life while carrying profound meaning. These understated tributes ensure that the memory of Holocaust victims remains an integral part of Budapest’s urban landscape.

Stolpersteine / Stumbling Blocks

The Stolpersteine, or stumbling blocks, are small brass plaques embedded in sidewalks throughout Budapest. Each plate commemorates an individual victim, providing their name, date of birth, deportation, and fate. These plaques are placed outside the homes of Holocaust victims, making them a poignant reminder of personal loss and the lives disrupted. Walking through the Jewish Quarter, you might spot one of these blocks on a quiet street corner, such as Klauzál Street, drawing attention to the neighborhood's tragic history.

• Location: Various locations throughout Budapest
• Hours: Accessible at all times
• Cost: Free admission
• Features: These small brass plaques are embedded in sidewalks outside the former residences of Holocaust victims, each bearing the name and fate of an individual. They serve as subtle, poignant reminders of the lives lost during the Holocaust

Sidewalk Markers of the Ghetto Wall

Sidewalk markers throughout the Jewish Quarter trace the outline of the ghetto walls that confined 70,000 Jews during the Holocaust. Located in streets like Király, Dohány, and Wesselényi, these markers are engraved with the locations of the walls and are written in Hebrew. Their understated design ensures they blend seamlessly into the urban fabric while offering an opportunity for reflection to those who notice them.

Memorial for Jewish Forced Labor Victims

Located near the former Jewish school for the deaf in District 7, this memorial consists of two converging stone walls. The design symbolizes the narrowing fates of Jewish men conscripted into brutal forced labor units during World War II. These men were denied basic rights, sent to the front lines, and subjected to inhumane conditions. This subtle yet powerful monument stands as a reminder of their suffering and resilience.

• Location: Bethlen Gábor tér 3, 1071 Budapest, Hungary
• Hours: Accessible at all times
• Cost: Free admission
• Features: This memorial consists of two converging stone walls, symbolizing the fate of thousands of Jewish Hungarian men conscripted into brutal forced labor during World War II. It stands near the former Jewish school for the deaf, now home to McDaniel College