Budapest: Shoes at the River

One of the most moving parts of the river trip on the Danube was to see the memorial of shoes left on the banks of the river.  Through 1944 and 1945, the Fascist organization, "Arrow Cross" rounded up nearly 3500 people, 800 of whom were Jews, ordered them to remove their shoes, and shot them on the banks of the Danube River.  Their bodies were left to fall into the river where they were carried downstream as a reminder to those who opposed them. 

Men's shoes.   Women's shoes.  Children's shoes.

There wasn't much talking.   It was amazing to me that such a simple thing can still bring reverence 75 years later.  Maybe there is hope for humanity after all.

Then again, one should never underestimate a person's ability to do unspeakable acts against another for a cause.