Is it a symbol of remembrance or a source of ongoing controversy? The Memorial to the Victims of the German Occupation stands here in Liberty Square. It invites reflection on Hungary’s complex history during World War II.
This memorial was erected in July 2014. It commemorates the Nazi takeover of Hungary on March 19 1944. The Memorial to the Victims of the German Occupation features the Archangel Gabriel. He is a national symbol representing Hungary. But he is under attack. A Germanic eagle with the year 1944 on its ankle threatens him. Broken columns form a backdrop. The base bears a simple inscription: “In memory of the victims.”
However the Memorial to the Victims of the German Occupation has faced strong criticism. Jewish groups and others see it as an attempt to absolve Hungary of its role in the Holocaust. Critics argue it suggests Hungary was a helpless victim unable to resist Nazi Germany.
The Holocaust Educational Trust calls the Memorial to the Victims of the German Occupation an example of Holocaust distortion. They state it fails to recognize almost all Hungarian citizens murdered during the Holocaust were Jews. It deflects responsibility for the Holocaust. It suggests all Hungarians were innocent victims of the Nazi occupation. It does not acknowledge Hungarian complicity in rounding up Jews. They were put into ghettos. Then they were transported to camps.
The memorial’s installation was controversial from the start. It was completed in the middle of the night. This was to avoid protests.
Hungary’s role in the Holocaust began before the arrival of German soldiers. There were pogroms mass killings deportations and forced labor camps. Hungarian authorities helped deport 437000 Jews in 1944.
Look closely at the base of the Memorial to the Victims of the German Occupation. You will see photos and messages. Families of victims have left them here. These personal tributes add a poignant layer to the site.
The figure of the angel is being clutched at by the claws of the German eagle.
The Living Monument initiative was started on Facebook in March 2014. It then took physical form on the square. Holocaust victims survivors and their families began placing memorial stones and candles on the barriers. They surrounded the construction site. They expressed their personal ties to the events of the Holocaust in Hungary.
The Memorial to the Victims of the German Occupation remains a focal point for debate. It highlights the ongoing struggle to reconcile with a difficult past. It forces us to confront questions of responsibility and remembrance. It asks what it means to honestly confront history.