From a survivor’s plea for remembrance, the Sashalomról elhurcolt német nemzetiségűek emlékműve was born. This monument stands as a testament to a dark chapter in Sashalom’s history. It commemorates the 137 German residents deported for forced labor in January 1945. The Sashalomról elhurcolt német nemzetiségűek emlékműve isn’t just a statue. It’s a story told in five sections, each representing a different historical period. The monument’s first section focuses on Hungary’s founding. The second depicts the German settlements in Hungary. The third highlights the Reform Era and Dual Monarchy period. The most poignant section, the fourth, depicts the deportations themselves, both to Germany and to forced labor camps in the Soviet Union. Two railway cars symbolize these journeys, one heading towards Germany with those expelled, the other to the Soviet Union. The names of the 137 victims are etched beneath, a space for remembrance. The fifth section symbolizes resilience and hope, represented by a rock and a rosemary bush, a German symbol of human dignity. A final section, separate but connected, honors the German customs and traditions that have become part of Hungary’s cultural tapestry. The Sashalomról elhurcolt német nemzetiségűek emlékműve’s unveiling began on January 19, 2022, the anniversary of the deportations. The monument is located at Sashalmi Square, the very place from which these individuals were taken. This was a key request of one of the survivors, ensuring the location itself became a place of remembrance.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to