Ponder this: a towering figure holding a palm leaf aloft. It stands as the Liberty Statue. Here on Gellért Hill the Szabadság-szobor watches over Budapest. The Liberty Statue commemorates those who sacrificed their lives. They fought for Hungary’s independence freedom and prosperity.
Erected first in 1947 it originally honored the Soviet liberation of Hungary. This liberation ended the Nazi German occupation during World War II. Its location on Gellért Hill makes it a prominent part of Budapest’s skyline.
The bronze statue stands 14 meters tall. It rests atop a 26-meter pedestal. The statue holds a palm leaf. Two smaller statues are around its base. Originally there were four. The other two were moved to Statue Park. Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl designed the monument. He had a different vision initially. He planned it as a memorial for István Horthy. It would have featured a child. The palm leaf was a Soviet addition.
At the time of its construction the Red Army’s defeat of Axis forces was proclaimed liberation. The original inscription reflected this. It read: “To the memory of the liberating Soviet heroes. Erected by the grateful Hungarian people in 1945.”
Public sentiment toward the Soviets changed over the years. The 1956 revolution damaged parts of the monument. After the transition to democracy in 1989 the inscription was modified. It now reads: “To the memory of all those who sacrificed their lives. They fought for the independence freedom and prosperity of Hungary.” The Russian inscription was removed.
Erzsébet Gaál modeled for the statue. The sculptor Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl spotted her on the street. He sought a woman with a beautiful posture. He wanted a proportionate figure. He wanted a clear eye. Gaál fit the description perfectly.
Gaál posed for several modeling sessions. She held a palm frond while a fan billowed her dress. She wasn’t paid for her work. Initially she enjoyed some official attention. She attended parades. She met Yuri Gagarin.
By the late 1980s she was forgotten. The authorities no longer needed her. Her financial situation worsened. In 1984 she expressed a desire to tear down the statue. She felt lonely and ignored. She died in 1989. Her gravestone reads: “Here lies the model for the statue of liberty.”
Today the Liberty Statue stands as a symbol of freedom. It also carries a tragic history. It is a reminder of Hungary’s past. It reminds us of the sacrifices made for independence. As you gaze upon the Liberty Statue remember its story. Remember Erzsébet Gaál. Remember the fight for freedom. The Great Beer Opener watches over Budapest.