The National Heritage Institute on Tuesday, 13 February held a commemoration in Budapest in honour of the civilian victims of the siege of Budapest during World War II, which ended 79 years ago. Addressing the commemoration, Miklós Dukai, deputy state secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration and Regional Development, said the nation was still feeling the deep scars left by the siege.

He went on to say that

this day was meant to honour those Budapest residents, mainly women, children, and the elderly who were caught between the belligerent sides.

During the siege, the capital’s food supply stopped and the city was threatened by an epidemic, Dukai added. The destruction of the bridges on the River Danube made it almost impossible to cross between the city’s Buda and Pest sides, he said, adding that some 500 civilians died in the destruction of Margaret Bridge alone.

More than 38,000 civilians died during the siege of Budapest,

and more than 15,000 Jewish Hungarians were victims of persecution by the Nazis and Hungary’s Arrow Cross party, the deputy state secretary went on to state.

Gábor Móczár, the director-general of The National Heritage Institute, said the siege had done ‘inconceivable; damage in the city as well as in families, as it caused the meaningless deaths of mothers, fathers and children.

After the commemoration, the event’s participants laid wreaths at the two symbolic graves honouring the memories of those who died in the destruction of the Regent House in the 2nd district and residential buildings at 2 Vitéz Street and 59 Fő Street.

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Sources: MTI/Hungarian Conservative