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Raoul Wallenberg Memorial

Raoul Wallenberg Memorial in Stockholm, Sweden

The "Hommage to Raoul Wallenberg" Monument by Danish sculptor and artist Kirsten Ortwed (b.1948) is one of the most controversial memorials associated with the Holocaust. Commissioned in 2002, it is located at Raoul Wallenberg place, near the Baltic Sea and center of old Stockholm. The main synagogue is nearby, with its own specifically Jewish Holocaust Memorial with names of victims related to Swedish Jews.

Wallenberg is known as a hero in the United States, Israel and other countries for his rescue mission and eventual disappearance into a Soviet prison, never to surface again. He probably died or was killed in 1947. However, it is generally understood that he was never given strong recognition in Sweden because of a number of complex reasons. First, he was not a career diplomat and his mission was a curious mixture of Swedish diplomacy in league with the American War Refugee Board. the other side of the family that was involved in banking and had some involvement with the German government. Secondly, Wallenberg arrived in Budapest only in July 1944 after approximately 400,000 Hungarian Jews had been deported. Thirdly, other side of the family that was involved in banking and had some involvement with the German government.

While the artist has expressed that the work reflects her anguish over the story of the Holocaust and Raoul Wallenberg's work in Budapest to rescue Jews, most observers, especially from the Stockholm Jewish community have found the monument meaningless because of its abstraction and some distortions of history which appear on accompanying signage.

Another Wallberg memorial is in the Swedish Parliament building by artist Lenke Rothman, see: Histories & Narratives: To Remember - The Outstanding Deed

For details and other views, see:
http://www.horsenskunstmuseum.dk/kortwed.htm*
http://www.studio-international.co.uk/reports/letter_stockholm_sep.htm*

For another unrealized Walleberg memorial by arkitekt SAR LARS THURMAN ZOLTAN, see: Raoul Wallenberg

 

For other monuments see: