Porhászka László: The Danube Promenade - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1998)

facade overlooking the Danube survived in any degree of integrity. On the southern section of the promenade, the Carlton was destroyed, with only the Bristol escaping complete annihilation. Several bombs hit the viaduct of tram line No. 2, which collapsed at the northern end of Vigadó tér. Four days after the destruction of the Hungária, nemesis overtook the structures marking the limits of the promenade, the last bridges remaining intact -Elizabeth Bridge and the Chain Bridge. On 18 January 1945, the two most beautiful bridges of the capital were blown up by retreating German troops.

The raging battle destroyed more than the buildings on the Pest embankment. When guns fell silent on 13 February 1945, the whole of Budapest lay in ruins. Many believed that the capital city of Hungary would never be rebuilt.

From 1945 to the present

In many places rubble clearance had barely started when feverish work began on Vigadó tér in March 1945. The remaining ruins of the Hangli were hurriedly pulled down and the ornamental well by Károly Senyei was removed. In place of the well in the middle of the square the Monument to Soviet Airmen was erected. Inaugurated on 1 May 1945

The Soviet monument on Vigadó tér with the CAVED-IN TRAM VIADUCT IN THE FOREGROUND IN 1945 (TO THE RIGHT IS THE INSURANCE BUILDING)

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