Hungarian Revolution in 1956

1956 is a symbol for Hungarians, to whom liberty is the most important. Thousands of Hungarians emigrated from Hungary after Soviet army occupied the country in November. They live all over the world.

After the World War II Hungary become part of territory, which were under Soviet control. Since the end of the 40s only the Communist Party (MDP Hungarian Worker's Party) ruled over the country. The Oppositions (and also some socialist leaders like Laszlo Rajk and Janos Kadar) were imprisoned, its leaders were executed by show trial. People were very poor, there were often lack of goods.

Contrast of this, millions were sent for heavy industry (Miskolc, Dunaujvaros, and Ozd) and for new police and army.

That time people were afraid because of their enemy could denounced them to the police and could have them put into prison for years.

In 1953, after the death of Stalin, the political strictness was eased and in secret new ideas was born in brains. The Hungarian soccer 'Gold Team' (Puskas, Grosits, Hidegkuti etc) won silver medal in world championship.

In February 1956 the 20th Congress of the Soviet Communist Party condemned the personally cult and dictatorship of Stalin. Some month later East European Communist leaders followed the Soviet example. The Hungarian leader Matyas Rakosi was relived of his position and moved into Moscow in July.

On the 6th of October Laszlo Rajk and his associates, who were executed by show trial in 1949, were rehabilitated and reburied.

In the mid of October the new Polish reform leader Wladyslaw Gomulka came into political conflict with Soviet Union.

On the 22nd of October Students of Technology University of Budapest organised a sympathy demonstration for the next afternoon.

On the 23rd of October the demonstration was more times prohibited and permitted. The student demonstration was widening into the population of Budapest. The sympathy slogans were changed into slogan of Hungarian sovereignty and the famous 'Ruszkik haza' (Russians go home). People walked to the Bem Statue (Jozef Bem was a Polish general in the 1848 Independence War) and later to the Parliament where the new Prime Minister spoke to the people.

At that time the Great Stalin statue was demolished and gun fight began around the building of Hungarian Broadcast. The only studio of Hungarian Broadcast, which was able to broadcast, because of the attack, worked in the Building of Parliament for weeks.

In the night of the 23rd of October the Communist Party on the base of Warsaw Treatment asked a military help from the Soviet Union. Soviet troops arrived to Budapest after midnight.

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