The Suez-Hungary Crisis: This Year in History (The Hungarian Revolution October 1956)

10/24/06 | Self

[Nextrush]

Hungarian Communist Party bosses holed up in Party headquarters as crowds surged in the streets of Budapest demanding freedom in the early morning hours of October 24, 1956.

Soviet troops and tanks rolled into the city and engaged crowds that fought ofter in small groups but sometimes in larger ones like the soliders at the Kilian barracks led by Colonel Pal Maleter.

Police stations were seized and sympathetic police gave weapons to civilians who took up the fight.

In some cases there were tanks and artillery from the military that had gone over to the freedom fighter side. But most often Soviet troops and tanks were opposed by small arms and Molotov Cocktails. (Gasoline in bottles with a makshift fuse sticking out of the top)

It was a five day battle fought in the streets of Budapest.

To pacify the crowd that demanded that Imre Nagy be put in power it was announced that he would form a new council of ministers.

The Communist-controlled radio made it appear that Nagy had invited Soviet troops into the city.

He really had no power yet as he was being held at Communist Party headquarters as the fighting raged in the streets.

The AVO secret police also fought the freedom fighters.

On October 25th a crowd of 20 to 30 thousand approached the Parliament Building to ask for Nagy to speak but they were met by machine gun fire that killed hundreds of them.

Soviet Politburo members Mikoyan and Suslov replaced Gero as First Secretary of the Hungarian Communist Party with Janos Kadar.

Meanwhile across the cities and towns of Hungary outside of Budapest, local workers or revolutionary councils were formed to replace communist councils. They established free radio stations.

On the streets of Budapest, even some of the Soviet troops appeared to show sympathy for the freedom fighters.

The Communist controlled radio said the fight was among Hungarians, they didn't want to say that Soviets were shooting and killing Hungarians in the streets who were fighting them. The freedom fighters were called "counterrevolutionary elements."

While in the custody of the Communist leadership, Nagy made statements on the radio and some were issued in his name for freedom fighters to lay down their arms. They didn't.

Eventually under the pressure of the fight, Communist leaders let Nagy out of custody on October 27th so that he could attempt to form a government.

Nagy moved to form a government of Communists and non-Communists. He also moved to call for a cease-fire and the withdrawl of Soviet troops from Budapest.

[Nextrush]

This is about the historical events of 50 years ago, all under the keyword "1956."

[Bringbackthedraft]

Remember it well. I was wearing an "Lets Back Ike" campaign button and I went to the U.N. to listen to the speakers condemn the Russians. Nagy was dumped for Yanos Kadar later, thousands of Hungarians fled to the west via Austria. Many came here to Camp Kilmer in NJ and about 3 years later I was playing soccer against them at Rutgers. You should have heard the comments I was receiving on the subway train in NYC because of the "Lets Back Ike" button. I was out numbered by Adlai Stevenson supporters.

[Grzegorz 246]

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