Hungary - 1956
Hungarian Uprising
Notes:
The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the Stalinist government
of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956.
The first phase started peacefully, then turned violent with clashes with Pro-Soviet Communists, State Security Police and even
Russian Soldiers. If captured by either side prisoners were often executed. However by the end of October fighting had almost stopped
and it looked as is the Hungarian People had won. With the Soviet Union announcing it was willing to discuss troop withdrawals!
On the 4th November everything changed and a large Soviet force invaded Budapest and other regions of the
country. Whilst total effective control was complete on that day, Hungarian resistance continued until
10 November.
Over 2,500 Hungarian's and 700 Soviet troops were killed in the conflict, and 200,000 Hungarian's fled as refugees.
Mass arrests and denunciations continued for months thereafter.
By January 1957, the new Soviet-installed government had suppressed all public opposition. These Soviet actions
alienated many Western Marxist's, yet strengthened Soviet control over Central Europe, cultivating the perception
that communism was both irreversible and monolithic.
Public discussion about this revolution was suppressed in Hungary for over 30 years, but since the thaw of the 1980s it has been a subject of intense study and debate. At the inauguration of the Third Hungarian Republic in 1989, 23 October was declared a national holiday.
There are many poignant images taken during the u[rising, but I will end these notes with a transcript of the last known broadcast
from a Non-Soviet Controlled Radio Station:
RADIO [FREE] CSOKONAY
1908: Faint SOS signals and calls for help, made unintelligible at times by jamming and atmospheric
conditions. Suddenly, out of the welter of background noise, a voice in clear English:
Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation conceived in
liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal ...
Here the voice was drowned in the other noises. Then:
The brave men living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or
detract ...
1910: The voice became inaudible. This was the last time this station was received and the fate of the staff is unknown!
Links:
Hungarian Revolution of 1956 - Wikipedia Entry
for more detail, see:
The Hungarian Revolt, 24 Oct - 4Nov 1956
The "Blood In The Water" match between the Water Polo teams of Hungary and the USSR at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
Hungary won this one!
