THE HUNGARIAN REVOLUTION

LIVERPOOL EVENTS TO CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE HUNGARIAN REVOLUTION OF 1956.

 

On the 9th -10th October 2006 there will be a showing of the Oscar nominated film of Márta Meszaros "The Unburied Dead' (A Temetettlen Halott), dealing with the trial and execution of Imre Nagy, the Prime Minister of the Uprising, at the FACT Cinema Liverpool, 88 Wood Street, Liverpool. L1 4DQ, The Monday evening Civic performance in the presence of the director of the film and the star Jan Novicki. Tickets directly from FACT Cinema Tel: 0151 707 4450 - www.fact.co.uk

Throughout the week of 9fh - 14th October 2006 The Metropolitan Cathedral will stage the famed graphic art collection of the Argentinean-Hungarian Lajos Szalay, depicting various events of the Uprising.

On Wednesday, 11th October, at 12.30 there will be a Service of Thanksgiving, under the auspices of The Rev. Steven Brookes, Rector of Liverpool. At the following luncheon at the Artists Club, Dr. Lásló Antal, Mr Sab Losy and Dr. Andrew Zsigmond will hold an illustrated talk of their experiences during 1956-57.

Events will culminate on Saturday, 14th October 2006, with a Civic viewing of the Cathedral exhibition at I7.30. This will be followed by a Open Civic Reception in the ante-rooms of the Crypt, with traditional Magyar hospitality of buffet and wine in the presence of HE The Ambassador of the Republic of Hungary to the Court of St. James'.

The evening will conclude 19.30 with a Symphonic Concert, by the Cathedral Symphony Orchestra of Beethoven, Haydn, Bartok and Kodaly in the Crypt. 150 unreserved tickets at £7, from the Cathedral, or from Ms M. Hartley, 22 Radnor Drive, Wallasey, CH45 7PT. Cheques payable to "The Cathedral Concerts Society". Please include SAE.

THIS PROGRAMME IS OPEN FOR ALL-COMERS.
PLEASE BE PRESENT AT OUR THANK-YOU TO THE CITY LIVERPOOL.

 

"Those Heroic Days"

1956-1957

Sources:

Andrew Zsigmond's personal diary entries - Italic text

Richard Lettis and William I. Morris, The Hungarian Revolt, October 23 - November 4, 1956 (Edited by Andrew Zsigmond) - Regular text

 

OCTOBER 22nd

Meeting of the “Students’ Parliament” of the University of Pécs lead by László Debreczeni. Karoly Peter reads the demands of the students. At 23.00  AZ asks the still 1000 strong crowd to contribute articles for the students’ weekly.

 

OCTOBER 23rd

Student demonstration in Budapest takes place in front of the statue of General Bem and the Polish Embassy. Students demand reforms, democratization, the return of Imre Nagy to politics. Police try to disperse crowd when students attempt to be heard over Budapest radio. Tear gas was used and then students are arrested. The crowd attempts to free the students and the police open fire. The demonstration turns into a riot and street fighting breaks out.

Martial law is declared, a call for Russian troops issued, and, during the night, Soviet tanks and jets are reported used against demonstrators.

 

OCTOBER 23rd

Collating the “Extraordinary Edition” to include the 22 point demands of 22nd Oct. and AZ writes his article “Spring in the Autumn”.

 

OCTOBER 24th

Additional Soviet military units enter Budapest at the request of the Communist regime. Fighting breaks out between Soviet troops and the Hungarian people. Changes in the Party Central Committee and in the government are announced. Imre Nagy replaces András Hegedűs as Premier, but Ernő Gerő remains First Secretary of the Party. Nagy appeals to the people to stop fighting. Surrender deadlines are announced as fighting continues. The deadlines are moved forward several times, and finally altogether abandoned. Rebels capture factories in Budapest. Fighting reported in Debrecen, Szolnok, and Szeged.

 

October 24th

Distributing the paper in town, writing further articles for the next edition and AZ takes part in the “falling of the (red) stars” (Removing the Communist insignia in the city) and demand arms for the students.

 

OCTOBER 25th

The Nagy government claims its forces have restored order in Budapest, but admits fighting continues. Ernő Gerő is relieved as First Secretary of the Party and replaced by János Kádár. Nagy and Kádár announce that, following restoration of order, negotiations for withdrawal of Soviet troops will be initiated. Nagy promises to reconvene parliament and to consider a reform program and reorganization of the government.

 

OCTOBER 26th

Fighting continues throughout the country. Insurgents take the entire area between Magyaróvár and the Hungarian frontier station of Hegyeshalom. The Party Central Committee pledges: (1) election of a new government based on the Patriotic People's Front; (2) correction of past mistakes; (3) negotiations with the Soviet Union for withdrawal of Soviet troops; (4) the establishment of relations between the two countries on the basis of complete equality; (5) acceptance of workers' councils and raising of wage rates; (6) a complete amnesty to all participants in the fighting.

 

OCTOBER 27th

Formation of a new government is announced. The cabinet is headed by Imre Nagy. Non-Communist personalities in the government include Zoltán Tildy, former President of the Republic, and Béla Kovács, former Secretary General of the Smallholders' Party.

 

OCTOBER 28th

Local negotiations with Soviet troop commanders reported and in some cases Soviet forces join the insurgents. The government announces a cease-fire and Nagy states that Soviet troops will withdraw from Budapest immediately, and that the security police will be dissolved.

An emergency committee, composed of János Kádár, Antal Apró, Károly Kiss, Ferenc Műnnich, Imre Nagy and Zoltán Szabó, assumes temporary leadership of the Party. [84/85]

Spontaneous rise to power of revolutionary workers' councils and local national committees. A series of political and economic demands accompanies this rise. The major ones include: withdrawal of Soviet troops, political and economic equality of relations between the Soviet Union and Hungary, revision of the economy, greater democratization of life, changes in government organization and personnel, dissolution of the security police, protection of those taking part in the revolution, withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact, Hungarian neutrality, a call for free elections, free speech, press, assembly and worship.

The Patriotic People's Front announces that a countrywide Committee has been created to coordinate the activities of these various national committees. The Budapest Chief of Police announces formation of Hungarian National Guard units, first used in the anti-Austrian Revolution of 1848-49.

 

OCTOBER 28th

The University Company of the National Guards is formed. AZ is an armed member.

 

OCTOBER 29th

Central Party organ Szabad Nép answers the Soviet Pravda attack on the revolution and defends the Hungarian uprising.

Radio Free Miskolc calls for immediate withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungarian soil, not merely their return to bases outside Budapest. The Minister of Defense announces withdrawal of Soviet units from Budapest; Hungarian Army units are replacing them.

Heavy fighting continues in Budapest, particularly at Kilián (Maria Theresia) Barracks.

 

OCTOBER 30th

Nagy announces abolition of the one-party system, a return to the political conditions prevailing after 1945, and negotiations for immediate withdrawal of all Soviet forces from Hungary. A new coalition government is formed with Imre Nagy as Premier. Three non-Communists -Béla Kovács, Zoltán Tildy and Ferenc Erdei are included. The recall of the Hungarian representative to the U.N., Peter Kos, is announced.

Tildy calls for reconstituting the Smallholders' Party; Ferenc Erdei makes a similar appeal for the Peasant Party, and Kádár implies to Communist Party members that he agrees with both reconstructions.

Cardinal Mindszenti is freed.

Revolutionary Home Defense Committee formed. Co-chairmen: Gen. Béla Király and Gen. Pál Maléter.

Hungarian Air Force threatens to bomb Soviet tanks unless they leave Budapest. Insurgents storm security police headquarters in Pest, and burn down Party head-quarters in Buda. The security police appeals to the Writers' Union to intervene for its 10,000 members: they will surrender if guaranteed amnesty.

 

OCTOBER 31st

Free Kossuth Radio broadcasts Soviet declaration concerning changes in relations between Soviet Union and Satellite States. Ministry of Agriculture announces suspension of compulsory deliveries of farm produce.

Cardinal Mindszenti arrives in Budapest.

Independent Smallholders' Party announces formation of a new executive committee and resumes control of its former news paper,"Kis Ujság." Hungarian Social Democratic Party is reorganized in Budapest, with Anna Kéthly as president, and "Népszava" as its official publication.

Pál Maléter replaces Lajos Tóth as First Deputy Defense Minister and István Kovács takes Tóth's former job as Army Chief of Staff. Nagy announces that the Hungarian government is prepared to leave the Warsaw Pact and has asked for negotiations on withdrawal of Soviet forces from Hungary.

The Council of Ministers appoints Maj. Gen. Béla Király as military commander of the capital.

A Trans-Danubian National Council is organized from various area councils. It requests immediate evacuation of Soviet troops, repudiation of the Warsaw Pact, free elections, a declaration of Hungary's neutrality, and freedom of speech, press, assembly and worship.

 

OCTOBER 31st

AZ addresses the village population of Birjad asking them to supply food for the capital. This is immediately despatched. In the afternoon AZ, László Antal, Miklós Degré and Zoltán Balogh members of the National Guard a special unit is formed to arrest: Major Nemes (Secret Police chief) Molnar (Communist Party Secretary) Schaffhouser (county prosecutor) and his deputy. They are imprisoned in the city PoliceHQ.

 

NOVEMBER 1st

Imre Nagy announces Hungary's withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact, proclaims Hungarian neutrality, and asks the United Nations to put the Hungarian question on its agenda. "Népakarat," newspaper of the Free Hungarian Trade Unions, is published for the first time. The National Peasant Party, now called Petőfi Party, is reorganized. Kádár attacks past leaders and policies of the Hungarian Communist Party and announces the reorganization of the Party under the name of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party.

Coordinating and controlling all the Revolutionary forces, National Guard formed. Commander-in-chief: Béla Király. Deputy: Police Colonel Béla Kopácsy.

Soviet units surround Hungarian airfields, allegedly to protect evacuation of Soviet dependents. Budapest ringed by Soviet tanks. Social Democrat leader Anna Kéthly left for Vienna to attend the meeting of the Socialist International.

 

NOVEMBER 1st

AZ and two friends take over the editorial office of the weekly.

 

NOVEMBER 2nd

Hungarian government protests to the Soviet Embassy the re-entry of Soviet troops on Hungarian soil. The United Nations is notified of Soviet activities in the second official note within two days, and is requested to appeal to the great powers to recognize Hungarian neutrality.

Soviet troops take rail line from Záhony to Nyiregyháza; hold Budapest International Airport, and Kalocsa Airfield. United Hungarian Youth Federation is organized in Budapest.

The Budapest National Committee elects József Kővágó as its president, i.e., Mayor of Budapest.

 

NOVEMBER 2nd

AZ interviews Dr Endre Kertész chairman of the Workers’ Council, and Lt Col Kálmán Csikor chairman of the Military Council, for the paper.

 

NOVEMBER 3rd

Considerable Soviet reinforcements and troop movements to the Austro-Hungarian border are reported. Russian tanks surround uranium mines at Pécs.

The Hungarian government is reorganized after resignation of most of its ministers. The new ministers, many of them non-Communists, take over the administration. New cabinet includes: Imre Nagy, Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Zoltán Tildy, István Bibó, Anna Kéthly, Ferenc Farkas, Géza Losonczy, and János Kádár as Minister of State and Pál Maletér, Minister of Defense.

József Kővágó elected Secretary General of the Smallholders' Party.

Negotiations for withdrawal of Soviet troops continue, and further Soviet troop movements are reported.

Cardinal Mindszenti addresses the people.

The National Council of Dunapentele appeals to all free radio stations to broadcast to Soviet troops in Russian to counteract Soviet propaganda.

 

NOVEMBER 3rd

AZ interviews  Mr Katona, director of the National Theatre of Pécs. In the afternoon, on hearing the possibility of Soviet offensive, the National Guard is deployed in the southwest of the city. During the evening it is withdrawn to the University Students’ Halls of Residence in 48-er Square.

 

NOVEMBER 4th

Imre Nagy announces Soviet attack on Budapest. Russian forces take over most of the country: airfields, highway junctions, bridges, railway yards. Heavy fighting reported in Csepel and Kőbánya. Soviet paratroops in action near Győr. Fighting at Pécs as Hungarian troops resist Soviet efforts to take uranium mines and airfields. Heavy fighting in Budapest. Győr and Sopron fall to the Russians. Fighting continues in all parts of the country and the situation remains confused.

New puppet government is formed Szolnok: János Kádár, Premier; Ferenc Műnnich, Deputy Premier and Minister of Security; Imre Horváth, Minister of Foreign Affairs; István Kossa, Minister of Finance; Antal Apró, Minister of Industry.

State Minister Bibó: "I appeal to the great powers of the world for a wise and courageous decision in the interest of my enslaved nation and of the liberty of all Eastern European nations. God preserve Hungary..."

Repeated free radio broadcasts call for Western help.

The Hungarian Writers' Union appeals for Western aid: "To every writer in the world, to all scientists, to all writers' federations, to all science academies and associations, to the intelligentsia of the world!

. . . HELP HUNGARY!"

 

NOVEMBER 4th

At 03.00 the Commanding Officer of the National Guard surrenders to General Kornyushin.

 

NOVEMBER 13th

AZ with other students collect and destroy Kádár issued propaganda leaflets in Széchényi Square of the city.


Dr Zsigmond celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Revolution where he was involved as official guest of the first University of Pécs. He made commemorative speeches in both English and Hungarian and received the Fellowship of the city from the Mayor of Pécs, Dr. Zsolt Pava.


The subsequent planning and the actual escape are described in Chapter 20 of Andrew Zsigmond's novel

"Flames Of Straw"



"Those Heroic Days . . . ," Facts about Hungary, Ed. Imre Kovacs [New York, Hungarian Committee, 1958), pp.83-68. Reprinted by permission of the Hungarian Committee.