Fáklyaláng, 1964. június-október (5. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
1964-10-23 / 10. szám
FÁKLYALÁNG 9 some construction going on nearby with some temporary buildings. We quickly dismantled them and erected the barricades. We have also found some barrels of tar. They were rolled to the center of the road. We still needed something else, something more effective. My brother, Kristóf, then told me that they have found a gasoline station nearby. The only trouble is that there is nothing to put the gasoline in. After a few minutes of search — which seemed to be hours — we have found a few empty barrels. We have them filled with gasoline and rolled them back and forth across the highway letting the gasoline run out. By this time the Soviet tanks came very close and when they were at about 30 meters from the gasoline strip Kristóf lit a paperbag with his lighter and threw it over the strip which immediately burst into flames. The flames rose to about ten yards of height thus creating a wall of flames. The tanks bumped into each other as they came to a sudden stop. There were altogether 14 tanks and four armed vehicles jammed up so much that they could not disengage. Frightened, the Soviet soldiers jumped out of the vehicles and were running for cover. Soon, however, we heard the sound of a fire-engine coming in our direction. We have stopped them and explained the situation. When they heard about our intention they left the scene. The tanks were standing there for quite a time but there was no clash between us and the Soviet soldiers: as they did not shoot we were not forced to defend ourselves. Finally at dawn, they managed to get away. While waiting there we were informed that students are kept in a nearby police station. Some of us marched to the building. We were soon stopped, however, and we could see the nozzles of many sub-machine guns directed towards us. A police captain cried out from a window and inquired what we wanted. We said that we wanted the students kept there to be released. He replied by saying that no student is kept in the police station, and he gave his word of honor. Then we left. We, once again, got on a truck and went back to Pest. We were taken to the Grand Boulevard. Hence we were forced to walk towards the Tuzoltoutea. When we arrived to the block between the Tuzolto-utca and the Killian Barracks we saw many people standing there in smaller groups. Suddenly someone cried out: “Soviet tanks are coming!” They came, went by but did not shoot. They were followed by three black limousines. As they passed the barracks they opened fire on the passers-by. There were about 14 people killed and many were injured. Angered by this incident the revolutionists put a machine gun on the top of the barracks. Submachine guns and guns began to appear in the windows of apartment buildings. A new group of Soviet tanks and armed vehicles arrived to the scene. As the last armed vehicle reached the corner of Tuzolto-utca someone shot out the right front tire of the car. The car came to a stop and opened fire on the passers-by in front of the barracks. A few people collapsed on the sidewalk and we began to shoot on the car. A Soviet soldier, then, attempted to use the highspeed machine gun mounted on the armed vehicle but he was shot instantly. The soldiers began to shoot through the fire-holes. Then a boy of about 14 ran toward the car and smashed a bottle of gasoline against the car. He then ran back behind a billboard. An old man, matches in his hands, stepped out from behind a tree and put the car afire. The armored car’s emergency door suddenly opened up and the soldiers began to jump out. They hardly managed to make a few steps before they were shot. One of the soldiers who stayed inside the car was burnt to death. The machine gun was dismantled from the car and a place was searched for a strategic location. We were looking for a place where we could have a vantage point and be safe at the same time. As I knew well the school building in the Praterutca and as it was equipped with a kitchen, I proposed to go there. Going into the Corvin-koz which was also known as the Kisfaludy-koz, I saw a gasoline station which was well protected from the outside. I have broken down the locks: we now had ample supply of gasoline. We were also informed that there is an unoccupied workers’ hostel at Kisfaludy-koz 4. We moved in when we heard the sound of an oncoming Soviet tank. We have opened fire on the tank and the caterpillar belt got somehow stuck so that it turned around in circles. We then threw a few gasoline bottles against the tank and opened fire on the spilled-out gasoline which burst into fire. It took only a few seconds and the tank blew up. During the 1944 siege of Budapest, emergency exits were built between the air-raid shelters in the apartment houses. We used this system in building up our fortress in the Corvin-koz. Towards the evening of October 24 we got hold of an antitank gun which was placed in a protected position in front of the Corvin-movie theatre. This gun was of tremendous help to us and we came to the conclusion that this area is the best to build up our headquarters in and around the Corvin-koz. Q': Gergely Pongratz, as the commander of the fighting group in the Corvin-koz, what do you think: which was the most critical period during the revolution and freedom fight, and do you have something to tell us about your most tragic and dramatic experiences there? A: I am convinced that the most critical days were October 25 and 26. And it was on October 26 that I had the most dramatic experience during the entire period of the revolution. Freedom fighters came to me and told me that two of their fellow fighters went into a barber-shop to load their submachine guns. Soon after they heard two shots ringing out from the store followed by a deadly silence. It took little imagination to come to the conclusion that the store was occupied by secret policemen and Soviet soldiers and that the two freedom fighters entered their trap. Seven of us resolved to free them and save them. I took a Mauser-gun with me. It was dark inside the store while there was still some light outside. It was impossible to see what actually has happened inside. Those who were inside could see our movements. One of the boys volunteered to jump into
