The Hungarian Student, 1961

HUNGARY IN OCTOBER 1956

From a student movement to a national revolt

October 17, 1956, Szeged:

The twelve hundred old students who convened in the Great Auditorium of the University unanimously expressed their distrust of the functioning of the “Democratic Youth Federation” (DISZ), the only youth organization permitted to exist in Hungary. The constitution of the DISZ states “The DISZ functions under the direct leadership of the Hungarian Workers’ Party, and the decisions of the Party are binding. The central board of the DISZ is directly subordinated to the Central Committee of the Party”. The student meeting demanded the creation of a new politically independent student organization, autonomy of the universities and freedom in studies.

October 20, Szeged:

A new meeting was called on the 20th on the basis of resolutions passed on the 17th. This new assembly announced the formation of the “Federation of Hungarian Students Unions” (MEFESZ). Students of the University of Agricultural Sciences in Gödöllő, of the University of Pecs, the University of Technical Sciences in Budapest and the University of Sopron, all cabled their willingness to join.

October 22, Budapest:

In the Assembly Hall of the University of Architecture, five thousand odd Budapest students announced their agreement with the initiative taken at Szeged. They immediately joined their MEFESZ organization and summarised the demands of Hungarian students in sixteen points.

October 23, Budapest:

The independent Union of Hungarian writers and intellectuals, the "Petőfi Circle”, demanded :

Free parliamentary elections; Complete freedom of

the press and the transformation of the Government with the leadership of Imre Nagy, former Hungarian Prime Minister (1953).

The students of Budapest, according to a resolution of the previous day, laid a wreath at the foot of the statue of Bern as an expression of their sympathy with the Polish people. The crowd of approximately a hundred thousand people then moved from the statue to the Parliament building where they loudly hailed Imre Nagy. A second crowd gathering in front of the studios of the Budapest Radio requested that the demands of youth be broadcast over the radio. A unit of the state security police stationed in the radio building opened fire on the demonstrators.

October 24, Budapest:

A section of the armed forces went over to the side of the demonstrators and distributed arms to the workers and students. Street fighting broke out in the whole city. There was a general strike in the factories and work-shops.

The Council of Ministers stamped the rebels in a statement as “counter-revolutionary and reactionary elements”. At the same time, however, they announced that Imre Nagy had been invited to become Prime Minister.

October 25:

The uprising became general throughout the country. The intervention of Soviet troops caused several hundred deaths. The workers took over the power without fighting in Győr, one of the biggest industrial cities and railway focal points in Hungary. Ernő Gero was relieved of the post of First Secretary of the Communist Party and was replaced by Janos Kadar.

October 26:

The fighting continued in spite of repeated appeals from the Government. Official announcements at this point called the insurgents “patriots” and assured them that the aims for which they were fighting had been achieved. Rebel radio broadcasts were heard for the first time. Popular opinion persistently demanded withdrawal of the Soviet troops. In the south eastern and western regions of the country, power was taken over without fighting by the insurgents. In the cities, in some factories and

offices, either students or young workers led the formation of councils or revolutionary committees.

October 27, Sopron:

A student Parliament assumed leadership in one of the oldest University of the country. Armed “police” groups of students maintained order in the city. The student parliament provided supplies and guidance for the city. The insurgents controlled the whole of Western Hungary and the border police undiconditionally sided with the people.

The Government was again transformed in Budapest but the Soviet troops continued fighting.

October 28:

Prime Minister Imre Nagy ordered a cease fire.

October 29:

Imre Nagy transformed his Government and non-communist political elements were included for the first time. The new government considered the uprising as a country wide democratic movement. The official radio mentioned for the first time the possibility of free elections. As a result of the news which reached the capital that new Soviet troops had passed the frontier, the work-(Continued page 9)

Budapest, October 24, 1956

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