Horváth M. Ferenc (szerk.): Vác The heart of the Danube Bend. A historical guide for residents and globetrotters (Vác, 2009)
Tartalom
VÁC IN THE 20TH CENTURY 179 too. The first Soviet memorial, the projectile-shaped "Cigar" was set up at the northern end of the square. For a short time the square accommodated three different memorials but later both the First Worl War monument (damaged during the Second World War) and the statue of the Immaculate Virgin Mary were removed. The “Cigar” was demolished by the rage of the people in 1956. The ornamental well built in 1954 in the place of the First World War memorial gradually became the memorial of the twin towns of Vác. In 1952 the market place was closed down, the market hall was pulled down and the bus terminal took its place. The King Stephen housing The demolished Soviet monument in Konstantin Square 1956 - the red star falls down estate and a lido (open-air swimming pool) was built in the first half of the fifties. The revolution in 1956 was an opportunity to break free from the oppressors. Following the events in the capital city, the Soviet monuments were demolished, the red stars were removed and the names of the streets were changed in Vác too. The name of the Main Square was changed from Stalin Square back to 15 March. On 26 October the general assembly held on the Main Square elected Dr Béla Kristóf to be head of the revolutionary com-The demolished Soviet monument in the Main Square mittee. After the war he had been head of the town's public administration. The biggest clash took place outside the prison on 27 October. During the Rákosi regime mainly political prisoners were held here. Former ministers, priests and politicians spent some - usually long - time inside the walls.The demonstrators demanded that the prisoners be set free. Members of the State Security Authority and some of the prison wardens took refuge in the tower of the hospital and opened fire on the crowd. Those soldiers who sided with the revolutionary crowds returned the fire. After a short time the wardens and 1956 - soldiers and revolutionaries in the Main Square secret policemen surrendered. Following the siege, the national committee set up the national guard and the police were reinforced by conscripts. After his release Archbishop József Mirdszenty, formerly the Prince Primate of Hungary, arrived at Vác on 31 October. Bishop József Pétery's return to his bishopric town was received even more enthusiastically. His whole journey was described in detail including the "forest of flowers” in the New Vác Journal, the paper of the revolution. However, the delirium of liberty did not last for long. On 18 November Major Golikov's general order No 1 was issued. The occupying Soviet Army took command of Vác too.
