Fraternity-Testvériség, 1965 (43. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1965-08-01 / 8-9. szám
FRATERNITY 5 the Turkish people, the power of the Hapsburgs, their internal conflicts and revolutions, and their vast influence on the other countries of the world; about the emergence and leadership of Hungary’s great statesmen; the reawakening of the Magyar spirit, and the rebirth of Hungary’s music, literature and sciences after these critical periods in history. Bringing the history of Hungary up through the turn of this century, Nancy Lee writes: “After World War I, due to chaotic conditions, the first Communist regime came into power in Hungary. It lasted only four month and this short time was enough for Hungarians to learn to know and fear the Communistic system. Admiral Horthy liberated the people from Communism and ruled the country from 1920 to 1944. On March 19, 1944, the German Nazis occupied Hungary. Again, under the Yalta Agreement, Hungary fell into the hands of the Russians. WTell prepared for this event, the Russians were able to man the country with the Hungarians who had been expelled from Hungary after the first brief experience in 1920. “Since the War (1944), Russian occupational troops have been in Hungary. At first the Soviets expropriated the more privileged people. The Communist leaders took from the Hungarian people their lands, businesses and their homes, and turned them over to the State. Food of the people was carted off to Russia. Spies were everywhere and the people feared to speak. They feared to attend church. Cardinal Mindszenty became a prisoner. The Communists controlled all education. Life became unbearable. Only in the home the parents tried to preserve for the children the old truths. “Next came the ‘DeStalinization program’ which the Russian Communists proudly announced to the world. Hungarian professionals and students were aware of this liberal trend. There were stirrings of freedom in Hungary and it was hoped that leaders close to the people might play a role in the cultural and economic life. One hopeful sign had been that some of the political prisoners had been released. On October 23, 1956, Hungarian students, with peaceful intentions, responding to words of some hopeful writers, called for a public demonstration. The joy of common action brought forth patriotic sentiments which had been repressed for eight years. The young people suddenly realized that they could be free Hungarians. This patriotic stirring of youth surprised the Communists who controlled Hungary. Therefore, they called upon Russian troops to suppress it. A former mayor of Budapest, Josef Koevago, who had been recently released from eight years of prison, called it a ‘volcanic eruption’. ‘In this sacred fire, the Communist indoctrination melted within minutes. The party disintegrated within a few hours. Hungary found it had very few convinced Communists.’ “The Russians promised to withdraw their troops and it was thought for a few days that freedom had come to Hungary. But on November 4 came new troops from Russia. The bitter despair of the people found expression in desperate resistance. The Soviet army picked up train loads of Hungarian young people and took them to Russia to forced labor or death. Fear and terror gripped the people, and they fled. They fled at night under unbelievable hardships — to cross the swampy
