Richard Lettis: The Hungarian Revolt

Radio Broadcasts from Hungary[2]

Tuesday, October 23, 1956

RADIO BUDAPEST,
IN HUNGARIAN TO EUROPE

17:30 "National flags, young people with rosettes of the national colors Singing the Kossuth [3] song, the Marseillaise and the Internationale -this is how we can describe in colors and in the titles of songs how Budapest today is bathed in the October sunshine and celebrates a new Ides of March.
"This afternoon a vast youth demonstration took place in our capital. . . Although at noon today the Ministry of the Interior banned all demonstrations, the Politburo of the Hungarian Workers' [Communist] Party changed the decision. Scholars, students of technological faculties, students of philosophy, law, economics, together with students from other university branches, took part in the march led by their professors and leaders of the university Party organizations.
"At first there were only thousands but they were joined by young workers, passersby, soldiers, old people, secondary-school students and motorists. The vast crowd grew to tens of thousands. The streets resounded with these slogans: 'People of Kossuth, March Forward Hand in Hand,' 'We Want a New Leadership--We Trust Imre [4/5]

Nagy,' 'Long Live the People's Army,' and so forth. The shouts reverberate, the national colors flutter in the air, windows are open. The streets of Budapest are filled with a new wind of greater freedom..."

RADIO BUDAPEST,
IN FRENCH TO EUROPE

2300 "This morning, students of all the universities and high schools in Budapest staged a demonstration under the leadership of the Petofi Club of the DISZ, which decided . . . to take responsibility for their [the students'] action. - . . A delegate of the Petofi Military Academy also spoke, expressing the sympathy of the Academy students with the following demands:
"A Socialist Hungary, truly independent; March 15 an official holiday; Imre Nagy reinstated in his former office; the State established on a new economic basis; new leaders for the Party and govern. ment; those responsible for mistakes held accountable at a public trial...
"At the Polytechnic University, Mihaly Fekete, Deputy Minister of the Interior, announced to the students that the ban on the march had been lifted. He emphasized that the employees and Communists of the Ministry had rallied to the side of honest Hungarians in the interests of a change. . . Shortly before 1400 hrs. the youth of the universities gathered in front of the Petofi statue in Pest, singing the Kossuth hymn. . . . The demonstrators, including well-known professors, carried Hungarian and Polish flags. At 1400 hrs. Imre Sinkovits, the actor, recited Petofi's poem, 'Rise, Hungarian!' He then read the demands of the students. Finally, the demonstration marched toward Buda, where it was joined by students of the Polytechnic University, and all gathered before the statue of General Bem [4] - -Nearly 800 officers of the Hungarian People's Army joined the youth and marched in a group. - . . Members of the Petofi Club, with the aid of loudspeakers, thanked those present for their support.
Students bearing Hungarian and Polish flags mounted to the foot of the statue and university delegates placed [5/6] wreaths there. Fifty thousand people sang the National Anthem.
"Peter Veres, Chairman of the Hungarian Writers' Union, then read the seven-point resolution of the presidium of the Writers' Union, and its demands. It runs as follows:
"'We have arrived at a historic turning point. In this revolutionary situation we shall not be able to acquit ourselves well unless all the Hungarian working people rally as a disciplined group. The leaders of the Party and State have so far failed to present a workable program. The responsibility for this lies with those who, instead of expanding Socialist democracy, have obstinately organized themselves and are still organizing in an effort to restore the terrorist regime of Stalin and Rakosi. We Hungarian writers have formulated in seven points the demands of tbe Hungarian nation.
'1. We demand an independent national policy based on the principles of Socialism. Our relations with all countries, particularly with the USSR and the People's Democracies, should be based on the principle of equality. We demand that the conventions and economic agreements made between States be reviewed in the spirit of equality of rights for the nations involved.
'2. We demand an end to the [present] policy on national minorities.
"'3. We demand a clear disclosure of the country's economic situation. . . -
"'4. Factories should be directed by workers and specialists. The present wage system should be reformed, as should working norms and the disgraceful condition of social benefits, and so forth. Trade unions should truly represent the interests of the Hungarian working class.
"'5. Our present agricultural policy should be established on new foundaLions, and peasants should be assured the right of free self-determination. -
"'6.... The Rakosi clique, seeking restoration, must be removed from our political life. Imre Nagy, the pure and courageous Communist who enjoys the confidence of the Hungarian people and all those who in the past years have fought systematically for Socialist democracy, should be given a suitable post. At the same time, a resolute stand must be taken against all counter-revolutionary attempts and aspirations.
'7. The development of the situation demands that the Patriotic People's Front [5] should assume political representation of the working classes of Hungarian society. Our electoral system should correspond to the demands of Socialist democracy. The people should elect, by secret ballot, their representatives to parliament and to all the autono mous organs of our administration.
'We believe that we are expressing the thoughts of the nation', says the declaration in conclusion." [6/7]

Wednesday, October 24, 1956

RADIO BUDAPEST, HOME SERVICE

0330 "Dear Listeners, we wish you good morning! Please listen to our morning broadcast. Dear listeners, we read you an announcement:
"Fascist, reactionary elements have launched an armed attack against our public buildings and have attacked our armed forces. For the sake of restoring order and until further measures are taken, all gatherings, meetings and demonstrations are banned. The armed forces have received instructions to apply the full strength of the law against those who break this order. Signed: the Council of Ministers of the Hungarian People's Republic." [The announcement is repeated at 0400, 0430 and 0530.]
0450 "Here is an announcement. The Ministry of the Interior . . - calls on the inhabitants of Budapest not to go into the streets before 0800 [GMT][6] unless their business is of absolute urgency, in view of the fact that the mopping up of looting counterrevolutionary groups is still in progress...
0800 "Attention! Attention! The dastardly armed attacks of counterrevolutionary gangs during the night have created an extremely serious situation. The bandits have penetrated into factories and public buildings and have murdered many civilians, members of the national defense forces, and fighters of the State security organs. The government was un prepared for these bloody dastardly attacks and therefore applied for help, in accordance with the terms of the Warsaw Treaty, to the Soviet formations stationed in Hungary. The Soviet formations, in compliance with the government's request, are taking part in the restoration of order." The announcement goes on to appeal for public calm and order, and support for the "Hungarian and Soviet troops maintaining order." ...[7/8]

2130 "National independence, friendship with the Soviets on the basis of mutual respect and complete equality -yesterday afternoon university youth began its demonstration with these correct ideas.
... What has happened to these ideas in a single night? . . . What have the misled youths, and the counterrevolutionary bandits hiding in their ranks, done with the beautiful patriotic thoughts? Shooting in the streets accompanied by our National Anthem! The plundering of the slaughterhouse accompanied by the waving of red, white and green banners! . . . Robbing, plundering, the shedding of workers blood under the cover of the sacred ideas of national independence and sovereignty. These are no patriots! They are black scoundrels or misled adolescents. The soldiers and workers who come to disarm them are the true patriots. We greet them and the Soviet soldiers rushmg to help them. Let the population of our capital help them everywhere!" [8/9]

RADIO BUDAPEST, HOME SERVICE

1223 "Dear Listeners, a large armed group has laid down its weapons at the corner of Szondi and Vorosmarty Streets."
Repeats amnesty offer, for all who surrender, including "members of the armed forces."
"Several listeners ... have turned to us for explanation of the conditions and the purpose of the arrival of Soviet troops in Budapest. - . - These Soviet units are stationed in Hungary in accordance with the Warsaw Pact. On Tuesday, the enemies of our people turned the demonstration of university youth into an organized counterrevolutionary provocation, and with their armed attacks endangered order and the life of the people throughout the country. The Hungarian government, conscious of its responsibili ties, in order to restore order and security, asked that Soviet troops help to control the murderous attacks of counterrevolutionary bands. These Soviet soldiers are risking their lives in order to defend the lives of the capital's peaceful population and the peace of our nation. After order is restored the Soviet troops will return to their bases. Workers of Budapest, welcome with affection our friends and allies!"
1254 "Attention! Attention! In a few minutes it will be two o'clock [1300 GMT]. Those who surrender before that hour will be exempt from martial law. Attention! Attention! We request that our listeners put their radio sets in their windows. We want to inform counterrevolutionaries and those who were misled that, if they surrender before the deadline, they will be exempt from martial law." - .
1312 "Women! Do not let your husbands run into deadly danger. You must prevent them from supporting counterrevolutionary forces. Mothers! Do not let your sons run in the streets where they face deadly gun barrels. Women! Do not let yourselves be fooled by provocateurs." [9/10]
1950 "The Party and government are masters of the situation. This does not mean, however, that order and calm pre vail everywhere. The situation at 1900 hrs. [GMT] tonight in the capital is that there are still several pockets where armed fighting against our people's democratic regime is being conducted, despite the fact that arms were laid down in many places.
"The organs of the Party and government are present everywhere and consequently they know that in many places individual groups continue to put up resistance, even at this hour, simply because they misjudge or are ignorant of the situation. These groups are being asked repeatedly to lay down their arms, as their situation is hopeless."
2023 "The Hungarian Red Cross appeals to its activists and blood donors to report, if possible by telephone, to the ambulance services of their place of work or place of residence so that in case of need the greatest possible help can be given to those who require it."
2103 "The Budapest directorate of the Hungarian State Railways appeals to those of its workers who have not yet reported for work to go to their places of work tomorrow morning."
2103 "We inform the population of Budapest that the state of emergency is in force as of 1700 [GMT]. This fact will be taken into consideration in judging the cases of counterrevolutionaries who surrender voluntarily." - . . [10/11]

2300 "We shall now read a communique on the situation prevailing at midnight [Budapest time]. . . . The situation has further improved. The armed attackers are increasingly isolated. In some places, however, they have begun new actions. They are carrying out surprise attacks in groups of two or three.
"The Party and government are making every effort to restore order as soon as possible. . . . More and more factories are starting work and it is planned to examine streetcar tracks immediately to prepare for the restoration of service on certain lines. Further bloodshed is senseless. The government demands most categorically that the armed aggressors cease their resistance, surrender or throw away their arms. The government is master of the situation. Let peaceful, constructive work start in as many places as possible, in factories, enterprises and shops."

Thursday, October 25, 1956

RADIO BUDAPEST, HOME SERVICE

0330 "Before we begin our musical program, here is an appeal by the Budapest Party Committee and the Budapest City Council:
"People of Budapest, comrades. The counterrevolutionary gangs have by and large been liquidated. It is possible, however, that small groups attempting to escape might try to take cover in some houses. Our armed forces continue the final liquidation of counter-revolutionary groups. The Budapest Party Committee and the Budapest City Council appeal to the people to try to prevent, for their own sake, the entry of these elements into their houses. They suggest that tenants' committees organize gate guards to prevent armed elements from hiding in the houses."
0345 "The Minister of the Interior appeals to those who have unlicensed arms, ammunition or explosives in their possession to hand them over to the competent district police officers within 24 hours.
- . . Action will be taken under the appropriate regulations against those who fail to obey this appeal." .
0400 "Communique on the situation as of 0300. The situation has improved considerably in comparison with conditions described in the communique during the night. The attackers are laying down their arms and surrendering en masse. Many of them have thrown away their arms. Individual groups of attackers are moving toward Soroksar [village 10 miles southeast of Budapest] with the obvious intention of escape. Another group, with stolen trucks . . is fleeing towards the Western frontiers. Measures have been taken by local garrisons to halt and disarm them. Only a few groups are still putting up resistance in Budapest, in Rakoczi Street near the Palace Hotel, in Magdolna Street, and near the Ferencvaros Railroad Station. Adequate forces will capture and disarm these groups shortly.
"The fighting at the radio station has not yet completely ended either. A small number of those [attackers] on the premises have not yet complied with demands for surrender. There is shooting going on. The operations to clear the broadcasting station completely will start after daybreak.
"There are still small groups, composed of a few people, who wander about the streets or take up positions in doorways. They are firing, taking advantage of the darkness of night and the dim light of dawn. Smaller groups of Hungarian police and military forces are carefully combing [11/12]

the city. Daylight will facilitate this work. Robbers and bandits have tried to take advantage of the cover of darkness. Several thieves have already been arrested...
"The police have received information on plans to rob several department stores. ... This bears testimony to the fact that only common criminals are attempting resistance in order to be able to rob and continue their excesses. The Party and government are firmly in control of the situation. -
"The Budapest Party Committee and the City Coundl have appealed to the people of Budapest to begin work quietly and in a disciplined manner. They have also requested that workers not be transported to factories or offices in trucks, because some counter-revolutionary groups are trying to escape by truck and also because such a method of transport might give opportunity for provocative acts. Schools will not be open today."
0500 "The Council of Ministers has issued the following communique:
"On orders of the Council of Ministers the Army, the State security forces and armed workers' guards have liquidated, with the help of Soviet troops, the attempt at a counter-revolutionary coup d'etat on the night of October 24-25. Counterrevolutionary forces have been dispersed, with only minor armed groups and isolated snipers still active here and there. The government appeals to the people to start traffic -streetcars, trolley-buses and buses -wherever possible. Workers must resume work. Let factories produce and offices and enterprises operate. On the other hand, all educational establishments, i.e., the general and secondary schools and higher institutes of study, will remain closed until further notice. Shops must open at the usual time. The government and the Budapest City Council have instructed the competent organs to assure a systematic supply of commodities and food for the population."
0545 "Counterrevolutionary gangs have set fire to several public buildings, dwellings and department stores in Budapest.
- . - At present there is a tremendous struggle to extinguish a serious fire at the National Museum."
0630 "We call the people's attention to the fact that the ban on meetings and public gatherings is still in force."
0630 "The police have retaken the Budapest Szikra printing plant from armed provocateurs and misled persons. The counterrevolutionary forces which occupied the building surrendered this morning and left the plant with raised hands."
0723 "Counterrevolutionary bandits attempted in several places to occupy the telephone exchanges but these attempts were frustrated with the help of State security authorities."
0738 "Szabad Nep the newspaper of the Hungarian Workers' [Communist] Party, did not appear on Wednesday, and today will not appear until noon. The reason for this is the series of tragic events which took place in our capital since Tuesday night, of which one center was the Szabad Nep building.
"Delegations of university students visited our [Szabad Nep] offices very frequently beginning early Tuesday afternoon, and asked us for space to print their resolutions and demands. In the evening, the demands and resolutions changed in contents and in tone. Many demonstrators came to our office and reported tragic events. The more sober of these young people became quite desperate, and said, 'We did not want this.
"After 2100 [GMT] the situation changed radically. The demonstrators were different people. . . . After that hour only the howling of counterrevolutionaries and misled young people could be heard in the square in front of Szabad Nep. They demanded that Szabad Nep publish an appeal for a general strike.
"Then the siege of the building began. The provocateurs attacked with stones, and smashed the building's windows and the glass panels at the entrance. . . - The attackers pushed their way into the building around midnight. They set fire to the Szabad Nep bookshop, broke into it and set the books on fire... Several attackers climbed to the sixth floor and tore down the Red Star. Then the armed attackers (for they had by this time obtained weapons) demanded that the staff hand over the building's loudspeaker system. This the staff refused to do, but the attackers found it and broadcast inflammatory [12/13]

and seditious slogans and appeals to the square below. The crowd advanced yard by yard further into the building, breaking, pilfering, smashing. A woman stepped out of a room. She belonged to the demonstrators, but they thought that she was a member of the editorial staff, and shot her dead...
"The attackers had by then occupied the whole building, and found the entrance to the printing plant. - . - It was due to the calm attitude of the printers and journalists that the demonstrators did not destroy the valuable machines. -
0740 "The Minister of Defense ... has issued the following appeal:
"'I instruct those members of the Army who, for one reason or another, have been separated from their units to report to their commanding officers at their formations immediately, not later than 1100 [GMT], October 25.... Signed: Colonel General Istvan Bata, Minister of Defense.
1047 "Although the restoration of order is progressing well . . - certain irresponsible elements and small groups are trying to cause confusion, shots are being fired. . . - We call on the population in its own interest not to go out into the streets unless it is absolute necessary. -
1418 "Now Comrades Janos Kadar and Imre Nagy will address you. Comrade Janos Kadar, First Secretary of the Central Committee, is speaking:
"Hungarian workers, dear comrades! The Politburo of our Party has entrusted to me the post of First Secretary in a grave and difficult situation. - . - The grave situation in which we are involved is characterized by the fact that various elements are mixed up in it. The demonstration march of a section of our youth, which started peaceably in accordance with the aims of an overwhelming majority of participants, degenerated after a few hours, in accordance with the intentions of anti-democratic and counterrevolutionary elements which joined them, into an armed attack against the State power of the people's democracy...
"Comrades, the Central Committee of the Party proposes to the government that, after order has been restored, the government should conduct talks with the Soviet government in the spirit of complete equality between Hungary and the Soviet Union, brotherly cooperation and internationalism, for the equitable and just settlement of questions pending between the two Socialist countries.
"Workers, Communist comrades, be unflinching and firm. Defend the order of the people's power, our Socialist State and the future of the working people."
1425 "You will now hear the speech of Comrade Imre Nagy. member of the Politburo and Premier:
"Working people of Hungary, during the past few days our country lived through tragic events. A small group of counterrevolutionary provocateurs launched an [13/14]

armed attack against the order of our People's Republic, an attack which has been supported by part of the workers of Budapest because of their bitterness over the situation of the country. This bitterness has been aggravated by the political and economic mistakes of the past, the remedying of which has been made absolutely imperative by the situation of the country and the general desires of the people. The new Party leadership and the government under my direction are resolved to draw the fullest lessons from the tragic events. Soon after the restoration of order the National Assembly will be called. At that session I will submit an all-embracing and basic program of reform.
"This program will embrace all important problems of our national life. This program demands the reorganization of the government on the basis of the unification of broad democratic national forces represented by the reorganized Patri otic People's Front. For the realization of this program it is absolutely necessary to stop the fighting immediately, to restore order and peace, and to continue production...
"As Premier I wish to announce that the Hungarian government will begin talks with the Soviet Union concerning the relations between the Hungarian People's Republic and the Soviet Union, and, among other things, concerning the withdrawal of the Soviet forces stationed in Hungary. These talks will be carried out on the basis of equality and national independence between Communist Parties and Socialist countries. I am convinced that Hungarian-Soviet relations built on this basis will provide a firm groundwork for the future friendship between our peoples, for our national development and our Socialist future. The withdrawal of Soviet forces whose intervention in the fighting has been made necessary by the vital interests of our Socialist order will take place without delay after the restoration of peace and order.
"Toward all those who took up arms without the intention of overthrowing our people's democratic order and who immediately stop fighting and hand over their arms, toward all those youths and workers and soldiers who do this, the government will display far-reaching generosity in the spirit of reconciliation and understanding, and to them martial law will not apply. At the same time, in the interest of the working people who desire peace and order, and in defense of our democratic State, we will apply the full severity of the law to those who continue armed attacks, who continue to incite and plunder...
"I am filled with profound grief over every drop of blood shed during these tragic days by innocent victims among our working people. Let this tragic fight, this useless shedding of blood, be ended. Hungarians, friends, comrades, let us set out under the leadership of the Party along the road of peaceful and creative work, building a better, more beautiful Socialist future for our people."
1548 Gabor Tanczos, Secretary of the Petofi Club, reads an appeal on behalf of the club leadership:
"Friends, Hungarian young men and women, I speak to you in the name of the Petofi Club, the organization which has done so much in the past few months to fight for true democracy and for the elimination of Rakosi's shameful individual tyranny. We greatly appreciate the enthusiasm you have displayed in the past few days. We respect your true patriotism. We are quite certain you have nothing to do with certain stupid elements demonstrating their cruelty. We know that the mistakes committed by the wrong leadership of the now-relieved Erno Gero have filled many with bitterness and have led them to commit acts they did not originally intend.
"But now our leadership is good. Janos Kadar, who has suffered in the prisons of individual tyranny, has become First Party Secretary. Imre Nagy - . - heads the government. We must begin working and studying at last. No more precious human blood must be shed. We must prepare for great deeds, for the building of a truly democratic Hungary, Socialist in a Hungarian way and equal with any other nation. We must achieve a democratic school system, university reform, and improvement of students' hostels. But we cannot build, give accommodations, raise the standard of living and educate while the guns are roaring...." [14/15]

1830 "Rumors are circulating in the capital that many of those detained by the authorities in the course of armed clashes have been executed. The Ministry of Justice has ascertained that this is not true."
2300 "We will now describe the situation in Budapest. On Thursday morning work was resumed 'in most Budapest factories. Food shops have reopened and in the morning business was resumed in several markets. During the morning there were no particularly grave incidents. Toward midday the number and intensity of armed clashes increased and they continued late into the afternoon. These clashes resulted in deaths and injuries at several points in the capital...
"According to the latest information, the population has generally received with satisfaction the news of Erno Gero's dismissal, and the armed clashes decreased both in number and in intensity in the evening. Nevertheless, new incidents have taken place this evening at several points in the city. A curfew is in force but several groups are still gathered in the streets.
"During the morning an attempt was made to restore transportation, but in view of the incidents this plan was abandoned. In the afternoon stores closed, with the exception of food stores and pharmacies.
- According to information from the provinces, demonstrations have taken place in several provincial towns, but for the most part these were carried on in a relatively orderly fashion... [15/16]

[2]From The Revolt in Hungary.. A Documentary Chronology of Events, Based Exclusively on Internal Broadcasts by Central and Provincial Radios, October 23, 1956 - November 4, 1956. (New York: Free Europe Committee, n.d.), pp. 4-19, 22-34, 36-45, 48-53, 55, 56, 59-78, 80-90. Reprinted by permission of the Free Europe Committee, Inc.
[3]Louis Kossuth, Nineteenth Century Hungarian leader, hero ot the March 15, 1848 revolution against Austria. See later demand for national holiday to mark the day.
[4]'Polish patriot and leader who also fought for Hungarian independence in the 19th Century.
[5]The overall mass organization, led by Communists and fellow-travelers, but predominantly made up of non-Communists.
[6]Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is one hour earlier than Budapest time.

Richard Lettis: The Hungarian Revolt