Sixty years ago, on Oct. 23, 1956, the world watched in awe as the Hungarians rose up against the Soviet Union. This was the first time, since the countries of the Eastern Bloc were occupied and ruled by cruel communist dictatorships, that people took up arms and fought for their freedom and independence.
After World War II, the Yalta Conference partitioned Europe along the lines occupied by the Allies of the Soviet Union, and called for free democratic elections, which the Soviet Union flagrantly flouted, and instead established puppet governments in Central Europe.
In 1946, Winston Churchill said that, “an iron curtain has descended across the continent,” marking the beginning of the Cold War between the Western democracies and oppressive Communism. Tens of millions were denied freedom of speech, religion, and other basic rights. Millions died by execution, imprisonment or starvation. Many risked or lost their lives seeking freedom, while attempting to cross the Iron Curtain.
Despite the fear and oppression, Hungarian workers, students, farmers, professionals, men, women, young, and old demanded individual freedoms and national sovereignty. Students compiled a list of demands calling for the withdrawal of Soviet troops, free elections, freedom of speech, and marched in support of the anti-government demonstrations in Communist Poland. Joined by others, they proceeded to the radio station and demanded their 16 points be broadcast. State security responded with machine guns, firing upon the unarmed crowd, resulting in casualties and an infuriated crowd, who then took up their own weapons. The battle for freedom started against tremendous odds, challenging 100,000 well-equipped Soviet troops. It raged for days, as the Hungarian Army joined the fight for freedom and national independence.
A revolutionary government was installed and the brave men and women who fought in the streets seemed to have won, as the Soviets began to withdraw. Moscow was waiting for the Westap reaction and, in the absence of a response, on Nov. 4th invaded to brutally suppress the revolution. The outmanned freedom fighters fought tanks with rifles and Molotov cocktails. The uprising claimed 3,700 lives and 20,000 wounded and was followed by cruel retribution, as 300 were executed, 21,700 were imprisoned, and 200,000 fled. The sacrifices of brave men and women were not in vain, as it exposed to the world the communist system and the Soviet Union as brutal dictatorships. The Hungarian Freedom Fighters were voted “Man of the Year” by TIME magazine. The revolution was the first opening in the Iron Curtain and lead to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, after Hungary opened its borders to East German refugees.
Hungarians regained their freedom and Hungary its sovereignty, when free elections were held in 1990 and the Soviet troops withdrew in 1991. All this thanks to those, who valued liberty and sacrificed for it. The Hungarian refugees, after being selected and vetted in camps, were invited and generously welcomed by various countries to start a new life. Some 35,000 refugees became proud, grateful and successful Americans.
Hungary and other countries in the region rejoined their historic western roots, becoming members of NATO and the European Union. The rebuilding of these societies, destroyed by 45 years of communism, is not an easy process and takes time. Democracy and freedom require a value system and a balance of individual freedoms and social responsibility. The countries are re-establishing values and rebuilding democracies, which require molding to cultures and histories, as one size does not fit all.
Hungarians are grateful for the sacrifices of the 1956 Freedom Fighters, thankful to those who helped the refugees, and the current generation is rebuilding the country with the same love of freedom and independence that guided their forebears in 1956. Freedom must be defended by every generation, not only in Hungary, but also in the United States.
Eugene F. Megyesy Jr. of Denver escaped with his family from Hungary after the 1956 revolution and is now senior adviser to the prime minister of Hungary.
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