history
Why is there a hole in the flag?
How did the
hole in the flag put a
crack
in the Berlin Wall?
Visit www.hungary1956.com to
learn more about the revolution.
 After suffering for ten years under Soviet oppression, on October 23,
1956 Hungarians rose up in a peacefule mass demonstration to assert their
desire for freedom and independence. More than 200,000 students and workers
filled the streets of Budapest: they marched to the Parliament demanding
that Russians leave Hungary; they pulled down and crushed the oversize
statue of Stalinl and by cutting out the hated communist emblem, they created "a
hole in the flag," the symbol of the HUngarian Revolution.
When a large group marched to the Hungarian Radio to have the "16
points," the list of their demands, announced the Hungarian Secret
Police first used teargas, then guns against unarmed civilians, thus turning
a popular demonstration overnight into The Hungarian Revolution.
The Revolution soon spread to other parts of the country as freedom fighters
took over factories, weapons depots, and many Soviet tanks. After intense
fighting, on October 30th the Russians pulled back, and in an atmosphere
of hope and excitement, Hungarians brought back Imre Nagy, a reform-communist
leader, whose government was already sworn in on October 28th. Political
prisoners were released. The free press and radio were established. Political
parties were revived in preparation for free, multi-party elections.
On the global, political front there were several distractions and mixed
signals, fed by the crisis in the Suez Canal. The Soviets perceived that
the US might be too distracted to aid Hungary's cause, and felt they had
a free hand to crush the revolution.
 And crush it they did! At dawn on November 4th, an armada of Soviet troops
and tanks returned, blasting uildings, key revolutionary strongholds and
civilians alike. Imre Nagy and members of his government sought asylum
at the Yugoslav Embassy. Later, when they attempted to leave, they were
abducted at gunpoint and taken to Romania, only to return of a "mock
trial" in early 1958, when they wre convicted of treason, hanged,
and buried in unmarked graves.
The Soviet assault raged for days, and used such overwhelming force, that
the freedom fighters could not hold out. Passive resistance, including
strikes and silent demonstrations continued for many months. Thousands
died, many were arrested and interned, and over 200,000 fled their homeland,
with 35,000 eventually settling in the United States.
The thirteen days of the Hungardian Revolution delivered the first blow
to weaken the Soviet Union. It triumphed only 34 years later in 1990 when
democratic elections were held. The last Russian soldier left in June of
1991. The people of Hungary were finally free.
The Hungarian Revolution has come to be widely
recognized as the “First Domino”, leading to the eventual downfall of
Soviet Communism, and the subsequent liberation of countries in Eastern
and Central Europe.
This momentous historical event is of great significance
for those who seek to protect precious won freedoms, as well as for
those still struggling to achieve these cherished gifts. The Hungarian
Revolution has a special significance for America because of her unique
role as the global advocate of freedom and her policy linkage to events
of 1956.
Secretary
Rice is an expert on Soviet Era history; read her remarks about the
Revolution.
<Click image to read her speech>
Hungarian
Ambassador Simonyi’s remarks at the State Department commemoration
<Click image to read his speech>
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