1956
1956
8-11 Feb. Parliament enacts the United Nations basic charter (article 1 of 1956).
8-23 March Flood danger on the Danube; the island of Mohács is submerged.
12-13 March The session of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party listens to Mátyás Rákosi’s report on the 20th congress of the Soviet Communist Party. It is established that the guidelines of the Hungarian Workers’ Party conform to the principles proclaimed in Moscow, and no basic changes are required.
15 March The first public programme of the “Petőfi Circle” of the Democratic Youth Organization (DISZ) in Budapest.
27 March At a session of party activists of the Hungarian Workers’ Party in Heves county, Mátyás Rákosi announces that the trial of László Rajk and associates was based on provocation; he announces their full rehabilitation.
29 March Árpád Szakasits is rehabilitated and freed.
7-14 June M.A. Suslov, member of the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party, holds talks in Budapest.
17-20 June Under the leadership of Kim II.Sung, a Korean delegation visits Hungary.
3 July Szabad Nép publishes the resolution of the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party about overcoming the cult of personality and its consequences.
18-21 July The session of the Central Committee of the Hungarian Workers’ Party passes a resolution on the elimination of wavering manifest in the implementation of the June 1953 resolution and about the consistent continuation of the two-front battle. They approve the guidelines of the second Five Year Plan. Mátyás Rákosi is relieved of his post as first secretary and member of the Political Committee. Mihály Farkas is expelled from the Central Committee and the party. János Kádár and György Marosán are elected into the Political Committee. János Kádár becomes secretary of the Central Committee. Ernő Gerő is elected first secretary.
27 Sept.-5 Oct. Talks are held in Yalta between N. S. Khrushchev, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party, J.B. Tito and Ernő Gerő.
4 Oct. Imre Nagy in his letter to the Central Committee of the Hungarian Workers’ Party, asks for the reinstatement of his party membership.
On 6 Oct. At the Kerepesi cemetery, tens of thou-sands attend the funerals of László Rajk, György Pálffy, Tibor Szőnyi and András Szalai (martyrs of the armed forces and police are buried on 13 and 20 Oct). Protest demonstration gathers at the Batthyány eternal flame. In Moscow, A.I. Mikoyan and M.A. Suslov conduct talks with the delegation of the Hungarian Workers’ Party Central Committee, with Ernő Gerő, János Kádár, István Hidas and Zoltán Szántó.
13 Oct. Mihály Farkas taken into custody.
13 Oct. the Political Committee meets his request.
15-22 Oct. Under the leadership of Ernő Gerő, a Hungarian party delegation visits Belgrade.
23 Oct. The delegation of the Hungarian Workers’ Party Central Committee returns from Yugoslavia in the morning. The afternoon session of the enlarged membership of the Political Committee discusses the internal political situation and the student demonstration planned for the day. In its resolution the Writers’ Union demands Imre Nagy’s inclusion in the government and the elabo-ration of “the national unity programme”. At 3 pm the demonstration starts. In the evening hours, armed groups attack several public buildings in the capital: the Radio, the telephone centres, the headquarters of the party daily Szabad Nép, the police stations, printing centres and arms depots.
23-24 Oct. The Hungarian Workers’ Party Central Committee holds a session in which it declares that a counter-revolution has broken out. They reelect the Political Committee and the secretariat of the Central Committee. The first secretary of the Political Committee is Ernő Gerő.
Its members: Antal Apró, Sándor Gáspár, András Hegedűs, János Kádár, Gyula Kállai, Károly Kiss, József Köböl, György Marosán, Imre Nagy and Zoltán Szántó. Alternate members: Géza Losonczy and Sándor Rónai. Ferenc Donáth, Géza Losonczy, György Lukács, Ferenc Münnich and Imre Nagy are elected members of the Central Committee.
24 Oct. At the request of the Hungarian government, Soviet troops enter Budapest. The Presidential Council elects Imre Nagy as president of the Council of Ministers. The Imre Nagy government is formed. Deputy prime ministers: Antal Apró, József Bognár, Ferenc Erdei. Minister of state: Zoltán Tildy. Ministers: state farms: Miklós Ribánszky, mining and energy: Sándor Czottner, produce collection: Antal Gyenes, domestic trade: János Tausz, internal affairs: Ferenc Münnich, public health: Antal Babics, food: Rezső Nyers, building: Antal Apró, agriculture: Béla Kovács, defence: Károly Janza, justice: Erik Molnár, metallurgy and engineering: János Csergő, light industry: Mrs. József Nagy, communications and post: Lajos Bebrits, foreign trade: József Bognár, foreign affairs: Imre Horváth, culture: György Lukács, education: Albert Kónya, finance: István Kossa, urban and village economy: Ferenc Nezvál, chemical industry: Gergely Szabó, head of the National Planning Board: Árpád Kiss.
In the forenoon hours demonstrations are held in front of Parliament. Shooting breaks out, with the loss of several lives. The session of the Workers’ Party Central Committee relieves Ernő Gerő as first secretary, and elects János Kádár in his place.
28 Oct. The Central Committee session of the Hungarian Workers’ Party authorizes a 6-member presidium to lead the party: president: János Kádár, members: Antal Apró, Károly Kiss, Ferenc Münnich, Imre Nagy and Zoltán Szántó. In his evening radio speech, Imre Nagy expresses support for the members of the uprising.
29 Oct. J.B. Tito sends a letter to the Hungarian Workers’ Party Central Committee in which he calls for the defence of socialist achievements.
30 Oct. Armed revolutionaries occupy the headquarters of the Budapest party committee at Köztársaság Square, and a large number of soldiers defending the party house are killed. Imre Mező, secretary of the Political Committee, János Asztalos, and József Papp, an army colonel, die in the fighting. The presidium of the Hungarian Workers’ Party declares the abolition of the party, and in its place under the name Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party, the formation of a new party is agreed. With the exception of János Kádár, members are recruited from Imre Nagy’s group. In his afternoon radio speech, Imre Nagy announces the restoration of the system of post1945 coalition government. During the night armed groups liberate archbishop of Esztergom József Mindszenty from his prison in Felsőpetény (Nógrád county).
31 Oct. Imre Nagy delivers a speech in front of Parliament. The government is reformed. State ministers: Zoltán Tildy, János Kádár and Géza Losonczy. Minister of defence: Pál Maléter. The other portfolios remained unfilled.
1 Nov. Imre Nagy takes over the leadership of foreign affairs and announces that Hungary is leaving the Warsaw Treaty and wishes to become a neutral country.
2 Nov. The first issue of Népszabadság, central organ of the Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party, is published. N.S. Khrushchev and J.B. Tito discuss the Hungarian situation on the island of Brioni. The government is reshuffled. Prime minister and foreign minister: Imre Nagy (Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party). Ministers of state: Zoltán Tildy, Béla Kovács, István Szabó B. (Smallholders), Antal Kéthly, Gyula Kelemen, József Fischer (Social Democrats), István Bibó, Ferenc Farkas (Petőfi Party), Géza Losonczy, János Kádár (Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party) (the appointment of the latter is formal). As from 1 Nov. János Kádár does not take part in the work of the previous government either. Minister of defence: Pál Maléter. The other portfolios remain unfilled.
3 Nov. At 8 pm archbishop József Mindszenthy delivers a speech on radio stating that he does not recognize Imre Nagy’s government; he demands the restoration of capitalism and the reinstatement of the pre-war privileges of the church.
4 Nov. In the early morning hours János Kádár announces in a radio speech the formation of the Hungarian Revolutionary Workers-Peasants Government. Prime minister of the government: János Kádár, deputy premier: Ferenc Münnich, members: György Marosán, Antal Apró, Imre Dögei, Imre Horváth, István Kossa and Sándor Rónai. With the assistance of Soviet troops, the crushing of armed opposition begins. Imre Nagy and several members of his government leave for the Yugoslav embassy in Budapest.
7 Nov. In its appeal the Provisional Central Com-mittee of the Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party calls Hungarian communists to join forces; it disassociates itself from the sectarian policy of the Hungarian Workers’ Party and the treacherous policy of the revisionist groups. It announces the change of name of the party, details the basic principles of the party and its tasks. The refor-mation of party organizations begins all over the country.
12 Nov. The government is completed: prime minister: János Kádár, deputy prime minister: Ferenc Münnich, ministers: without portfolio: György Marosán, armed forces and public security matters: Ferenc Münnich, agriculture: Imre Dögei, industry: Antal Apró, trade: Sándor Rónai, foreign affairs: Imre Horváth, finance: István Kossa, post and communications (government commis-sioner): György Canádi, head of the government committee for public supply: Rezső Nyers. Other ministers: building: József Kilián (as from 24 Dec.), justice: Ferenc Nezvál (as from 29 Dec.), József Mekis (as from 26 Jan. 1957). Decree 21/1956 of the Presidential Council ends the com-pulsory delivery of agricultural products.
14 Nov. The Central Workers’ Council of Budapest is formed.
22 Nov.-8 Dec. In Melbourne at the 16th summer Olympics, Hungarian sportsmen and women win 9 gold, l0 silver and 9 bronze medals.
22-23 Nov. A Romanian party delegation pays a visit to Budapest and agrees that Imre Nagy and associates who are about to leave the Yugoslav delegation in Budapest may go to Romania.
2-3 and 5 Dec. The session of the Provisional Central Committee of the Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party adopts a resolution about the causes and precedents of the Oct. 23 events, tire present situation, and the tasks facing the party.
9 Dec. The government declares the Central Workers’ Council of Budapest, and all the workers’ councils all over the country, illegal.
11 Dec. Decree 28/1956 of the Presidential Council on the introduction of summary proce-dures against those holding firearms without permission, and crimes committed with these. (In force until 13 Nov. 1957.)
