1956 Hungarian Uprising Remembrance Day (23/10)

The Day of Remembrance of the Hungarian Uprising of 1956, celebrated in the country annually on October 23, — is a national holiday of honoring the memory of the Hungarian people who rebelled against the communist government. In addition, October 23 — is the Day of Proclamation of the Hungarian Republic (1989).

In 1956, unrest began in the Hungarian People's Republic among the population dissatisfied with political repression and the ineffective economic policies of the Hungarian leadership. As a result, on the initiative of students of the Budapest Polytechnic Institute, a mass demonstration was organized in the capital on October 23, 1956. During the day, over 200 thousand people took part in it.

People demanded the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the country; the creation of a new government led by Prime Minister Imre Nagy (1896 — 1958), previously removed from this post and expelled from the Communist Party for disagreeing with its general line; the trial of party leader Matthias Rakosi and his associates, whose rule led to an agricultural crisis and a decline in living standards in the country.

The people also demanded the introduction of an official living wage for workers, a democratic election procedure and the resolution of a multi-party system.

On October 24, Imre Nadzi became Prime Minister of the Hungarian People's Republic, and on November 1 he announced the state's withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact of the «communist countries» and declared Hungary's neutrality.

In response to this, Soviet troops were brought into Hungary on November 4. In November, after major bloodshed, the Hungarian revolution was suppressed. Imre Nadzi, other leaders and hundreds of participants in the uprising were executed or sent to prison. Many were forced to emigrate from the country. Soviet troops remained in Hungary until 1991.

Today the date — October 23 — is memorable for the Hungarian people. Traditionally, Budapest hosts numerous festive demonstrations and rallies on this day, flower-laying ceremonies at memorial sites and memorial services in churches for those killed at that tragic time.

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