Introduction

On October 23, 1956, it was an overcast and dreary afternoon in Budapest. I was eight and my little sister was five. We lived at Rakoczi Ut. 40 in a large building across the street from Corvin, a huge Hungarian department store located approximately in the center of Pest. The famous Hungarian National Theatre House was off to the left of us.

The Early Hours of the Revolution

A Child’s View from the Balcony

That afternoon, my sister and I were out on the balcony of our large apartment house. Below, a large crowd gathered, chanting slogans like “Russians Go Home” and “Be Slaves or Be Free.” From our perspective as young children, it felt like a celebration rather than the beginning of a revolution.

Fireworks in the Night

Later that evening, as we were being put to bed, we heard sounds like firecrackers in the distance. Little did we know that this was the sound of the Hungarian Communist Secret Police (AVO) firing on peaceful demonstrators. This marked the beginning of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.

The Escalation of the Conflict

Radio Reports and Basement Gatherings

The next day, our family gathered in the basement with other neighbors, bringing food and supplies. It felt like a great adventure for us children, even though the adults were hiding from the looming threat of Soviet tanks and artillery.

Victories and Setbacks

For the next few days, we listened to radio reports about the freedom fighters gaining ground. For a moment, there was hope as shouts of “We’ve won our Freedom at last” rang out. But this hope was short-lived as disaster struck on November 4th when 200,000 Soviet troops crushed the Hungarian resistance.

The Destruction of Home

Tanks Outside the Door

I can still remember the sound of Russian tanks pulling up in front of our building, their thick gun muzzles aimed directly at us. The tanks fired, destroying parts of our apartment. I vividly recall seeing the next-door building reduced to rubble.

My Grandfather, the Hero

One of the most exciting memories from that time was when a bomb got lodged in our living room wall but did not explode. My brave grandfather, a doctor in Budapest, removed the bomb himself when the bomb squad refused, making him a hero in my eyes.

The Final Days in Hungary

Desperate Pleas for Help

As the revolution raged on, the Hungarian people pleaded with the West for help, but no assistance came. Western powers were preoccupied with the Suez Canal Crisis, leaving us to fend for ourselves.

Escape from Hungary

My family decided to escape. We took a train and then made a treacherous 20-kilometer journey through snow-covered woods, dodging bullets and landmines. By some miracle, we made it to the Austrian border and eventually to Vienna.

A New Life in Italy

Arrival in Rome

After weeks in Vienna, we finally made the decision to board a bus to Italy. The moment we arrived in Rome, the color returned to my world. The two and a half years we spent in Rome were the most beautiful of my childhood, a stark contrast to the grayness of life in Hungary.

Reflections on the Revolution

Looking back, the 1956 Hungarian Revolution changed not just my life, but the world. While many lives were lost, the sacrifice was not in vain. This event set the stage for the eventual fall of Communism and the end of the Cold War with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Epilogue: From 8 to 76

Now, at 76 years old, the memories of that time remain vivid. The world has changed in many ways, and I can’t help but reflect on the similarities and differences between the refugee crisis of 1956 and today. My hope is that the world continues to strive for peace and freedom for all, just as we fought for in Hungary so many years ago.

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