1/ THE HUNGARIAN REVOLUTION, DAY 13
69 years ago today, Hungary's dream of freedom and democracy was brutally crushed by 200,000 Soviet troops with over 1,000 tanks. Although Operation Whirlwind was meant to be over in three days, Hungary's revolutionaries fought on for a week.
69 years ago today, Hungary's dream of freedom and democracy was brutally crushed by 200,000 Soviet troops with over 1,000 tanks. Although Operation Whirlwind was meant to be over in three days, Hungary's revolutionaries fought on for a week.
2/ The Soviet forces already inside Hungary are organized into two armies. The Eighth Army is deployed around Debrecen in the east with six divisions. The 38th Guards Army, stationed around Székesfehérvár in the west, comprises another seven divisions.
3/ A separate 'Special Corps' comprising five elite Guards divisions is stationed just across the border in Romania, with another six divisions assigned to it for the operation. This force has been directed to seize Budapest in the morning of 4 November 1956.
4/ At 04:00 on 4 November 1956, the Special Corps crosses the border, as the Soviet forces already in Hungary moves out from their garrisons to seize strategic locations. Long columns of tanks begin moving into Budapest.
5/ At 05:00, János Kádár – still nominally a minister in Prime Minister Imre Nagy's government – announces a new pro-Soviet regime under the title of the "Hungarian Revolutionary Worker-Peasant Government". He has been chosen by the Soviets to run Hungary after Nagy is deposed.
6/ Nagy speaks on Radio Kossuth at 05:20 to announce the invasion to the Hungarian people and the world. It is the last thing that most Hungarians are to ever hear him say.
"This is Imre Nagy, chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Hungarian People's Republic, speaking."
"This is Imre Nagy, chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Hungarian People's Republic, speaking."
7/ "In the early hours of this morning, the Soviet troops launched an attack against our capital city with the obvious intention of overthrowing the lawful, democratic, Hungarian Government. Our troops are fighting. The Government is in its place."
8/ Between 06:00-08:00, most members of the Hungarian government take refuge in the Yugoslav Embassy, with the exception of István Bibó, who stays in the Parliament Building as the last member of the legitimat government. He urges the West not to recognise the new regime.
9/ The Soviet advance is so massive and overwhelming that most Hungarian army units have little chance to offer any resistance. They are surrounded in their barracks and forcibly disarmed. Any attempt to resist is met with heavy Soviet fire.
10/ However, places which were revolutionary strongholds in the capital during the early days of the revolution put up strong resistance. Unlike in the earlier battles, the Hungarian fighters are not met with small arms fire, but with far more destructive tank and artillery fire.
11/ One after another, the strongholds in the city centre are destroyed or forced to surrender. By the evening, the Soviets are in control of central Budapest and hold all of the key government buildings.
12/ Outside Budapest's city centre, there is fierce fighting in the outlying industrial zones of the city, where revolutionary forces have more time to prepare for the invaders. The Soviets also encounter resistance in some towns where army and insurgent units join forces.
13/ As night falls over Budapest, the sky is red with the glow of burning buildings. Soviet tanks and thousands of Soviet infantrymen are on the streets, but Hungarians are still fighting in a last-ditch effort to save their revolution.
(To be continued tomorrow.)
(To be continued tomorrow.)
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