1956 Hungarian Uprising

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I would love to find out more about my grandfather’s family. He fled to the UK from Budapest in 1956 and settled in North London. His name was Henrik Bela Szabo, born August 1933 and he lived in Akacfa Utca with his wife Eva. I believe they had two children but he never knew what happened to them. He never talked about it. Any information would be great.

Really interesting post!

What a great read, thank you, my father Istvan Nagy fled Hungary in 1956 at the age of 19, so brave all that fled for a better life. I wish I learnt more from him about the journey, but like others said he didn't like to talk about it. I lost him last year, miss him dearly. RIP all the Hungarians that lost there lives during the uprising.

Of those who fled some were children, and when we played on the beach in Kent one of the displaced children played with us building sandcastles. My mother would eat just one roll and give the other to the child who we were told came from Hungary. She had a brother as well but I seem to remember was older and had to go to school which I think was in Dymchurch.

Hi !Great article about the Hungarian Uprising. My father passed away in 2016, In Cambridge UK He was from Budapest and was just only 12 years old when he arrived in the UK after fleeing Hungary following 1956 Uprising. His name was Istvan Borbas. He didn't really talk much about the uprising as it was hard for him . But I understand he was very much in the thick of it dodging bullets at a young age. His grandmother remained in Budapest until she died far as we know. My Father came to UK on his own but he did have brothers (older) who may have fled too to America and or Canada I don't know for sure. One of his brothers may have been called John (Hungarian) translation) Borbas. I know its a long shot and records may have been destroyed but I would like to hear from anyone who maybe a relative. I must have cousins and 2nd cousins out there. My father did talk about his father who died during the Uprising and he was an Architect I dont know his first name but surname would have been Borbas. I would love to hear from anyone who may know more of my past family In Hungary.

it is one of the greatest article i have scene . i am trying to write my on story and i cant find any thing obout my home about Debrecen .

nice

We have been looking for years to find our fathers brother now He fled to Toronto/Burlington/Ontarino Canada area in the 1956 uprising His name is LASZLO VIGH He was born in 1935 in GYORSZENTIVÁN then moved to Nagyszentjános Hungary Like many others heard my father did not talk much about his life before he came here, When he first came he arrived in london then was shipped to a miners camp somewhere in wales then came to Derby uk We have tried many things over the years, Socail media, Salvation army,red cross, Wrote to all the people with the Surname Vigh in the Toronto phonebook Does anyone know anyone or any organization that could help us Thank you for taking the time to read this Please feel free to inbox me thank you mollymandy18@aol.com

My Mother & Father are both Hungarian - I cannot trace anything of my fathers side as he died in 1984 age 33 when I was 7. He was born in Hungary in 1950 with a twin sister Maria. His mother was Elizabeth Peters or Peter and his father was Yanos or Janos Peter / Peters. I know his Father came over just before or during the uprising and my grandmother followed during the uprising with the 3 young children on a boat but I have no idea about his family history. I know my Dad changed his surname by Deed Poll from the Hungarian version of Peter to Peters to 'fit in'. We have been estranged from his siblings since his death but would love to know how my grandfather / grandmother came over and any other family history. I know my grandmother was previously married to someone with the surname of Jenei but have again, no idea what happened. Can anybody recommend some online archives for births / deaths / marriages etc as the records Ive sieved through online are quite limited Thank You

I am looking for any information on my dad Sandor Bohus he left Hungary in 1956 and arrived in Skegness in January 1957 he travelled with 5 or 6 other friends with only the clothes on his back, my dad is now 78 and has Alzheimer`s As a child my dad never talked about what happen blocked it out only now he is started to talk little bits about what happen, it brings tears to my eyes, I would love to find those friend he travelled with. He was 16 at the time only a child.

I am looking for any information on my father, he left Hungary in 1956 and came to South Africa on his own, he had a wife, little boy and girl which did not come with him. My fathers name is Sandor Tevesz and he was from Budapest. I would love to find out further information as my father never spoke about the journey and what really happened. I have a photograph of his wife and children but I am not sure where I could post it for clues

My mother and father (Magdalena and Gyula Horvath) maybe as they have told me the Red Cross changed their last name. Both are deceased . They escaped Hungary in 1956-57 through Austria . My brother Wolfgang was born in Vienna, Austria in May1957. My mother came from large family maybe 15. My mothers family may have owned a vineyard in Germany with her grandparents my mother worked in a paint factory not sure where . If any of this sounds familiar pls contact me

I am looking for relatives of my mother Erzsebet Horvath from gyarmat Hungary

I am writing a book about my father's escape from Hungary in December 1956 and I am interested to hear from anyone who is a still alive from that era who experienced the transit camps. my email address is jbognar1973@gmail.com My father was from Nagykanizsa.

My father, Antal Bencze, fled from Hungary during the revolution along with his brother Gyorgy Bencze. We now live in Fairfield, CT. Looking for any relatives.

I am looking for any family member who might know my mother and the only name I know of hers is Theressaa but she had a sister by the name of Valaria and two broke by he name of Paul and Tony. They fled Hungary and there father fled to Malaysia and there name was Aksman Glosz. I would love to find a family member to the my birth mothers family. My grandfathers name was Paul but I don't know what the birth grandmothers name was as she passed away at the age of 35 from TB. .

2,500 died...

Horvath my grandmas maiden name szucs is mine I to am looking

It's amazing how important events remain in the dark as the USA would be or should be embarrassed. Radio Free Europa - initiate a freedom fight and we will help you. Well, so we did, only find out that the USA president said "we are not looking for new partners in eastern Europe. Then instead of arms, USA send us cheddar cheese and used clothing. As Hungary has no oil, USA is not interested. Shame. Janos

After reading this article i too am looking for my father his name is Janos Fekete he lived in Preston Lancashire in the late 50's 60's last thing heard he had married and moved to Bradford ? and then the tale goes he either relocated to Canada or Australia ....

I wrote a book called "The Eleventh Arrow" Sold on Amazon. launched to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution, which will be remembered on October 23, 2016. The book is based upon a true story of a courageous freedom fighter and his family, who suffered under the Russian communism and escaped, with only the clothes on their backs, to freedom. It’s an important tale of hope and freedom.

The article is well written, reasonable accurate except for dead count, which is over ten thousand. I was one of the leaders, and I will never forget the straggle of the Hungarians for freedom.

Hello. My mother is calld mariana nagy she was born in Budapest Hungary in 10.1.1954 and she leave the country to Argentina during the up rising she is the doguther of Ladislaou Nagy and Makdalena Nagy/Shimon And they where toghether with another famelliy member calld Pishta Nagy I Would like to Know if anyone is Sound Familier With those names all i know is those names please contact me: sebastianfainbelt@gmail.com

I too am looking for information about my father, Simon Boros who was a college student in Mosonmagyovar in 1956. I can tell you two good general sources of information that may help you: The Bridge at Andau by James Michener and Refugee Child by Bobbie Kalman. Both give a good overview of life before and during the revolution and how different people escaped.

My father come to south Africa 1956 October with the red cross. I am looking for family of Deszo Kónya he was from szoregt his mother was Viktoria maiden name Bordon and father was Andreas Kónya brother was Joseph and Andreas my father was born 1931 he was the youngest. He refused to talked about what happened to them in that time didn't want to learn us the language.

My father came here in the 50s in the up rise from Hungary to England I'm trying to trace anyone by the family name of moultesz?

I was about 9 years old in 1956 when the uprising occured in Hungry, many Hungarians were evacuted to England, I remember a young girl, a vacuee from Hungrey joining my class at school in Portsmouth, her name was Eva Baranaskie maybe spelt differently, my name then was Maria Milmer, She must have had an impact on me at the time as I often wondered what happened to her.

I am looking for anyone that knew my father, Zoltan Csaki, he fought in the 1956 revolution and escaped to Australia with my mother and two sisters. I believe he helped in the cutting of Stalins statue down from where it stood in Budapest. I am trying to learn more of my fathers history.

I am looking for my Father, unfortuanately I have very little detail, he fled Hungary, and came to the UK, living in London, he worked in Fullers Chocolate Factory Hammersmith W6, and also in a Hungarian restaurant on the Edgeware Road London, He was known as Andrew, but his Hungarian name I have been told would have been either (excuse the spelling as I have no idea how they would have been spelt) Andreas, or Andreche. I know this is a stab in the dark, but thankyou for reading.

I'm looking for any information on my grandfather Joseph Pinter. Spelling would probably be different. He was one of the students involved in the uprising. He fled to the UK and then moved to Australia. He never spoke about what happened and has passed away. I would like to find family in hungary if they are still there.

Hi, my dad came to Britain in 1956, his name is Istvan David. my dad refused to discuss any events about how and why he had to escape Hungary , he would not teach us the language and never mentioned anything about his family . He once let slip that he had a sister called Maria and often called out to someone called Anna? I have picked up snippets of information along the way but cannot piece anything together, unfortunately my dad died in 1997 and his secrets died with him. I am sure he said that he looked down upon the city of Hungary and that his village began with the letter s, He said he was Greek Orthadox but was not a practising one. The only thing I have of his is his green home office card and that gives me no information apart from his description. I do not know where to start looking to find out more information about him! Does someone recognise the name or is it quite common in Hungary? He was born 14 February 1939.

Does anyone recognize the names gyula kreiter and or Maria Schnee

My dad (Laszlo) was 17 years old when the revolution hit in Budapest. He was forced into the Hungarian army and the Uranium mine. His mother fled with him as a baby into Hungary to escape Hilter, and is a Hungarian Citizen. He escaped Hungary after the revolution, but before the Russians returned in November 1956, with his Hungarian military uniform on.. He was aware if he stayed he would be subject to the firing squad as he had declined orders to fire into the crowd once the revolution began. He and a few other military men, all 17 years old, made it to the river, and across from the river was Austria. On arrival they met a group of Russian Army men. They were robbed and told to get into the river, and swim. They got into the river and swam for Austria. He waited to hear gun shots, as he assumed once in the water, he would be shot, because he was deserting. They reached the Austrian side of the river, and looked back across at the Russian Army, and waved, they waved back, they let him go. He went into a red cross camp in Austria, and eventually was moved to Paris, France where he worked and lived for a couple of years, before being accepted into Canada in 1960. The Regime looked for him for quite some time, paying visits to my Grandmother, robbing her, and beating her up, while they asked where he was. I can tell you this, growing up with someone who has been through that trauma has not been easy. I had never known someone to be so afraid of "authority" (police, government, military, etc) I'm talking anxiety attacks. I always felt bad for him. Apparently the result of trauma, indoctrination, watching live executions, etc. He has never returned to Hungary, and never will. He never saw his family again. I never met my Grandmother, Aunts or family members. Laszlo = Hero Many men fight for what's right.. It takes courage and strength of Character to stand up Freedom is a battle, peace is the goal Children of war........I hear your cry

Please help, my grandfather was a student in Budapest and fled when his father was arrested. He won't talk about it anymore and so I can't find out much infomation. How important is it that the students got involved? Why did they start it and how did they contribute? Please get back to me, I can't find anything to help me anywhere.

I fled November 10th to Austria. later I lived in Hamburg/Germany and later immigrated to the USA. I still remember the fighting in Budapest where I was working. Dead people on the street and the smell that I will never forget. The west was promising help but failed to deliver. Suez was a great opportunity to the Russians to act with utmost brutality.

How many people did they deported to the Sovjet Union?

Does anyone know the name vilma nyilas[maiden name before marriage was may]This was my mother. My fathers name was lorinc antal reibling.They are both deceased my mother who was 98 just died august 5th 2013.If anyone knew either one of them please let me know Thank you

Could everyone email me as much as possible on this topic, it would mean a great deal. nhodg35@eq.edu.au

I learned a whole lot about the 1956 revolution by visiting your website. I wasn't alive in 1956, but was born on 4 November, so the events of that day stood the strongest to me. I hope that the 1956 revolution does not get lost in the annals of history as it's a very important event that all should remember.

I am one of the many fighters in 1956. En jartam a epuletgepeszeti teknikumba, a varba. Looking for some of my classmates. One is Joska Wagner. a nevem Fedak Janos.

Does anyone know of Gondor Rezso who fled to London after the Budapest uprising. I recently met his great nephew in Transylvania, Romania who would dearly love to trace this branch of his family.

You can try a geneecological sevrvice or just contact each county seat (capital) for info about their birth certificates if nothings found it means that they were born in 1 of the occupied territories good luck.If you got the time and money ust look in the phone book for names and like the old yellow pages commerical let your fingers do the walking

My dad ect has been back in 73 no problem .He can even regain citizenship with the new laws as do many Hun-Canadians ect.

I have a question that I am hoping someone here would know....my dad escaped from Hungary about 1958 (roughly) and arrived in Canada in 1959 and pretty much been a Canadian Citizen ever since but has never been back home. Since he escaped could there be ANY issue with him travelling back to Hungary for a vacation? I am sure there would not be but obviously if he went for a vacation but them had troubles leaving the country to cme home it would be a diaster :(

Hello Everyone Our family went to budapest last week for the first time to meet family we have never meet before it was wonderful Just wished we could find our fathers brother now He fled to Toronto in the 1956 uprising His name is LASZLO VIGH He was born in 1935 in Nagyszentjános Hungary he fled to Toronto in 1956 revolution Does anyone know anyone or any organization that could help us Thank you for taking the time to read this Please feel free to inbox me thank you mollymandy18@aol.com

Can anyone tell me where my family lived in Hungary before the 1956 Revolution. My grandmother, aunt and father fled from the country then. I don't know if Matyasi was the spelling back in Hungary. My grandmother's name was Zsuzsanna, my aunt's is the same spelling and my father's Hungarian name is Ference. I would really like some information on them.

I am related to Gergely Pongratz, the one who was considered the leader of the beginning of the protest. My gandpa, Andrew Pongratz, was his baby brother! together, with the help of their other 9 brothers and sisters, they knocked over the Stalin statue. After that and another incident, they all fled to America. only 3 of the siblings are left. thank you for giving this information out to the public! You can check out my great-uncle Gergely's book for his opinion to learn more!

I left Budapesty with my father in 1956, it was very interesting time of my life I saw great battles from my window, a russian ran into our building chasing a freedom fighter, he sprayed bullets, me and my father was on the stairs we had to crouch down. to doge the bullets. who are these idiots with their stupid coments on here why don't you delete them.

I heard about it when I was in London at the same time. Now good to read again, since I hope to visit in August 2011, next month. All I know is Goulash, which I have been preparing

Thank you. My friend & loved one, here with me in Canada, was only 14 years old, when he fought in revolution, & later imprisoned. Lost contact with family. Magyar name :Budai, Imre. He is a unspoken hero.

not bad

Patricia: your father was a real hero for making the choice to disobey orders. Imagine how many lives were saved by his action?

My father was in the Hungarian Army, he was one of the deserters...he told me he was ordered to kill his country men if they tried to cross. He abandoned his post without firing a single shot and went underground and surfaced in Canada. His last name was Fekete.

Where is all the information I need to know about the author? and when was this published?

My great grandparents escaped with my grandparents in '56 as there name was on lists... There were five of them and they had one suitcase. This page has been very helpful for me to not only understand what they went through before they escaped.. It has also been a great help as I am doing a project on the '56 rev. right now for social studies because I am missing a month of school to be in Hungary right now.. I am very proud to say that I am Hungarian and I hope that never changes.

My great grand father was a pharmacist in Budapest. when the revoltion started he knew alot of his patients would die if they didnt get their meds, so he crawled threw the tunnels (which many ppl made to communicate without getting caught) to give innulin and stuff like that. a person snitched on him, but the AVH didnt take him. instead, when his daughter tried to go to college they used that against her so she was unable to go. my grandfather on the other hand was a writer for a so called "under ground" newspapar. so close to getting caught. but thank the lord he didnt:)

my father was one of the few to leave his family and get out after swimming a freezing Danube and shot to pieces he escaped a mere boy at 14 years old.and has never found his family since.tough times i think

my family fled hungry early 1957. i remember my mother telling me stories on how hard it was tring to get us out. hiding in the woods with 5 children tring to get past the road blocks. i could go on but dont want to bore you it was a long time ago

why don't you just tell us about why Khrushchev crushed it?!?!?

great, thanks. so much easier to understand :)

Omg this is so much easier to understand than all of the other websites i have looked at thanks alot

i just wanted to noe da awnser to dis question: why was the hungarian uprising crushed by the soviet union?

I loved the page it really helped me but i think it should be mentioned that 30,000 hungarians died and 200,000 attempted to flee to Austria yes i checked the figures.

What were the key features of the uprising

Your comment: However, when a Soviet tank fired upon unarmed protesters in Parliament Square on the 25th October the fighting escalated. Erno Gero was forced to resign as First Secretary, with Janos Kadar replacing him. This is totally erroneous. The crowd was sprayed from rooftops by hard line communists or secret service agents and the Soviet tanks tried to protect the demonstrators. This is such a bad mistake that it should be corrected pronto.