Soviet Military Intervention V in Hungary 1956 edited by Jeno Gyorkei and Miklos Horvath with a study by Alexandr M. Kirov and memoirs of Yevgeny I. Malashenko CEUPRESS Central European University Press Budapest
Contents Preface to the Series and Acknowledgements xi Abbreviations 2 Additional Data on the History of the Soviet Military Occupation Jeno Gyorkei and Miklos Horvath Soviet Troops in Hungary after World War II 5 "Soviet Troops Must Enter Budapest" 8 The Hungarian Revolution and Events in Poland 9 Comrade Hegediis Makes a Request 10 "The Hungarian Army Has Done Badly" 14 The First Shots and the Occupation of the Radio Station 15 What Was Known in Moscow of the Hungarian Events 20 The Hungarian People's Army and the Revolution 22 The "Division of Labor" Changes 28 The Policy for the Peaceful Liberation of the Captive Nations and Its Failure 30 Forces Brought to Budapest Prove Insufficient 32 Soviet Tanks Open Fire-Kossuth Square, October 25, 1956 36 "We Increase the Number of Troops Active in Budapest" 40
VI Further Reasons for the Divisions in the Hungarian People's Army 42 "The Military Viewpoint Overtakes the Political Viewpoint" 44 "Two Possible Routes Lie Ahead of Us" 49 The Final Attempt 54 The Attack Begins 57 "The Situation is Deteriorating" 61 Counter-Revolution? National Democratic Revolution? 63 "How Can We Master the Situation? Real Power: the Army!" 68 Soviet Troop Withdrawal from Budapest 70 "At Present the Number of Soviet Troops Stationed Here is Adequate" 71 "Troops Must Stay in Hungary" 74 Mikoyan's Unsuccessful Attempts 76 Imre Nagy Demands an Explanation-Kadar Speaks in Support of Nagy 78 "Nobody Wanted a Counter-Revolution" 79 Murders, Atrocities and Kadar's Propaganda Intrigues 83 Central Leadership of the Revolution 85 "Revolution is Revolution" 90 The Command of Budapest Public Safety Forces is Formed 93 The Soviet Embassy "Siege" 94 National Guard Supreme Command is Formed 96 Polish "No," Yugoslav "Yes" 99 "This Government Should Not Be a Puppet Government" 103 The Revolution Turns into a War 105 A Mosaic of the Resistance 109 Notes 115
Vll Soviet Military Intervention in Hungary, 1956 Alexandr M. Kirov Questions are Increasingly Being Raised 129 The Hungarian Workers Party Proves Unable to Lead Society 130 The "Wave," a Plan for Armed Intervention 132 How It Began 133 The Plan Is Set in Motion 135 Soviet Troops in Budapest 137 "A Friendly Message to the Workers of the Hungarian People's Republic" 140 Re-evaluation of the Situation 143 Command to Cease Fire 146 Refugees and Hosts 148 Troop Invasion Continues 151 Preparations for a New Military Operation 153 The Beginning of Operation "Whirlwind" 157 UN General Assembly Decision 161 "Who Represents the Will of the People?" 165 The Organization of the Soviet City Commands 167 The End of the Suppression of the Uprising 169 Rearguard Actions 171 "Sepilov Lied" 176 "There Have Been, and Will Be, Arrests" 179 And What Happened Afterwards 182 The Hungarian October and the Present 183 The Old View Is No Longer Valid 186 Soviet Troop Losses 187 Troops Withdraw, the Graves Stay Behind 189 After Nearly 40 Years 190 The Price of the Khrushchev-Kadar Agreement 191 Conclusion 193 Notes 195 Tables 201
Vlll The Special Corps under Fire in Budapest - Memoirs of an Eyewitness Y. I. Malashenko To the Reader 209 Chapter I-On the Eve of the Events In Hungary-in the Special Corps Staff 211 Mistakes and Consequences 216 The Drafting of the Plan for Restoring Social Order 217 The Protests and the Armed Uprising in Budapest 222 Chapter II-Soviet Troops in Budapest The Hungarian Government Requests Help 224 The Beginning of Combat Operations 227 The Arrival of Soviet Political and Military Leaders in Budapest 232 The Arrival of New Formations and the Soviet Troop Operations in Budapest 234 Chapter Ill-Soviet Troop Withdrawal from Budapest The Fight Continues 244 Kadar Requests Military Aid 247 Preparations for Combat Operation 248 The Arrest of the Hungarian Delegation 253 Chapter IV-Operation "Whirlwind" Special Army Corps Troops in Budapest Once Again 259 The Destruction of Armed Groups in the Country 263 The Direction of Soviet Troops in Hungary 265 The Final Destruction of Armed Groups in the Capital 266 Bela Kiraly, Commander in Chief of the National Guard 269 Soviet Troop Losses in Hungary 273 Nikita Khrushchev, Imre Nagy and Janos Kadar 275 The Historical Tragedy 278
IX Afterword The History of the History 283 Y. I. Malashenko's Letter to Jeno Gyorkei 285 Notes 288 Appendices and Maps 291 Biographical Notes 297