The 50th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution will be upon is in a couple of weeks. Any of our more senior Dopers care to share their memories of that historic event? Even if you only viewed it from afar (I can’t imagine we have many 50+ Hungarian members), what do you remember of the event? What were your impressions, and how did you think things would turn out?
FWIW, I have a sketchy third-hand account. When I was growing up, my family had a neighbor who had swum to escape the Soviets in 1956. He was in medical school at the time, and apparently did not get out when the going was easiest, but waited until after the Soviet invasion had started (and perhaps until after the mass arrests and executions had begun).
His best friend, a fellow med student, also determined to make a run [swim] for it. They scouted the riverbank and found a promisingly secluded area between guardposts. After fortifying their courage with a few drinks, they waited until around 2 A.M., made for their preselected spot and just swam like hell. The water was cold, but that probably helped sober them up a bit. They both made it. Our neighbor even managed to finish his medical studies and become a doctor.
Checking a map, I’m guessing they crossed the Danube into Austria. Next time I talk to my folks, I’ll try to remember to ask them about it.
We had 2 young refugees come and live with a local small airport operator for several years. Watched a lot of stuff on TV about it as I recall. They were nice guys and were always patient with us kids asking stuff. ( We had airplanes at the field and were there a lot. ) I was about 12-14 when they got here and they were at the airport for about 2 years. They were about 18 as I recall. Their folks had been killed trying to get out.
I remember the pictures of the tanks in the streets and it was my first ‘Red’ scare that later became all to common.
They thought we were coming to protect them and we left them without a prayer. I’m surprised they still let us into the country. I remember being ashamed of our country when I read about it in about 1960.