Budapest, Hungary

On October 23, 1956, violence erupted at a college demonstration into what would eventually be referred to as The Hungarian Revolution of 1956. It began as a peaceful petition against the Stalinist Government of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies. The demonstration attracted thousands of people to Central Budapest and the Parliament Building. The State Security Police (AVH) began to fire within the radio building after denying the protesters request to broadcast on air. The revolution spread across Hungary and thousands of civilians organized into militias. The government fell. Pro-soviet communists and AVH members were imprisoned and executed. A new government was erected, AVH was disbanded and free elections were re-established nationwide. The revolution ended less than a month later, on November 10, 1956.