From October 23, 1956, an armed struggle for freedom unfolded against the communist dictatorship and the Soviet occupation.

Despite the promise of the Soviet leadership, the Russian troops did not leave the country, so on November 1st, Imre Nagy, the newly elected Prime Minister, announced Hungary's neutrality and withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact, and appealed to the great powers of the UN for help.

The fate of the revolution was sealed by the Soviet invasion on November 4.

At dawn, the military occupation began throughout the country. Imre Nagy's famous radio speech was broadcast at 5:20 in the morning, in which he informed the public of the country and the world about armed intervention without a declaration of war. The Soviet overwhelming force marched into the capital with tanks, but they were only able to eliminate the resistance at Széna tér, Corvin-köz, Óbuda, Kőbánya, the VIII. and the IX. at several locations in the district, and finally in Csepel, on November 11.

In 2013, the Hungarian government declared November 4 a national day of mourning. On Memorial Day, Hungary's national flag will be lowered to half-mast, and then, according to tradition, the martyrs of the 1956 War of Independence and the victims of retaliation will be remembered by lighting candles at the Heroes' Wall of the Terror House Museum, laying wreaths at plot 300 of the Rákoskeresztúr Újköztemető, and holding a memorial concert in the Szent István Basilica.

Memorial Day program:

9 a.m.: Raising the Hungarian flag with military salute and lowering it to half-mast on Kossuth Square.

5:30 p.m.: Memorial concert in the Szent István Basilica

On show: Fauré: Requiem

Contributors: Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Hungarian Radio Choir
Zita Szemere - Soprano
Fülep Máté - Baritone
Conductor: dr. Zoltán Pad

Participation in the concert is only possible through prior registration. their intention to register at the e-mail address [email protected]

The event will be broadcast by Hungarian Television on the M5 channel.

After the memorial concert, a common candle lighting on the main staircase of the Basilica.

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Non-protocol commemoration at plot 301 of the Új Közmető

Featured image source: kormany.hu