Chronology of Events in Hungary

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BOX-FOLDER-REPORT: 29-3-100
TITLE:             Chronology of Events in Hungary
BY:                
DATE:              1956-12-12
COUNTRY:           Hungary
ORIGINAL SUBJECT:  ERS
THEMATIC SUBJECTS: Hungary--1956 Revolution, Strikes, Political Persecution

--- Begin ---

FROM THE EVALUATION AND RESEARCH SECTION	12 DECEMBER 1956

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS IN HUNGARY
(All from official Radio KOSSUTH unless
specified)

10 DECEMBER

0630	On December 9 the BUDAPEST Central Workers' Council called a 48 hours
	general strike as a protest against the arrest of members of workers'
	councils. On the same day BUDAPEST police surrounded the headquarters of
	the BUDAPEST Central Workers' Council and several factories. Tele-
	communication with abroad was cut off. (Radio NOVI SAD.)

0722	According to Radio BORSOD agents arrived in county Borsod from BUDAPEST
	to organize demonstrations and strikes. The radio calls upon Communists
	to report to the militia immediately to maintain order with arms.

	The county police headquarters call upon the population to report to
	service in the militia at once. Ban on grouping is in force in the
	county. (Radio BORSOD.)

1700	The National Federation of Hungarian Free Trade Unions condemns the
	calling of the strike and approves of the measures taken by the government
	against counter-revolutionary elements.

1705	Several factory workers' councils (BUDAPEST Anodecurrent Directing Plant,
	Municipal Artisans' Enterprise, County Borsod Factories, AJKA Power Station,
	etc.) condemn the calling of the strike. In their appeal they stated
	that foreign radios incited to the strike and that the dissolved BUDAPEST
	Central Workers' Council did not express the views of the workers.

1730	The workers' council of the GYOR Freight-Car and Machine Factory sided
	with the appeal of the BUDAPEST Central Workers' Council and called a
	48 hours strike. All factories in GYOR joined the appeal and entered
	into strike. (Radio GYOR.)

1800	According to a government decision the top organs of industrial management
	will be democratized to enable the workers to take part in directing the
	country's economic life. For this end a preparatory committee will be
	set up consisting of trade union leaders and members of workers' councils.

185O	Post office employees are called upon not to damage means of telecommunication
	as this action also comes under the martial law.

1930	According to a radio commentary the strike was called and is supported by
	counter-revolutionary elements.

1940	The radio attacks the workers' council of the Metallo-Chemical Works
	because it dismissed the Communists from leading positions.

[page 2]

1945	Radio report on the means by which the population prevented in several
	places (Bercsenyi Street Students' Home, BUDAPEST XIV. Steel Furniture
	Factory) the arrest of students and members of workers' councils.

2000	Four members of the dissolved BUDAPEST Central Workers' Council announced to
	KADAR that they condemn the calling of the strike.

2000	According to a radio commentary the Hungarian strike was incited by
	foreign radios. (Radio HOMELAND.)

2200	MENON, Indian Ambassador to MOSCOW, will return to Hungary immediately.

	A radio commentary strongly condemns the dissolution of the BUDAPEST Central
	Workers' Council. "The liquidated workers' councils proved that they were
	popular and that the workers supported them to a considerable extent."
	(Radio NOVI SAD.)

2400	The Central Workers' Council of the CSEPEL Works decided on December 8 (?:)
	to continue work.

2400	In the morning of December 10 no newspapers appeared in BUDAPEST. (Radio
	NOVI SAD.)

- end of December 10 -

11 DECEMBER

0600	According to a radio commentary the typical Hungarian form of farmers'
	co-operatives will be set up. It attacks those leaders who still want
	to impose the old methods on the kolkhozes.

0630	According to MAGYAR SZO the dissolution of central workers9 councils only
	increases the resistance of the people against the government. The policy
	of violence of the KADAR government does not bring the required results.
	(Radio NOVI SAD.)

0700	According to NEPSZABADSAG, in the BUDAPEST Central Workers' Councils it was not the will of the workers but that of counter-revolutionaries which
	prevailed.

	NEPARARAT writes in a similar sense.

1000	According to NEPSZABADSAG, Endre HAVAS, Bishop of CSANAD, sent a circular
	to the priests in which he condemned the strike.

	The paper reported that the 'counter-revolutionary provocation' in SALGO-
	TARJAN resulted in several dead and approximately 100 injured.

	NEPSZABADSAG states that the majority of refugees escaped without any serious
	reason. They were influenced by 'mass hysteria.'

	The paper also states that coal shortage is so grave that the heating in
	public health institutions is not functioning.

[page 3]

1015	No goods arrived today to the central market-hall by rail.

1205	Several factories (K0ML0 mines, BUDAPEST textile factories, etc.) entered
	the strike.

1500	Certain members of the workers' council of the Hungarian Freight-Car and
	Machine Factory refuse the appeal of the BUDAPEST Central Workers' Council
	and call upon the workers to continue work.

1515	According to a radio report work is suspended or reduced to a minimum
	in the majority of BUDAPEST factories.

1520	The government published the following two decrees:

	- Abolishment of special income tax paid by private artisans and traders
	according to the number of employees;

	-Abolition of tax for agricultural development paid by wealthier individual
	peasants) effective from January 1 1957.

1700	According to a government decree the private property of those who left for
	abroad or an unknown destination has to be blocked. Local councils will
	be charged with looking after the property. In case the owners come back
	not later than March 31 1957 it must be returned to them.

1700	The GYOR military commandant ordered curfew in the town. (Radio GYOR.)

1715	As from December 12 prohibition of drinks is in force all over the country.

1800	As from now onward martial law is in force.

1805	According to a radio commentary the strike was incited by RFE.

1830	The new Yugoslav Ambassador to BUDAPEST was appointed.

	On December 10 two high-ranking Soviet functionaries arrived in BUDAPEST.
	Rumors have it that re-shuffles are going to take place in the KADAR
	government.

	This afternoon numerous demonstrations occurred against the KADAR
	government. There is a general strike in BUDAPEST. (Radio NOVI SAD.)

1936	During the course of the morning a delegation from the factories in
	BUDAPEST XX. held negotiations with the government. It condemned the
	strike and asked the government to give a program.

1945	According to a radio Commentary, transportation workers refused to strike
	but were unable to work as they were hindered by groups disturbing the order.

[page 4]

2000	Leaders of BUDAPEST factories call upon the workers to resume work.

2000	A radio commentary denies the fact that there is a general strike in
	the whole country. (Radio HOMELAND.)

2015	The answer of Janos KADAR to the questions raised by the workers'
	delegation of BUDAPEST XX. factories:

	- The counter-revolution lost ground because the Hungarian Socialist
	Workers' Party and the militia are getting strong;
	- The government continues its offensive against the counter-revolution;
	- The government dissolved the BUDAPEST Central Workers' Council because
	it attacked the power of the government;
	- The government will be merciless with the counter-revolutionaries;
	- The government will give a positive program at the end of next week
	after the complete liquidation of the counter-revolution;
	- The government will go to such an extent in the democratization of
	political life which does not endanger the Hungarian People's
	Republic and Socialism.

2222	The Hungarian UN delegation announced that it will not take part in
	UN sessions as long as the UN interferes with Hungarian domestic policy.

2230	According to a communiqu� of the BUDAPEST police headquarters, on December 12
	the workers want to resume work everywhere.

- end of December 11 -
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