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BOX-FOLDER-REPORT: 30-3-219
TITLE:             Hungary's New Premier Ferenc Munnich: A Brief Biography
BY:                
DATE:              1958-1-27
COUNTRY:           Hungary
ORIGINAL SUBJECT:  Hungarian Evaluation and Research
THEMATIC SUBJECTS: Hungary--1956-1965, Government, Personalities

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RFE NEWS & INFORMATION
EVALUATION & RESEARCH

1958

News Background

HUNGARY'S NEW PREMIER FERENC MUNNICH: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

MUNICH, January 27, (Hungarian Evaluation & Research)
-- Born in 1886, MUNNICH studied in the northern part of Hungary and
in KOLOZSVAR (Transylvania) where he read for the bar. He joined
the army in World War I as cadet, was transferred to the Russian
front and was soon taken prisoner.  In 1917 he recruited
Hungarians into the Red Army in the TOMSK prisoner-of-war camp and later
fought himself in one of the Red regiments.

He returned to Hungary in 1918 and "became one of the founders
of the Communist Party. During the period of the 1919 republic
he was appointed commandant of the BUDAPEST Red guards, later the
political representative of the sixth Red division and finally
the political representative of the Red army headquarters.

After the defeat of the 1919 republic MUNNICH fled to the
USSR where he became one of the leaders of the mineral oil industry.
In 1936 he volunteered for the Spanish front where, under the name
of Otto PLATTER, he became head of one of the revolutionary
divisions, then commandant of the 11th International Brigade.

After the defeat of the Spanish Government forces he was
interned in France, then returned to the USSR. He also took part
in World War II and was present at the battle of STALINGRAD.
MUNNICH returned to Hungary in autumn 1945, was first appointed
High Sheriff of PECS, then Chief Commandant of the BUDAPEST
police.  Later he entered the diplomatic service, was ambassador
in Finland (1949), in Bulgaria (1950) and in MOSCOW (September
1954).

Following the fall of RAKOSI at the beginning of August 1956
MUNNICH was appointed Ambassador in BELGRADE. At the beginning of
the revolutionary events he was called back. On 24 October 1956
he was elected to- the new Central Committee of the HWP and on 27
October 1956 was appointed Minister of the Interior in the first
Imre NAGY government.

M0NNTCH was not included in the second Imre NAGY government
which was formed on 3 November 1956.  According to reliable private
information, MUNNICH left the Houses of Parliament without prior
notice in the morning of November 2, accompanied by KADAR, and

[page 2]

NEWS BACKGROUND, HUNG. EVAL. & RESEARCH), January 27, 

drove to the Soviet Embassy in BUDAPEST.

MUNNICH was one of the founders of the KADAR government on
November 4 in which he held the post of Deputy Premier and
Minister of the Armed Forces and Public Safety.

MUNNICH was also founder of the HSWP and was elected member
of the Central and Executive Committees on 28 February 1957. He
was also made First Deputy Premier.

On 30 June 1957, when the HSWP worked out its final
organization, he was confirmed as member of the Central Committee and was
also made member of the Politburo.  He still holds both positions.

According to several, as yet unconfirmed, sources MUNNICH
was during the war for a time one of the editors of the MOSCOW
Hungarian "broadcasts.

It is worthy of attention that on 23 October 1957 MUNNICH
write a commemorative article on Be la Kun. The article was hailed
by "Nepszabadsag" as the first to give an accurate picture of the
personality and fighting life of Bela Kun.

End

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