Hungary 1956, as my Grandfather saw it.

[Peter Orincsay]

For many years these photos were hidden up on the attic, rolled inside a curtain roll, in an old country house not far from Budapest. The discover of these kind of photograph could lead to years in prison for anyone.

My grandfather went around the last days October and in the beginning of November with his bike and photographed the scenes of the fighting of the 1956 peoples revolution.

The photographs shows the soviet troops leaving Budapest. Houses are damaged from the days of fighting and people are again moving in the streets.

These were the days of hope and success, filled with relief.

I got these photographs some years ago after the passing-away of my grandfather in 1995. He was blind the last 15 years of his life and was never able to see the photos again when he could finally take them from their hiding.

In the last days I scanned the whole series of the 25 photographs and display some of them for the first time ever, here on GMIC.

Edited September 17, 2009 by Peter Nyitray

[Peter Orincsay]

The building of the Hungarian Radio. It was here that the first real fighting started in the evening of the 23rd of October 1956.

[Peter Orincsay]

Temporarily dug graves for fallen martyrs seen in front of the statue.

[Peter Orincsay]

Buildings along the avenue are filled with evidence of the fierce fighting.

[Peter Orincsay]

Soviet troops is seen by strolling bystanders, leaving Budapest.

[Peter Orincsay]

Soviet tanks near the parliament building.

[Peter Orincsay]

A father with his son are walking among the empty trams.

[Guest Rick Research]

Tahnk you for sharing these remarkable photos.

I hope the city of Budapest's historical archives would also be interested in having copies of these.

I worked with a refugee of 1956 when I was in college-- they fled with nothing but the clithes on their backs, afraid to be slowed down by anything before the border was slammed shut again.

Eyewitness images like this are incredible.

[Ulsterman]

Fantastic historical images!!!! :cheers:

[hunyadi]

Peter - what a fantastic archive of historical photos. I wish that I could have asked you for permission to use the one for the Magyar Radio for publication. (BTW - the book is at the press as we speak = more details to follow! IE 2 weeks)

I would certainly get these images into the 1956 Archive or the Hungarian National Musuem. I think the Magyar Radio one is perhaps the most significant. Its also errie to see those and know I have walked those hallowed avenues...

[Peter Orincsay]

Soviet troops along the Budapest avenues. Seen on this photo are a BTR-152, light APC. They made easy targets for the "Molotov-cocktails" since they had a open top.

[Peter Orincsay]

Burned bodies of fallen soldiers are being removed. The buildings in the background are the "Killián Barracks". This were the scene of some of the most violent street battles during the revolution.

[Peter Orincsay]

The remains of a burned out BTR-152 APC, most likely on the Prater Street near "the Corvin Passage". Freedom fighters attacked the light APS´s with Molotov-cocktails in the near streets.

These vehicles had small chances to avoid the attacks since their open tops gave no protection.

Someone has written some comments on the destroyed vehicles.

"Javitás Alatt" means under construction. "MEO I" is a quality mark for top quality..

Edited September 19, 2009 by Peter Nyitray

[Peter Orincsay]

Another street view.

[Tony]

Peter,

I never show much interest in post 45/cold war photos but these are absolutely fantastic.

Tony

[Ulsterman]

I said it before, but I'll say it again- FANTASTIC!!!!! :cheers:

[Peter Orincsay]

People looks anxiously around on the remains of the previous days fighting.

The street is most likely Práter street near the Corvin Passage.

[Peter Orincsay]

Yet another burned out BTR-152 APC. "Alakitás Alatt" means under repair.

"Az élenjáró Szovjet ipar terméke, Hurráh" means The product of the outstanding Soviet technique HURRAY !

Bitter times resulted into bitter humour..

Edited September 19, 2009 by Peter Nyitray

[Peter Orincsay]

Bread id being handed out from a lorry to the people in Budapest. To ease the shortage of food in the city theses days, people from the country side helped with food deliveries.

[joe campbell]

had a chance as a small child to meet one of those men

who fought on the streets of budapest...

he was a handsome man with a brilliant smile.

i don't remember much more (age 7 or 8??) except

him saying in conversation with my parents

"they tried to kill my country!".

it left an impression which has lasted fifty years.

joe

[Peter Orincsay]

A convoy with Soviets passing by at the Avenue..

[Peter Orincsay]

A destroyed column at the entrance of the building. I'm not sure witch exact building it is in Budapest, maybe someone here can help me out?

[hunyadi]

I believe this is the entrance to the Technical University on the Pest side near Szabadsag hid (Freedom Bridge).

[Peter Orincsay]

I believe this is the entrance to the Technical University on the Pest side near Szabadsag hid (Freedom Bridge).

I found it! It wasn't the Technical University.. It´s the house of the Supreme Court on Markó Street.

Here´s a resent photo from Google.

[Peter Orincsay]

Tanks in the narrow street near the historical Museum. This photo looks like it´s taken from one of the tanks.