In 1956, an uprising against the communist regime took place in Hungary, which in the USSR was called a "counter-revolutionary rebellion." At that time, Matyas Rakosi, a big admirer of Stalin and a fan of persecuting people for any dissent and sending them to camps, was in power in Hungary. His draconian policy was very unpopular among the Hungarians (but generally suited the Soviet authorities). Therefore, an attempt to overthrow him turned into the intervention of Soviet troops and the bloody suppression of the rebellion. Among the Hungarians, 2,652 insurgents died that year, 348 civilians, and 19,226 were wounded.
I found a good material for you about how it was. Under the cut, only official documents and archival photographs.
Information of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR in the Central Committee of the CPSU on the situation in Hungary as of 12.00 November 4, 1956
Special folder. Owls. secret. Ex. No. 1
At 6 o'clock 15 min. November 4 p. Soviet troops began an operation to restore order and restore people's democratic power in Hungary.
Acting according to a predetermined plan, our units captured the main strongholds of the reaction in the province, which were Gyor, Miskolc, Gyongyes, Debrecen, as well as other regional centers of Hungary.
During the operation, Soviet troops occupied the most important communication centers, including a powerful broadcast radio station in the city of Szolnok, ammunition and weapons depots, and other important military installations.
Soviet troops operating in the city of Budapest, having broken the resistance of the rebels, occupied the parliament buildings, the TsR VPT, as well as a radio station in the parliament area.
Captured three bridges across the river. Danube, linking the eastern and western parts of the city, and an arsenal with weapons and ammunition. The entire composition of the counter-revolutionary government of Imre Nagy went into hiding. Searches are underway.
In Budapest, there was one large center of rebel resistance in the area of the Korvin cinema (south-eastern part of the city). The rebels defending this stronghold were presented with an ultimatum to surrender, in connection with the refusal of the rebels to surrender, the troops began the assault.
The main garrisons of the Hungarian troops are blocked. Many of them laid down their arms without serious resistance. Our troops have been instructed to return to command the Hungarian officers removed by the rebels, and to arrest the officers appointed to replace those removed.
In order to prevent the penetration of enemy agents into Hungary and the flight of the leaders of the rebels from Hungary, our troops occupied the Hungarian airfields and firmly blocked all roads on the Austro-Hungarian border. The troops, continuing to carry out their tasks, clear the territory of Hungary from the rebels.
APRF. F. 3. Op. 64. D. 485.
Information of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR in the Central Committee of the CPSU on the situation in Hungary as of 9.00 on November 7, 1956
During the night of November 7, Soviet troops continued to liquidate small groups of rebels in the city of Budapest. In the western part of the city, our troops fought to destroy the center of resistance in the area of the former Horthy Palace.
During the night, there was a regrouping of the rebel forces in Budapest. Small groups tried to leave the city in a westerly direction. At the same time, a large center of resistance was discovered in the area of the city theater, the park to the east of this theater and in the neighborhoods adjacent to them.
On the territory of Hungary at night it was calm. Our troops carried out activities to identify and disarm groups of rebels and individual Hungarian units.
The government of the Hungarian People's Republic left Szolnok and arrived in Budapest at 6:10 am on November 7. The troops continue to carry out their assigned tasks.
Note: "Comrade Khrushchev familiarized. Archive. 9.XI.56. Dolud".
AP RF. F. 3. Op. 64. D. 486.
Information of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR in the Central Committee of the CPSU on the situation in Hungary as of 9.00 on November 9, 1956
Special folder Owls. secret. Ex. No. 1
During November 8, our troops restored order in Budapest, combed the forests in certain parts of the country, caught and disarmed scattered small groups of rebels, and also seized weapons from the local population.
District military commandant's offices have been set up in Budapest. A normal life is gradually being established in the country, a number of enterprises, urban transport, hospitals and schools have started to work. Local authorities are expanding their activities.
According to preliminary data, the losses of the Soviet troops during the period of hostilities in Hungary from October 24 to November 6 this year. 377 people are killed, 881 people are wounded. Including 37 killed and 74 wounded officers.
About 35,000 Hungarians have been disarmed by our troops. A large number of weapons, military equipment and ammunition were captured during the fighting and taken under guard as a result of disarmament, the accounting of which continues.
Note: "Comrade Khrushchev familiarized. Archive. 10.IX.56. Doluda".
AP RF. F. 3. Op. 64. D. 486. L. 43.
Information of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR in the Central Committee of the CPSU on the situation in Hungary as of 9.00 on November 10, 1956
Special folder Owls. secret. Ex. No. 1
During November 9, our troops continued to eliminate small groups of rebels, disarmed former Hungarian army soldiers, and also seized weapons from the local population.
A group of rebels offered stubborn resistance in the suburbs of Budapest - on the northern outskirts of Csepel Island. Three of our tanks were hit and burned in this area.
The political situation in the country continues to improve. However, in some places, hostile elements are still trying to prevent the establishment of order and the normalization of life in the country.
The situation continues to be difficult in Budapest, where the population lacks food and fuel. The government of Janos Kadar, together with the Command of the Soviet Forces, is taking measures to provide the population of Budapest with food.
Note: "Comrade Khrushchev reported. Archive. 10.XI.56. Dolud".
AP RF. F. 3. Op. 64. D. 486. L. 96.
Telephone message I.A. Serov from Budapest N.S. Khrushchev on the operational work carried out by the Soviet and Hungarian state security agencies
Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU comrade. Khrushchev N.S.
Yesterday the Minister of Public Security, Comrade Münnich, sent an order to the regional organizations, in which he pointed out that in the localities, contrary to the prohibition of the government, state security organs were being created. Therefore, he orders all employees of the state security organs to stop their work on the formation of organs and go home.
Considering that the special departments of the divisions carry out all the work on the removal of counter-revolutionary rebels through the Hungarian employees of the state security organs who appeared after the occupation of the cities by parts of the Soviet Army, today I talked with Comrade Münnich and asked how he further had in mind to carry out work to identify and arrest the counter-revolutionary element after such an order.
Tov. Münnich answered me that he issued the directive on the basis of instructions from the government, as provided for by the Government's Declaration.
Some time later, Comrade Kadar came to Comrade Münnich's office and said that he would also like to talk to me. During the conversation, Comrade Kadar focused on the following questions:
1. He had representatives of some regions, in particular the Salnok region, who informed Kadar that the officers of the Soviet Army were arresting a lot and, along with the arrest of the counter-revolutionary element, they were also arresting ordinary participants in the insurrectionary movement.
He believes that this should not be done, since people who participated in the insurgency are very afraid of revenge from the government, while the Government Declaration said that those who lay down their arms and stop resisting will not be punished. The Hungarian government should not take revenge and show cruelty against such persons.
The representative of the Salnok region told Comrade Kadar that when 40 people were arrested in the region, representatives from the workers came and said that they would not start working until the arrested were released. In other regions, there were rumors that 6,000 people had been arrested in Salnok.
Tov. Kadar pointed out that the arrests of the reactionaries were former employees of the state security organs, whom the government had dismissed. It is not to our advantage before the people that Hungarian state security officers participate in arrests. You must bear in mind that in our country the mood of the masses is of great importance. The Soviet comrades and our members of the state security organs may arouse the indignation of the masses with arrests.
I said that the members of the state security organs in Hungary are now doing positive work in the removal of counter-revolutionary rebels. In a few days, when those who pose a threat to the current government are isolated, then these employees should be transferred to another job. Tov. Kadar and comrade Munnich agreed with this.
I explained to Comrade Kadar that the special departments of the divisions were instructed to arrest all the organizers of the rebellion, persons who resisted units of the Soviet Army with weapons in their hands, as well as citizens who incited and kindled the hatred of the people (during the Nagy government) towards the Communists and employees of the state security, as a result of which some of them were shot, hanged and burned.
As for the rank and file participants in the uprising, they are not arrested. Tov. Kadar and comrade Munnich agreed that this indication was correct.
I further added that it was possible that individuals not belonging to the listed categories could be arrested. Therefore, all those arrested are carefully filtered and those who did not play an active role in the rebellion are released.
Taking into account the liberal attitude shown by the leading workers of Hungary towards the enemies, I instructed the special departments to send all those arrested as soon as possible from the regions and cities to the Chop station, and also explained the organization of the political department in the regions.
2. Further, Comrade Kadar said that in the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Budapest), where a large number of state security officers are concentrated, an unhealthy situation has arisen, since among the employees of the organs there are persons who worked in the organs under Rakosi and played a negative role.
Therefore, he believes that these employees should be immediately removed and given other jobs. In addition, he considers it appropriate to disband the security department, as these are dishonest people.
I expressed the wish that Comrade Münnich quickly issue an order, as we agreed, on the organization of the people's police and staffed it with the most dedicated honest employees, and also formed a "political department" (department of state security), which could begin work. Then this issue will be removed.
At the same time, we agreed with Comrade Münnich that there would be no more than 20-25 people in the political department of the center with an open staff, and the rest of the employees would work in a secret staff.
The political department will include: foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, secret political service, investigation and a special service of operational equipment. Tov. Munnich said that he would sign such an order tomorrow. I will report on the number of those arrested by regions and the seized weapons in a separate note.
AP RF. F. 3. Op. 64. D. 487. L. 78-80.
Telephone message I.A. Serov and Yu.V. Andropov from Budapest to the Central Committee of the CPSU about sending the arrested Hungarians to the territory of the USSR
Today, throughout the day, Comrades Kadar and Münnich (each separately) called us repeatedly, who reported that the Soviet military authorities had sent to the Soviet Union (Siberia) a train of Hungarian youth who had taken part in an armed rebellion.
Kadar and Münnich declared in this connection that they did not approve of such actions on our part, since these actions caused an alleged general strike of the Hungarian railway workers and worsened the internal political situation in the country as a whole.
Tonight, the Budapest radio them. Kossuth conveyed a tendentious message about the deportation of Hungarian youth to Siberia. Tov. Munnich requested that the command of the Soviet troops make an official statement in the press that it did not and would not export anyone from Hungary to the USSR. On our part, Comrade Munnich was told that we would clarify this issue and tomorrow we would inform him of the answer.
In fact, today, November 14, a small echelon was sent to the Chop station with arrested persons, whose investigation files were registered as active participants and organizers of the armed rebellion. The echelon followed the border.
When the echelon was moving, the prisoners at two stations threw notes out the window, in which they said that they were being sent to Siberia. These notes were picked up by Hungarian railroad workers who reported it to the government. On our line, instructions have been given to send those arrested in the future in closed vehicles under reinforced escort.
Tomorrow, at a meeting with Comrade Munnich, Comrade Serov intends to tell him that in view of the absence in Hungary of a prison sufficiently prepared for keeping prisoners, where it would be possible to conduct an objective investigation, we had in mind to place a small group of arrested people in a room close to Soviet-Hungarian border. Comrades Suslov and Aristov have been informed of this.
Andropov
AP RF. F. 3. Op. 64. D. 486. L. 143-144.
Reference
According to statistics, in connection with the uprising and hostilities in the period from October 23 to December 31, 1956, 2,652 Hungarian rebels died, 348 civilians, and 19,226 people were injured.
The losses of the Soviet army, according to official figures, amounted to 669 people killed, 51 missing and 1251 wounded.
The losses of the Hungarian People's Army were, according to official figures, 53 killed and 289 wounded soldiers.
The total number of lost military equipment is unknown.
2nd Guards MD, the first to enter the rebellious Budapest, lost 4 tanks on October 24, 1956.
The 33rd MD during the operation "Whirlwind" lost 14 tanks and self-propelled guns, 9 armored personnel carriers, 13 guns, 4 MLRS, 6 anti-aircraft guns and other equipment, as well as 111 military personnel.
According to Hungarian communist sources, after the liquidation of the armed groups, a large number of Western-made weapons fell into the hands of the troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the police: German MP-44 assault rifles and American Thompson submachine guns.
Budapest suffered as a result of street fighting between Soviet troops and rebels, 4,000 houses were completely destroyed in the city and another 40,000 were damaged.
If you were born in 1956, you will never know how many children in our country were born at the same time as you. And also - how many marriages and divorces happened in the Soviet Union this year and how many inhabitants of a great country moved to another world. You won’t even know how many citizens in general were the happy owners of a sickle and hammered Soviet passport (with a cover not red, but dark green). Therefore, you will not know that there are no statistics in the USSR yet. The census was conducted in the 39th, and the next one will be only in the 59th. But if it weren't for the events of 1956, it would never have taken place.
The year 1956 is a turning point, its beginning and end are like different eras. After the death of Stalin, quite a bit of time passed, but mass grief for the "leader of the peoples" and the question in the eyes of "How to live on?" remained in the past - we live and will live! Between the winter and spring of this year there is a milestone: the 20th Congress, which stirred up and split the society. The spring of 1956 is the beginning of the legendary Khrushchev “thaw”. But spring still needs to be reached.
—The Chukchi were given an apartment on the 9th floor. - Like? they ask him some time later. - Legs hurt, walk high on the ninth. But the elevator is... The Chukchi were given an apartment on the 9th floor. - Like? they ask him some time later. - Legs hurt, walk high on the ninth. But there is an elevator. - Yes, there is, but it says that it is designed for 4 people. Long wait for three more. Type: Sadistic rhymes
—In the Voronezh region there is a camp "Zolotoy Kolos". This is a children's camp. There used to be a castle on the site of this camp. There lived a rich gentleman. U n… In the Voronezh region there is a camp "Zolotoy Kolos". This is a children's camp. There used to be a castle on the site of this camp. There lived a rich gentleman. He had a servant Belin. One day he ordered her to wash his white shirt. Belina washed it, but when she hung it up to dry, she accidentally dropped her shirt. The master was terribly angry, he cut off Belina's head and buried it under a tree. He made a cross on a tree. (Last year I was in the camp - the cross really exists, there is a mound under the tree). After that, Belina became completely white - hair, body, everything. Now at night she walks around the camp and if she sees a sleepless man in a white shirt after midnight, she will strangle him ...
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The events in the USSR in 1956 radically changed the course of development of the state. This year has been full of successful discoveries, political announcements and important laws. If we analyze the course of events, then in the chronology one can see a certain logical connection.
Event #1
On February 13, 1956, the Soviet Antarctic was opened. The construction of the facility was carried out as soon as possible. Shock construction began on January 5, 1956, when the Soviet ship "Ob" approached the coast of Antarctica. Until February 13, the ship's crew built 21 buildings for research and accommodation for members of the expedition, as well as an airfield. they could already fly great distances, so the path through the air was much faster than by water. The grandiose construction ended the day before the opening of the fateful 20th Congress of the CPSU. Is it logical? Undoubtedly! We would try not to!
February 1956: an event in the USSR that changed attitudes towards Stalin
Soviet life from the early 1930s until Stalin's death in 1953 was full of horrors. Repressions, deaths, denunciations, executions, the destruction of the best soldiers before the start of the war, the exaltation of the personality of Joseph Stalin. Such moments were obvious excesses and were not prescribed in the Marxist-Leninist theory, which in its essence was quite interesting and democratic.
The convention opened on February 14, 1956. More than 1,400 delegates representing all the republics of the Union took part in its work. The importance of this event was that the 19th Congress took place in the 1930s. It was necessary to restart all spheres of life in Soviet society. The congress delegates condemned the political excesses that took place during Stalin's rule. It was emphasized that Stalin did not become a follower of Lenin in the implementation of the provisions of the Marxist-Leninist theory. At this congress there was a creative rethinking of the life of the USSR in the last 20 years. The delegates agreed on important decisions of the Council of Ministers concerning the gradual increase in wages and the strengthening of the development of agriculture. The so-called thaw began in cultural life. The apogee of the congress and the entire political life of the state for many years has come. It was on this day that Nikita Khrushchev delivered his famous report on debunking the cult of personality.
Kuibyshev - the city of mysticism and faith in God
Atheism... Godlessness... 1956... The events in the USSR in Kuibyshev proved to many supporters of the absence of heavenly forces the fallacy of their views. "Standing Zoe" is a miracle that shook the whole city. Important events in the USSR in 1956 did not always become public knowledge. For example, only the residents of Kuibyshev, the internal affairs bodies and the church knew about "Zoya's standing". What happened on the evening before the New Year in an ordinary Soviet family? The girl wanted to celebrate the New Year with friends, dancing, etc. Her mother tried to dissuade her from such a celebration, because the Advent was not yet over. It is clear that the youth of that time did not honor church orders. Mother went to church to pray, and a party started at home. Girlfriends came with their young people, but Zoya's boyfriend Nikolai was a little late. It turned out that she had no one to dance with. The girl took the image of St. Nicholas in her hands, saying: "I will dance with this Nicholas!" Almost immediately after that, a radiance appeared in the room, the girl turned to stone in the literal sense of the word. The peculiarity of this fact was that she did not die, because her heartbeat was felt. A pilgrimage literally began from all over the city to Zoya's house, so police guards were placed there. Church dignitaries also came to read prayers over Zoya. "Zoya's Stand" lasted 128 days and ended on May 6, 1956 at Easter. After this event, atheism in Kuibyshev ended - people began to go to church, pray and undergo the rite of baptism. The year 1956 was marked by such a sensation.
Events in the USSR: football
Football was on its way. The USSR Championship was already held in several divisions. This year, the geography of the championship participants has expanded due to teams from remote Soviet republics and teams from the Far East. In the Premier League, the standings at the end of the season, of course, were headed by the capital's clubs. Spartak became the champion with 34 points. Moscow "Dynamo" lagged behind by 6 points, and CDSA - by as much as 9 points. What do you think, who became the best non-Moscow club? Correctly! "Dynamo" (Kyiv) took 4th place in the tournament. "Labor reserves" (Leningrad) and "ODO" (Sverdlovsk) flew out to the first league.
Football events in the USSR in 1956 were not limited to the championship. Melbourne, Australia hosted the Summer Olympics. The main favorites of the football tournament, despite the participation of the German, British, Yugoslav teams (all these countries sent youth), were the teams of the USSR and Bulgaria. In addition to these teams, several frankly weak teams took part in the tournament. The Soviet team had 5 fights (4 wins and a draw). In the tournament, our players passed the German youth, Indonesia (they had to play a replay), Bulgaria. In the final with a score of 1:0 won against the team of Yugoslavia.
Changes in labor legislation
The significant events of 1956 were not limited to football, the Congress of the CPSU and the opening of a station in Antarctica. Important changes were made in the labor legislation. On May 26, the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR "On the establishment of a six-hour working day for persons aged 16 to 18" was signed. On July 14, 1956, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR adopted the Law "On State Pensions", which provided for a slight increase in pensions for persons entitled to them, as well as the possibility of assigning pensions to collective farm workers if they had a passport and the opportunity to confirm the length of service.
Treaty with Japan
Let's talk about what happened in the USSR in 1956. Of the foreign policy events, it is worth recalling reconciliation with Japan. Until now, it is believed in the general public that the Second World War has not officially ended, because the successors of the USSR did not sign a peace treaty with Japan. On October 19, Soviet and Japanese diplomats held negotiations, as a result of which a Declaration was signed on the cessation of the state of war between states. The countries restored diplomatic relations and exchanged ambassadors.
Development of virgin lands
As we have already noted, many events in the USSR in 1956 left a significant mark on history. The development of virgin lands is one of them. In the Central Asian republics, many lands that could potentially become sown were not cultivated. For this they had to be processed. In 1956, a resolution of the Council of Ministers "On the development of virgin lands" was issued. A trip to the development of virgin lands has become the most popular Komsomol route in the country. Already in 1956, more than 50 thousand people visited these works for the benefit of the Soviet motherland.
Aircraft building
In 1956, Soviet engineers surprised the whole world with a new model of a passenger liner. We are talking about a jet aircraft TU-104. This model was demonstrated at air shows. The liner made its first regular flight on the route "Moscow - Omsk - Irkutsk". Fast, convenient and inexpensive - the main principle in the work of "Aeroflot". Soviet engineers never ceased to amaze the world with new achievements all the time.
Conclusion
Probably, February 1956 turned out to be the most eventful with important moments. Event number 1 in the USSR, of course, which determined the development trends of the state for years to come. Many resolutions of the Council of Ministers and the Presidium of the Supreme Council, issued in 1956, implemented the decisions taken at the congress. 1956 was one of the most important and fruitful years in the history of the USSR.
The year 1956 was marked by many events that left a noticeable mark on the history of Soviet fine art. Contents 1 Events 2 Born 3 Died ... Wikipedia
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Books
- Magazine "Hunting and hunting economy". Semi-annual filing for 1956 (numbers 7 - 12),. The magazine "Hunting and hunting economy" is the oldest domestic periodical about hunting, the flagship of hunting periodicals in Russia, the record holder - the longest-lived among all, ever ...
- A year in the forest, Sokolov-Mikitov Ivan Sergeevich. The modest Russian forest will not leave anyone indifferent. Even on the most frosty winter days, life does not stop here: black grouse burrow into the snow, packs of wolves roam along the snow-covered paths... Joyfully...
Thanks to a team of authors from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the published book "Secrecy Removed", it became possible to speak openly about the events that took place several decades ago outside the USSR, and about the role of our compatriots in these events.
The staff of the Institute of Military History prepared and published the All-Russian Book of Memory. Despite the fact that this work is based on the "List of states, cities, territories and periods of hostilities with the participation of citizens of the Russian Federation", which is published in the Annexes to the Federal Law on Veterans of December 16, 1994 and the law "On Amendments and Additions to Federal Law "On Veterans" dated January 2, 2000, the authors were forced to include in their book the names of servicemen who died during the Caribbean crisis and after it in Cuba in 1962-1964. And also when troops were sent to Czechoslovakia in 1968 ( these countries, for unknown reasons, do not appear in the List, but the development of events in them largely influenced the military-political situation in the world).
The authors, whose competence no one doubts, have already come to the conclusion that one of the main directions of Soviet military participation in the events that took place abroad was the participation of our military personnel in hostilities as a result of actions by the country's top political leadership aimed at maintaining the unity of the socialist camp , keeping allies in the Warsaw Pact. The theater of unfolding actions in this case was Europe, namely Hungary (1956) and Czechoslovakia (1968).
The 1950s and 1960s in Eastern Europe, and specifically in the countries of the socialist camp, were marked by a number of events that led to the use by the Soviet Union not only of political means, but also of military force.
On May 14, 1955, in response to the formation of the North Atlantic bloc of NATO, the European socialist states signed in Warsaw the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, known as the Warsaw Pact.
However, the events in Hungary that took place a year and a half after its signing, as well as the events in Czechoslovakia that took place more than thirteen years later, were of a pronounced political nature, indicating the presence of certain forces in these countries. The events in 1956 in Hungary and in 1968 in Czechoslovakia also showed the whole world that the Soviet leadership was striving at all costs to preserve the unity of the resulting military-political bloc.
The consequence of this was the use in these countries of the Armed Forces of the allied forces, including the Soviet Union.
Let's draw some parallels of events:
Hungary-1956, operation "Whirlwind" Czechoslovakia-1968, operation "Danube"
Prerequisites for the entry of troops:
In Hungary: - The 20th Congress of the CPSU, where, in addition to exposing the cult of personality, the thesis was proclaimed about the diversity of forms of transition to socialism, which gave support to the reformist forces;
Strengthening opposition speeches;
In connection with the events in Poland, the struggle "for the democratization of socialism" - widespread rallies with the threat of escalating into armed clashes, students of the Budapest Technical University held a mass demonstration involving tens of thousands of residents demanding the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary and the establishment of more equal relations with the Soviet Union;
Separate groups of radical youth took possession of several warehouses with small arms, an attempt was made to seize the radio building. For the first time shots were fired.
For Czechoslovakia:
Profound changes in the country, unprecedented in the history of the communist movement. The growing crisis and political conflicts within the CPC at the end of 1967, which led to the removal of the First Secretary of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the CPC A. Novotny and the election of A. Dubcek .;
Economic crisis of 1962-1963;
The protracted nature of the political crisis (including the escape to the United States of General Ian Cheyna after a failed military coup attempt);
Dubcek allowed the creation of a number of new political clubs, abolished censorship;
In the field of foreign policy, it was decided to pursue a more independent course. The leaders of the HRC included the concept of socialism "with a human face" in the "Program of Action";
The reformist programs of the Dubcek leadership led, from the Soviet point of view, to a dangerous situation in one of the key countries of Eastern Europe;
The refusal of the Czechoslovak delegation to come to the meeting of the leaders of Bulgaria, Hungary, the GDR, Poland and the USSR in Warsaw (July 1968);
Letter of appeal from a group of party and state leaders of Czechoslovakia to the governments of the USSR and other countries of the Warsaw Pact with a request for international assistance;
Forecasts at the Congress of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, reformers will win in the Czechoslovak leadership (September 9, 1968).
Measures taken by the USSR: Regarding Hungary:
10/23/1956 at a meeting of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the CPSU N.S. Khrushchev spoke in favor of sending troops to the Hungarian capital. In a telephone mode with the leadership of Hungary, he raised the question of "the desirability of an official written appeal to the government of the USSR" with a request for military assistance;
10/23/1956 at 11 pm Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR Marshal Sokolovsky V.D. ordered the command of the Special Corps to move troops to Budapest, where they were to establish control over the key facilities of the capital, restore public order in it. And part of the forces to provide cover for the border of Hungary with Austria - but without opening fire;
With the introduction of troops, the organization of the protection of the buildings of the Central Committee, parliament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, banks, an airfield and weapons depots began. Armed detachments continued to operate in the city;
Total disarmament of the Hungarian army;
The main garrisons of the Hungarian troops were blocked. For Czechoslovakia:
On August 13, 1968, members of the Military Council met in Uzhgorod with the Minister of Defense, Marshal of the Soviet Union Grechko A.A. terrain. He warned that the introduction of troops into Czechoslovakia was expected in the near future ... It is possible that NATO troops could invade Czechoslovakia from the West, then they would have to act on the basis of the situation .. "
There were all the prerequisites that in August 1968 the world once again teetered on the brink of a global war.
A grouping of troops was created, which included formations of the Warsaw Pact countries - the GDR, Poland, Hungary and the NRB.
The decision to send troops was made at a meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU on August 16, 1968 and approved at a meeting of the leaders of the Warsaw Pact countries in Moscow on August 18, 1968 under the leadership of General Secretary Brezhnev L.I.
Involved forces and means at the 1st stage: For Hungary:
290 tanks, 120 armored personnel carriers, 156 guns. The main garrisons of the Hungarian troops are blocked.
On October 29-30, 1956, units of the special corps were organizedly withdrawn from Budapest. However, the Hungarian government continued to insist on the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the country, and announced their withdrawal from the Warsaw Treaty Organization.
October 30, 1956 N.S. Khrushchev ordered the liquidation of the rebellion in Hungary. The operation "Whirlwind" was led by the Supreme Commander of the Joint Armed Forces of the States Parties to the Warsaw Pact, Marshal of the Soviet Union I.S. Konev. The commanders of the formations received the order to send troops from the Minister of Defense G.K. Zhukov.
With the introduction of troops of the 2nd stage, another division from the territory of the USSR entered Budapest to strengthen parts of the corps. Two armies from the Carpathian military district: combined arms - General Mamsurov and mechanized - General Babadzhanyan. Their task was to cover the border, prevent possible aggression from the West, and thereby ensure the rear of the Soviet troops operating in Budapest. Additionally, the following were put on alert:
Mechanized division of a separate mechanized army stationed in Romania.
In total, five divisions of Soviet troops were raised on combat alert, consisting of: 31550 people, tanks and self-propelled guns - fine arts, guns and mortars - 615, anti-aircraft guns - 185, armored personnel carriers - 380, vehicles - 3930. At the same time, our aviation was put on alert: fighters - 159 and bombers - 122.
For Czechoslovakia:
The first echelon consisted
Up to 250 thousand, the total number - up to 500 thousand people.
About 5 thousand tanks and armored personnel carriers.
Three fronts have been formed - on the basis of departments and troops of several military districts and groups of troops.
The date of commissioning was set for the evening of August 20, 1968. According to the order on the formation of the High Command of the Danube operation, General of the Army Pavlovsky I.G. was appointed commander in chief.
The combat alert was announced at 23:00. "Orders for interaction on the Danube operation" were developed. All military equipment of Soviet and allied production without white stripes was subject to "neutralization". In case of resistance, stripless tanks and other military equipment were to be destroyed without warning. When meeting with NATO troops, it was necessary to stop and Don't fire without a command.
At 00:00 hours on August 21, the troops of the USSR, Bulgaria, Poland, the GDR and Hungary crossed the Czechoslovak border from four directions in twenty points from Zvikov to German. During the day, objects in the regions of Prague and Brno were already under the control of the Allied forces. The main efforts were aimed at seizing the buildings of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, the government, the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff, as well as the buildings of the radio station and television. According to a predetermined plan, columns of troops were sent to the main administrative and industrial centers of Czechoslovakia. Formations and units were located in all major cities. The military garrisons of the Czechoslovak army in cities and towns, warehouses with weapons and ammunition were blocked by the allied forces. Particular attention was paid to protecting the western borders of Czechoslovakia, seizing airfields, blocking Czechoslovak military units. The rapid and coordinated entry of troops into Czechoslovakia, as well as the establishment of control over Czechoslovak territory, made it possible to minimize the losses of our troops.
A special role belonged to the Commander-in-Chief of the Joint Armed Forces of the countries participating in the Warsaw Pact, Marshal of the Soviet Union Yakubovsky I.I.
Actions of national extremists:
For Hungary:
Shelling of our troops, organizing ambushes, throwing grenades and Molotov cocktails on the bodies of armored personnel carriers and tanks. The extremists played the main role not only in fanning the national psychosis, but also in creating hotbeds of armed struggle.
By November 11, 1956, pockets of resistance in Budapest were crushed, and Operation Whirlwind was completed. For Czechoslovakia:
Construction of barricades on the way of advancing tank columns, armored personnel carriers, vehicles, throwing them with bottles of combustible mixture and grenades, shelling from buildings and ambushes, blockages and their mining. The operation of underground radio stations, the distribution of leaflets and appeals, armed attacks on military personnel, the distribution of weapons and ammunition, attempts to disable communications and transport, water poisoning, the destruction of monuments to Soviet soldiers in cities and villages of Czechoslovakia.
The irretrievable losses of soldiers and officers of the USSR in Hungary amounted to 707 people, 1.5 thousand military personnel were injured. A significant number of tanks, armored personnel carriers and other military equipment were knocked out and damaged (the data needs to be clarified).
According to initial statistics, irretrievable losses in Czechoslovakia amounted to 98 people (according to updated data, the figure exceeds 100 people), 87 military personnel were injured, including 19 officers, 87 people died in accidents and died of diseases. Over 10 units of tanks were destroyed, over 350 units of vehicles were damaged (the data needs to be clarified, since on the second day, namely on August 23, at a meeting, the army commander, Lieutenant General A.M. people died, 76 were injured of varying severity).
United Nations response:
For Hungary:
The UN called an emergency meeting of the Security Council to discuss the question of the Soviet attack on Hungary. For Czechoslovakia:
On August 21, 1968, a group of countries (USA, England, France, Canada, Denmark and Paraguay) spoke at the UN Security Council demanding that the "Czechoslovak question" be brought to a meeting of the UN General Assembly, seeking a decision on the immediate withdrawal of the troops of the Warsaw Pact countries. The situation in Czechoslovakia was also discussed in the NATO Permanent Council, where bellicose statements were made. On the territory of Germany, large-scale maneuvers were launched with the development of various scenarios for the start of a European war. The Western media have sharply stepped up their propaganda campaign. All this affected the attitude of Czechoslovak citizens towards Soviet soldiers. In the city of Kroměříž, at the headquarters of the 3rd MED CHNA, a large number of anti-Soviet leaflets were distributed calling for armed resistance to the allied forces. However, the task of fulfilling the international debt was completed.
None of the responsible leaders, when considering questions of "protecting the interests of the Soviet Union," raised the question of what price this protection would be achieved. And here and there flashed short notes: "Reward the military. Provide for the families of the dead." Basically, all this remained only on paper.
At this, officials, as a rule, consider the case closed, and the event forgotten. But it is not forgotten by the relatives and friends of the dead, who received a "funeral" in peacetime. It should not be forgotten by compatriots, by all of us - fellow citizens of those young people who will never have to grow old, military personnel who gave their lives in the performance of military duty. After all, a person lives by the memory of him ...
Own parallels to the events in Hungary and Czechoslovakia are drawn by the direct participants in Operation Whirlwind in Hungary in 1956:
Kochegura Anatoly Kuzmich, a participant in the "Whirlwind" operation in Hungary, in 1956 - a private, shooter of the 8th line of the company of the 3rd battalion of the 112th rifle regiment of the rifle division, subdivision 33513, Southern Group of Forces. Has the certificate "Participant of war".
"... On October 23, 1956, we were alerted, in a formed convoy we arrived by motor vehicles at the railway station, where the T-34 tanks were loaded onto the railway platform, and the personnel - "into the wagons". and the echelon moved towards the border with Romania. At one of the stations on the territory of Romania, 11 km from the Hungarian border, the echelon stopped. The unloading of equipment took place there. region, said that we had arrived to provide fraternal assistance to the people of Hungary. Also, the political officer of the battalion, Major Korotchenko, and the regiment commander, Lieutenant Colonel Tumanov (all of them were front-line soldiers), spoke before the formation, who announced that our mission was to fulfill international duty. After the command was received each of us received 120 rounds of ammunition for an AK-47 assault rifle and two grenades. democratization of the social system in the country and the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary. Several groups of young people took possession of the arms stores, which were distributed and tried to take over the building of the national radio. Shooting started. Measures taken by the police were unsuccessful. There were wounded and dead.
In Moscow, a decision was made to send Soviet troops into Hungary.
As part of the column, we crossed the border, took up positions on a large bridge across the river. Tissu in the city of Szeged. Our company was entrusted with the task of protecting the bridge from mines and putting it out of action by the counter-revolutionaries. Combat guards were posted, in the middle of the bridge - 2 tanks and a platoon of soldiers, also 2 tanks on each side and machine guns.
Some time later, units of the rifle division from the Odessa Military District under the command of Colonel Dubrovin went across the bridge. In Szeged, all communications were taken under guard, including the post office, telegraph, radio center, buildings of administrative authorities. In this large city, plants and factories did not work under the influence of counter-revolutionary elements, who intimidated the workers through direct threats, reprisals and murders. The Hungarian army was disintegrated, the soldiers left their units without permission. Parts of the Hungarian army, with the participation of one regiment, in the absence of ammunition, tried to resist the national extremists in Budapest. The internal troops and state security also failed to cope with the tasks.
Ambushes were set up against our soldiers, grenades and Molotov cocktails were used.
The border guard of the border with Austria and Yugoslavia was removed. Armed attacks on Soviet servicemen by counter-revolutionaries began. In the city of Beteshaba, crowds of people organized an armed uprising. Several families of Soviet officers were slaughtered in Budapest. In those conditions, it was possible to influence only weapons and tanks.
According to the "special officer" Captain Limarev, a woman of Hungarian nationality was identified and detained, who commanded an armed gang.
In the area of the bridge, counter-revolutionaries installed machine guns on the roofs of houses. As a result of shelling from our company, four soldiers and an officer were killed. This happened on the 4th day of my stay. We opened fire, the tanks fired several volleys from tank guns.
In addition to fulfilling our main task assigned to us, we were involved in checking passing cars. On the Romanian side, we detained a driver and a car with a group of people who were transporting a large box filled with banknotes.
In public places, on houses there were inscriptions: "Invaders - get out", "Russians, get out", etc.
When setting combat missions, junior commanders, primarily political officers, were informed of the situation: “In Budapest, our convoy was fired upon, fire was fired from a residential building. people were 18 years old, there were also quite teenagers ... "
At the end of October, according to the political officer, Khrushchev ordered to liquidate the rebellion in Budapest. Operation Whirlwind began on November 4, during clashes with counter-revolutionaries, several hundred Soviet soldiers and officers were killed. Our tanks and vehicles were set on fire in Budapest. Landed troops from the Carpathian and Moscow Military Districts were fired upon by counter-revolutionaries, when the paratroopers were still on parachutes in the area of Lake Balaton and the border with Austria.
The fighting took place during October-November 1956. We buried our dead comrades in the same place, on the territory of Hungary, and Romania too.
During the introduction of troops on October 24, as a result of armed attacks by terrorists on our soldiers, several dozen Soviet servicemen of the special corps who were in Hungary were killed. At the same time, there was a command - not to open fire first. Over a hundred of our soldiers died in the following days.
After the end of hostilities, our division remained part of the Southern Group of Forces.
In 1968, I served in the GSVG pp 92846. As head of the secret part of the mobile missile and technical base as part of the 1st Guards. TA. Its formations took part in Operation Danube in Czechoslovakia, and its commander, Lieutenant General K.G. Kozhanov was awarded the Order of Lenin.
Due to my position, I had access to some classified documents about the events taking place in Czechoslovakia. And after the units and subunits returned to "winter apartments" in the GSVG, I had to communicate a lot with the direct participants in the Danube operation. From their stories, the situation seemed to me very familiar and similar to the events in Hungary in 1956, where I personally happened to take part ... "
Ovcharenko Alexey Ivanovich, currently lives in the Rostov region, Aksai district, Rassvet village (in 1956, a senior sergeant, a mechanic-driver of tanks "T-34", "PT-76", according to the class gradation of the military specialty "Master" , as part of a tank regiment of a mechanized division of the rifle corps of the Carpathian Military District. He was awarded the medal "For Military Merit", has a certificate "War Participant".
In 1953 I was called up for active military service. He ended up serving in Austria, where at that time there were troops of the Soviet Army. After graduating from the tank "training" I served in the tank unit of the tank division as a military mechanic-driver of the T-34 tank, on which I served for almost a year under the tail number "226".
In 1955, our troops began to withdraw from Austria. Our regiment was relocated to the territory of the Soviet Union in Transcarpathia as part of a mechanized division.
In the summer of 1956, they received new equipment, and I mastered the PT-76 twin-screw amphibious tank with powerful weapons at that time.
Approximately in October, we began to prepare for the "demobilization", and some time later, in a solemn atmosphere, a farewell to the banner of the unit took place. And literally three hours later (it was around October 23) some kind of movement began in the unit. Officers did not walk in position, they moved only by running. And after a while they announced the alarm. Everyone, including me, took their places, as provided and worked out for years of service. Our crew received the task of being placed at the disposal of the reconnaissance battalion. At that time I was a driver for the commander of the 5th tank company. (I would give a lot to meet him). Then there was the formation by crews, by divisions. The commanders announced that our formation was sent, according to the combat order, to Hungary to fulfill the international duty of providing fraternal assistance to the Hungarian people and suppressing the counter-revolutionary rebellion.
The situation in the country got out of control, physical reprisals against the communists began, groups of people, under the leadership of counter-revolutionaries, seized the warehouses with weapons that were handed out without encountering any obstacles. We received ammunition for small arms and regular ammunition for tank weapons. We handed over personal documents to the foreman.
At midnight on October 24, we left the "winter quarters" in columns in the direction of the state border with Hungary. At dawn, the column stopped in a forest near the border, everyone was lined up, the commanders gave briefings and set specific tasks. And the next command: "By cars." While on the move, in the direction of the cities of Szolnok, Yasberen, Debrecen, the commander was informed by radio that there were already killed and wounded among our soldiers who were part of the vanguard ahead. When it was already completely light, through the eyepieces of the panoramas we noticed how flashes appeared and disappeared from tall buildings in some town. The front-line commander immediately determined that there was an attack from automatic weapons. But we had an order: "Do not shoot." And about an hour later, a command from the headquarters came over the radio: "Respond to fire with fire." During a short stop, the communications officer told our company commander that indeed such an order had come from the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces of the Warsaw Pact, Marshal Konev. By that time, part of the armed population had gone to the mountains and forests to conduct a guerrilla war against us. Some remained in cities and towns for armed resistance. Basically, it was young people, arrogant and armed.
We rarely saw Hungarian troops, the military camps were blocked by our troops. In Buda and Pest across the bridge we saw burnt buses and cars. In some places bursts of automatic weapons were heard. Basically, the attacks were on our troops from the counter-revolutionaries, who used the youth, students.
Some time later, already on November 9, our military intelligence officers reported that a group of armed youth rebels would soon arrive on the northern outskirts of Budapest in the area of \u200b\u200bthe village of Csepel to carry out sabotage against our soldiers.
We took a position and began to wait. Taking advantage of the seemingly calm environment, the loader, opening the hatch, crawled out halfway and wanted to pour half-empty empty shells out of the container. At this time, an automatic burst rang out, and he was injured. We opened fire in the direction of the forest, where the shooting came from. And having passed several hundred meters along the way, an explosion thundered. A grenade explosion on the tank damaged the "caterpillar", and we requested support by radio. Our loader had to be pulled out through the lower hatch and take up defensive positions. I remembered well that the last cartridge must be saved. The tank commander took over the duties of the entire crew. Fortunately, we did not have to wait long, two armored personnel carriers with infantry approached, which dispersed and began to comb the area.
In the evening, at a kind of halt, the special officer reported that in Budapest that day a soldier blew up a grenade and himself when the crowd surrounded him and wanted to tear him to pieces. In another case, a barrel with the remains of gasoline was thrown from the roof onto the tank turret, as the commander was standing in the hatch. The entire crew was killed. All these events took place in the month of November. On the territory of Hungary in the area of the village of Alyponemedi near Budapest, we had to bury the dead soldiers and officers of the Soviet Army - our comrades-in-arms.
Soon we moved to the Lake Balaton area, where our troops landed. On our vehicles with armor, we easily overcame water obstacles.
When the situation began to stabilize, our unit was left in Hungary. So my brother-soldiers and I got a new "winter apartment", where I stayed for another 6 months.
After a while, I said goodbye to the banner of the unit for the second time. Now the "demobilization" has really come. Thus, I served three years and eight months. He was awarded the medal "For Military Merit".
Meeting with the dawn of the day when we entered Hungary remained in my memory for life.
After 12 years, the whole country became aware of the entry of our troops into Czechoslovakia. When I read the TASS statement, on the second day I went to the military registration and enlistment office and wrote a statement to be sent to any tank unit in Czechoslovakia as a volunteer as a master of tank driving. A few days later, I again went to the military registration and enlistment office. Presenting the events in Czechoslovakia, I could not find a place for myself. But I was told to wait, they would call. At that time I was 34 years old, and apparently I was not destined to take part in international assistance to another people.
Loyalty to military duty and the oath will remain in me until the end of my days. Feelings of pride for our army and solidarity with the participants in military conflicts and local wars, regardless of their age, are inherent and understandable to me, and to people like me..."
