Heroes’ Square: Statues and memorials tell the history of the Hungarian nation. At the base of the central column are the Seven Chieftains that lead the Magyar people to what is now Hungary. On top column the Archangel Gabriel holds the Hungarian Crown. In front of the central column is a monument to all heroes…
Author: historypresent
The Cold War’s forgotten Hungarian Revolution
Sixty-two years ago today the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 began. LOST IN HISTORY On October 23rd 1956, thousands of Hungarian workers and students flooded the streets of Budapest. With fists raised in defiance, they shouted for Freedom from Soviet tyranny! The students issued a declaration in Parliament Square called the “Sixteen Points.” It included demands for…
History Nuggets: #4 October 2018
“The communists have lost the Cold War, but the West has not yet won it.” Richard Nixon AZ Quotes. October, 2018
History Nuggets: #3 October 2018
“History is written by the victors.” …
Book Review: Journey to a Revolution
Michael Korda, Journey to a Revolution: A Personal Memoir and History of The Hungarian Revolution of 1956. (New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2006). In this instance Korda’s subtitle accurately captures the appeal of this work. Journey to a Revolution is both a memoir and a history, blended in a way that makes the narrative live.…
Trip To Hungary: Buda Castle, Budapest
Budapest is a beautiful city. It was the first city on our tour and it did not disappoint. We loved it; the sites, the people, the culture. This group of photos are of Buda Castle. Unfortunately, we were not able to see the interior of St. Matthias Church because we visited on Sunday morning. We…
History Nuggets: #2 September 2018
“Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward.” …
Film Review: Operation Finale
Operation Finale. Directed by Chris Weitz. Produced by Automatik Entertainment, 2018. It is a rare occasion when I truly enjoy a movie. Considering the cost associated with having a complete movie experience (buying a ticket, popcorn, and a drink), the reward generally falls short of the investment. Even more so for films based on historical…
Biography: Mátyás Rákosi
One of the “Little Stalins” installed to power in the wake of the Red Army’s march toward Germany during the closing months of World War II, Mátyás Rákosi certainly shared his sponsor’s brutality. Crude in his behavior, a trait he nurtured as a badge of his lower-class status, Rákosi helped fashion Hungary’s Socialist catastrophe. Employing…
History Nuggets: #1 September 2018
“Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results.” …
History Present 