Page 38 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

36  INTRODUCING BUD APEST

Modern Budapest

Hungary paid a high price for its one-state union with Austria
and its later alliance with Nazi Germany. Following defeat in
both World Wars, the country had lost a large portion of its
territory. As a result of the Yalta Agreement of 1945, it then
found itself within the Soviet-controlled zone of Europe.
Stalinism took on a particularly ruthless form here and led to
the 1956 Uprising, which was brutally put down by Soviet tanks 1970 Opening of a new metro line
on the streets of Budapest. Efforts towards reform, undertaken
by János Kádár, brought some changes but political opposition 1960–66 Rebuilding
of Castle District
was not tolerated. In 1989, the Communists were ousted and (see pp72–89), including
Hungary at last regained control of its own affairs. Royal Palace, and the
Danube bridges

1919 Communists 1941 Hungary enters 1945 After a siege lasting six weeks,
take over government World War II on the Soviet army takes Budapest
and declare the Germany’s side
Hungarian Soviet 1946 Proclamation of Republic
Republic of Hungary. Smallholders’ Party
1939 Hungary
neutral at wins election
beginning of
World War II.
Accepts re fugees 1949 Stalinist terror
after capitulation prevails. Cardinal
of Poland Mindszenty (see p115)
goes on trial. László Rajk,
1928 Budapest 1937 Sixth and last secret police chief, sen-
is a free port on visit of author tenced to death by
Danube Thomas Mann Moscow loyalists
1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970
1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970
1933–6 Tabán (see p98) 1953 The
levelled (it was turned national
into a park in the 1960s) 1938 Eucharistic football team
World Congress beats England
1925 Radio 6–3 at
Budapest Wembley
broadcasts
its first 1958 The leader of the
programme 1956 Uprising, Prime
Minister Imre Nagy,
1945–1 August 1946 Banknotes is executed
valued at one billion pengő are 1948 Mátyás Rákosi leads
printed during rampant inflation. Hungarian Workers’ Party,
1919 Admiral Miklós Horthy There is not enough room for all run by Communists
enters Budapest; many killed the zeros on the notes. As part
in the period of “White Terror”. of monetary reform, the new 1964 The Elizabeth Bridge
Horthy becomes regent currency, Forint was introduced (see p67) reopens, having
been totally rebuilt
1944 Efforts to withdraw from World
War II end with German troops enter-
1918 Democratic revolution; ing the country. A ghetto is established
Hungary declared a republic. in Budapest and the extermination of
Mihály Károlyi selected as the Hungarian Jews begins 1947 After
country’s first president falsification of
election results,
Communists control
the whole country 1968 Intro duction of new
economic system popularly
known as “goulash-Communism”

036-037_EW_Budapest.indd 36 15/09/16 10:32 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight history timeline template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1)
Date 27th July 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm