The Hungarian Revolution: Military Commander

Figure 1.-- These are the three childrten of Hungarian freedon fighter Gem. Pal Maleter safely in America. Their father was arrested by the Soviets while they were pretending to negotiate. The children hoped that Soviet Premier Nikolai Bulganin woulf shoe mercy to their father. The caption read, "Apperal to Bulganin: The three children of Gen. Pal Maleter, a leader in last year's Hungarian revolt, write the cable they sent to Russian Premier Nicolai A. Bulganin asking clemency for their father who has been reported placed on trial by the Communisdt government in Budapest. Left to right are Judit Maleter, 8; Oal Maleter, Jr., 11 and Maria Maleter, 10. They sent the cable from Grand Centrakl terminal at a cost of $22.26. They were accompoanied by their mother , who is divorced from the general." The photograph was taken December 20, 1957.

Some of the Hungarian military went over to the insurgents. The most imprtant figure was Pál Maléter (1917–58). He became the military leader of the Hungarian Revolution. Maléter was born in Eperjes, a city in the northern part of Historical Hungary--Prešov in Slovakia. He studied medicine at the Charles University, Prague, before moving to Budapest (1938). He attended the military academy in Budapest. Hunhary joined the Axis (1940). He fought in the Otkrieg. Hitler demnded Hungaraian participation in the Ostkrig. He was csptured by the Red Army, we think during the Stalingrad offensive (1942). He became a Communist while a POW. The Soviets trained in sabotage ancd fought against the Germans in Transylvania. While fighting the Germans in Hungry, he was noted for his courage and aggressive actions. After the Communist seized control of Hungry he becamne part of the Communist Hungarian Army. At the time of the Revolutuion he was a colonel in an armoured division im Budapest -- the eye of the storm (Octiber 1956). The Governmnt ordered him to suppress the Uprising. After contacting the insurgents, he decided instead to join them, turning againsrt the Ernő Gerő'Government. He helped to defend the Kilian Barracks. He was the highest ranking Hungarian military officer to join the Rvolution. The new government accepted his support, promoted him to generaal and then Minister of Defense (October 29). The new Government tried to negotiate with the Soviets. Maléter net with them at Tököl (Novermber 3). Furung the talks the following day, Red Army officials arrested him despite assurances of safe cinduct. He was imprisoned and for a time his fate was uncertain. He was finally executed, along with Imre Nagy and insurgent leaders in a Budapest prison (June 1958). His first wife and three children escaped to the West. His second wife remained in Hungary. Maléter, Nagy, and other insurgent leaders are now considered national heroes.

Created: 4:15 PM 11/15/2021
Last updated: 4:15 PM 11/15/2021