In October 1956, Hungary rose in revolt against Soviet domination. For three days the ordinary people fought Soviet tanks and the hated security police, the AVH, and demanded freedom from Moscow.
By 26 October estimates put the dead at 3,000 as people attacked the tanks with their bare hands. The demonstrators then began to acquire weapons as Hungarian troops joined the revolt.
Prime Minister Imre Nagy undertook to negotiate the withdrawal of the Soviet troops and asked Budapest citizens to return to their homes. But by that time, large areas of the Hungarian capital were already in rebel hands.
Men with oxy-acetylene torches attacked the most hated symbol of Soviet dominance in Hungary – the huge bronze statue of Stalin in Stalin Square.
