1439 - Hungarian Revolution of 1956

Hungarian Revolution of 1956 Photograph of a man who was lynched during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Budapest, 1956. Dimensions: 24 x 18 cm. The photograph was taken in connection with the siege of the Budapest party headquarters on Köztársaság tér (now John Paul II Square) on October 30, 1956. It is one of the most significant events of the uprising. The insurgents besieged the headquarters of the Budapest Party Committee of the Hungarian Workers’ Party (MDP) after a rumor spread that the defenders, including units of the State Security Service (ÁVH), were holding prisoners. According to sociologist Gyula Kozák, the main motive was the massacre in front of the Parliament building on October 25. Added to this were the actual and symbolic overthrow of the old rulers, the seizure of the guards’ weapons, and the search for the guards and prison wardens who were protecting the party building. Tanks dispatched as reinforcements also mistakenly fired on the building. Afterward, the defenders surrendered following hours of fighting. Subsequently, several defenders in front of the building fell victim to mob justice. Two bodies were hung upside down from trees in the square by the crowd and desecrated. Foreign correspondents documented this with photographs and film. The lynching is considered the darkest chapter of the revolution, a blemish that tarnished its previously unblemished image. This perception stems largely from the later propaganda of the Kádár regime, which focused almost exclusively on this single event—or a rewritten version of it. In particular, a photograph showing someone kicking the body hanging upside down was used for propaganda purposes, even in school textbooks. It gave the impression that a living person was being tortured to death. The lot offered here is therefore a highly controversial historical document that reflects how images from 1956 were treated in both the East and the West. Hungarian Revolution 1956 - Photograph of a lynching victim during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Budapest, 1956. — The photograph was taken in connection with the siege of the Budapest party headquarters on Köztársaság tér (today Pope John Paul II Square) on October 30, 1956, one of the defining events of the uprising. The insurgents besieged the headquarters of the Budapest Committee of the Hungarian Working People’s Party (MDP) after a rumor spread that the defenders, including units of the State Security Authority (ÁVH), were holding prisoners. According to sociologist Gyula Kozák, the primary motives were the bloodbath in front of the Parliament building on October 25. Additionally, there was the actual and symbolic overthrow of the old rulers, the seizure of the guards’ weapons, and the search for the guards and prison wardens protecting the party building. Tanks dispatched to relieve the building also mistakenly fired on it. After hours of fighting, the defenders surrendered. Subsequently, several defenders were lynched in front of the building. Two bodies were hung upside down from trees in the square by the crowd and desecrated. Foreign correspondents documented the scene in photographs and on film. The lynching is regarded as the darkest chapter of the revolution, a stain that tarnished its previously unblemished image. This is largely due to the later propaganda of the Kádár regime, which almost exclusively emphasized this single event—or a rewritten version of it. One photograph in particular, showing a kick aimed at the body hanging upside down, was used for propaganda purposes, even in school textbooks. It gave the impression that a living person was being tortured to death. The lot offered is therefore a historical document of great sensitivity, reflecting how the images of 1956 were treated in both the East and the West. This lot is subject to standard tax. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union. This lot is subject to standard taxation. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints, and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.