ABSTRACT
Onthemorningof4November1956theinhabitantsofBudapest,the capitalofHungary,werewokenbytherumblingofSoviettanks.The armouredtroopsbesiegingthecit-ysetoffbeforedawntotrample downthefirstanti-totalitarianrevolutionofthepost-warera.Afew hourslateragroupofmen,women,andchildrenenteredthebuilding oftheYugoslavembassy.Fivemembersoftheleadingbodyofthe newlyorganizedCommunistParty-lmreNagy,therevolution's PrimeMinister,GyorgyLukacs,thephilosopherofworld-wide renown,togetherwiththeirclosestcolleaguesandtheirfamiliesacceptedtheofferoftheYugoslavgovernmenttogrant,ifnecessary, politicalasylumtoImreNagy,themembersofhisgovernment,and anybodyelseconsideredworthybytheleadersoftherevolution.The twenty-sixadultsandthirteenchildrenremainedattheembassyuntil 22November1956.Afteranumberofnegotiations,andbecauselmre Nagyrefusedtoleavethecountryofhisfreewill,theKadar governmentinstalled'bytheRussianspromisedthegroupfree withdrawal.Butthebustheysenttotheembassyto'takethemhome' drovethegrouptoamilitarybarracksontheoutskirtsofthecity.That wastheplacewherethelongtribulationofImreNagyandhis colleaguesbegan.Someofthemdiedonthegallows;otherswere imprisonedorexiledformanylongyears.
