Mátyás Rákosi

Mátyás Rákosi

Mátyás Rákosi (born Rosenfeld; 9 March 1892 – 5 February 1971) was a Hungarian communist leader. He led Hungary from 1948 to 1956. He first served as General Secretary of the Hungarian Communist Party and later as the leader of the Hungarian Working People's Party.

Rákosi was interested in left-wing politics from a young age. In 1919, he helped lead the short-lived Hungarian Soviet Republic. After it ended, he worked in other countries and was imprisoned in Hungary for many years. He became well-known in the Communist movement and had a group named after him that fought in the Spanish Civil War.

After World War II ended, Rákosi returned to Hungary and became a key leader of the Hungarian Communist Party. Using smart plans, called "salami tactics", he and his party took full control of the country by 1948. He ruled with strong support from the Soviet Union, giving himself all the power.

Rákosi’s rule was very strict. Many people were imprisoned, and some died. He forced farmers to give up their land, which caused many problems. After the leader of the Soviet Union, Stalin, died, Rákosi lost some of his power. But he still worked against anyone who wanted change.

In 1956, after the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev talked about Stalin’s mistakes, many people in Hungary wanted Rákosi to leave. He was forced to resign and went to live in the Soviet Union. Soon after, the people of Hungary rose up in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, but it was stopped by Soviet troops. Rákosi spent the rest of his life away from Hungary and died in 1971. He is remembered in Hungary as a leader who was very strict and unfair.

Early years

See also: Galileo Circle

Mátyás Rákosi was born in Ada, a village in Bács-Bodrog County in the Kingdom of Hungary. This area is now part of Vojvodina, Serbia. He was one of many children born to Jewish parents. His father changed the family name from Rosenfeld to Rákosi in 1903.

Rákosi was a good student. He studied in Sopron and Szeged. He joined a political group while he was still a student. He later served in the Austro-Hungarian Army during the First World War. He was captured but escaped and went to Petrograd during a big change in Russia.

Early career

Mátyás Rákosi became active in communist politics led by Béla Kun and joined the Party of Communists in Hungary. When a short time when communists governed Hungary, Rákosi had important jobs. He helped support the new government.

After this time, Rákosi left Hungary and worked with the Communist International in the Soviet Union. He shared what he knew with leaders and became important in communist activities around the world. He visited many countries, helping to organize communist groups.

Rákosi came back to Hungary in 1924 but was arrested and went to prison. Later, he was allowed to leave for the Soviet Union, where he kept working. Finally, he returned to Hungary in 1945 to help reorganize the communist party, following orders from Soviet leaders.

The Rákosi trials were court cases against communists in Hungary. In 1926, Rákosi was sent to prison for his political work. He was let out early in 1940 but did not go back to Hungary as he was told to do.

Rákosi’s prison time ended in 1934, but he faced new charges and was sent to life in prison. Still, he was released on parole in 1940 and allowed to go to the Soviet Union.

Leader of Hungary

Mátyás Rákosi became an important leader in Hungary after World War II. He was appointed General Secretary of the Hungarian Communist Party in 1945 and later became the main leader of the country from 1948 to 1956.

Rákosi and his party worked to control the government. They asked other political groups to work with them or leave. Over time, the Communists took full control, merging other parties into their own. Rákosi often described himself as a strong follower of Stalin.

During his time in power, some people who opposed Rákosi were arrested or removed from their jobs. The economy had many problems after the war, which caused shortages and made people unhappy.

Forced retirement

After Stalin died, leaders like Rákosi lost some of their power. In 1953, a Soviet leader was arrested, and Rákosi became stronger again. He worked against another leader, Imre Nagy, and used smart politics to have Nagy replaced.

But things changed after 1953. The new Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, allowed a more relaxed government. This made Nagy more popular, weakening Rákosi's control. In 1956, Rákosi was removed from his position by the Soviet government and sent to live in the Soviet Union for medical care. His deputy, Ernő Gerő, took over.

Process of his fall

Opposition to Rákosi grew in Hungary, especially after Khrushchev spoke badly of past leaders in February 1956. People started questioning Rákosi's leadership and asked for Imre Nagy to return. Rákosi tried to defend himself, but the Soviet government decided he had to go. In June 1956, Rákosi was replaced and sent to live in the Soviet Union. He was never allowed to return to Hungary for politics again.

Honours and awards

Mátyás Rákosi received several important awards during his time in Hungary. He was given the Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic in 1947, the Kossuth Order of Merit in 1948, and the Order of Labour in 1950. These awards show that the government respected him very much at that time.