Mátyás Rákosi

Mátyás Rákosi (né Rosenfeld; 9 March 1892 – 5 February 1971) was a Hungarian communist politician who 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 involved in left-wing politics from a young age. In 1919, he was a leader in the short-lived Hungarian Soviet Republic. After its fall, he worked abroad and was later imprisoned in Hungary for many years. He became well-known in the Communist movement and had a battalion named after him that fought in the Spanish Civil War.

When World War II ended, Rákosi returned to Hungary and became a key leader of the Hungarian Communist Party. Using clever strategies, called "salami tactics", he and his party gained total control of the country by 1948. He ruled with strong support from the Soviet Union, creating a system where he had absolute power.

Rákosi’s rule was very harsh. Many people were imprisoned, and some died under his leadership. He forced farmers to give up their land and made many changes that caused hardship. 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 spoke 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 in exile and died in 1971. He is remembered in Hungary as a symbol of harsh and unfair rule.

Early years

See also: Galileo Circle

Mátyás Rákosi was born in Ada, a village in Bács-Bodrog County in the Kingdom of Hungary, which 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 and studied in Sopron and Szeged. He joined a political group while still a student and later served in the Austro-Hungarian Army during the First World War. He was captured but managed to escape 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 brief communist government took over Hungary, Rákosi held important government roles. He helped lead efforts to support the new government.

After this government ended, Rákosi left Hungary and worked with the Communist International in the Soviet Union. He shared his experiences with leaders there and became an important figure in international communist activities. He traveled to many countries, helping organize communist groups.

Rákosi returned to Hungary in 1924 but was arrested and spent time in prison. He was later allowed to leave for the Soviet Union, where he continued his work. Eventually, he returned to Hungary in 1945 to help reorganize the communist party, following directions from Soviet leaders.

The Rákosi trials were court cases against communists in Hungary. In 1926, Rákosi was sentenced to prison for his political activities. He was released early in 1940 but did not return to Hungary as required.

Rákosi’s prison sentence ended in 1934, but he faced new charges and was sentenced to life in prison. However, he was released on parole in 1940 and allowed to travel 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 all parts of the government. They pressured other political groups to work with them or leave the country. Over time, the Communists took full control, merging other parties into their own and creating a government that followed Soviet-style rules. Rákosi often described himself as a strong follower of Stalin and built a large following of supporters who admired him greatly.

During his time in power, many people who opposed Rákosi or his ideas were arrested or removed from their positions. The economy faced big challenges after the war, including damaged buildings and limited supplies of goods, which caused shortages and unhappiness among the people.

Forced retirement

After the death of Stalin, leaders like Rákosi lost much of their power. In 1953, a key Soviet figure was arrested, and Rákosi began to regain some influence. He fought with another leader, Imre Nagy, trying to weaken him. Rákosi showed clever political skills and eventually had Nagy replaced by one of his supporters.

However, Rákosi's position changed after 1953. The new Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, allowed a more relaxed form of government, making Nagy popular as a possible leader. This weakened Rákosi's control. In 1956, Rákosi was removed from his position as leader of the party by the Soviet government and sent to live in the Soviet Union under the claim that he needed medical care. His deputy, Ernő Gerő, took over.

Process of his fall

Opposition to Rákosi grew within Hungary, especially after Khrushchev criticized past leaders harshly in a major speech in February 1956. People began openly questioning Rákosi's leadership. Debates and discussions increased, and many called for Imre Nagy to return to power. Rákosi tried to defend himself, but the Soviet government decided he needed to go. In June 1956, under pressure from Soviet leaders, Rákosi was replaced and sent to live in the Soviet Union. He was never allowed to return to Hungary to take part in politics again.

Honours and awards

Mátyás Rákosi received several important awards during his time in Hungary. These included 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, among others. These honours show the high regard he was held in by the government of that time.