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Summary
- Early Life and Career
- Mátyás as the Leader of Hungary
- Forced Retirement and Death
Key Facts And Information
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Mátyás Rákosi , formerly known as Mátyás Rosenfeld, was a totalitarian ruler of Hungary from 1945 until 1956. He held the position of General Secretary of the Hungarian Communist Party and was backed by the Soviet Red Army. He was one of Joseph Stalin, Premier of the Soviet Union’s puppet dictators in East Europe who exerted extreme oppression. However, after Stalin’s death and the revelation of his own excessive actions, he lost favour and was swiftly removed from office. Nevertheless, his despotic governance led to the Hungarian uprising in 1956, which was subsequently quelled by Soviet military intervention aimed at reinstating a communist state.
Mátyás Rákosi
EARLY LIFE AND CAREER
- Mátyás Rákosi was born in Ada, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the time and is today located in Serbia. He was the fourth son of József Rosenfeld, a Jewish grocer, his mother Cecília Léderera was a Jewish grocer. József was called “Kossuth’s Jew” by the villagers, because he had been a member and avid supporter of the oppositionist Party of Independence and ‘48. Kossuth’s Jew was named after Lajos Kossuth de Udvard et Kossuthfalva Hungarian nobleman, lawyer, journalist, politician, statesman and governor-president of the Kingdom of Hungary during the revolution of 1848–1849. József changed his surname Rosenfeld to Rákosi in 1903.
- József later repudiated religion and in common with most other Marxists described himself as an atheist and opponent of organised religion. Rákosi’s paternal grandfather participated in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848; as a result, he had to flee the village following the defeat.
- As a young student, Rákosi was a diligent and good student. He studied external trade at the Eastern Commerce Academy. In 1910, when he was still a student in Hungary, Rákosi joined the Hungarian Social Democratic Party. Aside from being a member of the said organisation, he was also a secretary and active member of the anarcho-syndicalist student movement, the Galilei Circle. During the First World War, he enlisted in the Austro-Hungarian Army and was taken prisoner on the Eastern Front in 1915. He remained in captivity in Far Eastern Prisoners of Camps under Russian control until the war concluded.
MATYAS AS THE LEADER OF HUNGARY
- Following the establishment of a Soviet-endorsed administration in Hungary by the Red Army during 1944-1945, Rákosi was designated as the General Secretary of the Hungarian Communist Party (MKP) in 1945. From 27 September until 7 December 1945, he served as a member of the High National Council. Rákosi served as deputy prime minister from 1945 to 1949 and assumed the role of acting Prime Minister from 1 to 4 February, 1946, and on 31 May 1947.
- At first, Rákosi and the Communists seemed ready to cooperate within the established system. Starting in 1947, he and the Communists initiated a campaign to exert pressure on the other political parties, urging them to expel individuals who were unwilling to collaborate with the Communists. This exclusion was justified by labelling these individuals as fascists or sympathisers of fascism. Subsequently, upon the Communists’ attainment of absolute authority, it became widely accepted that Rákosi described this strategy as salami tactics, asserting that he had systematically eliminated the non-Communist factions in the nation by gradually isolating and neutralising them.
- Historian Norman Stone suggests that the name may have been coined by Zoltán Pfeiffer, the head of the Hungarian Independence Party. The process commenced when Smallholder Prime Minister Ferenc Nagy was compelled to step down in favour of a more compliant Smallholder, Lajos Dinnyés. By the 1947 elections, the Communists had achieved a majority, and had significantly weakened the second-largest non-Communist Party, the Social Democrats.
Ferenc Nagy
- By October 1947, Rákosi had completely abandoned any semblance of liberal democracy. He issued an ultimatum to the non-Communist parties, demanding their cooperation with a newly formed administration that was dominated by Communists, or else face exile.
- By the conclusion of 1947, the opposition parties had mostly marginalised their members, entrusting them to other supporters who were eager to carry out the Communists’ commands. In the summer of 1948, the Communists coerced the Social Democrats into amalgamating with them, resulting in the establishment of the Hungarian Working People’s Party (MDP).
- Nevertheless, the small number of Social Democrats who still had independent views were swiftly expelled, resulting in the MDP becoming a larger organisation and being rebranded as MKP.
- In addition, Rákosi ousted the Smallholder president, Zoltán Tildy, in support of the Social Democrat-turned-Communist Árpád Szakasits, and compelled Dinnyés to step down in favour of the openly pro-Communist István Dobi. One year later, elections were held featuring a unified roster of candidates.
- During Rákosi’s tenure from 1948 to 1956, some 350,000 officials and intellectuals were systematically removed. Rákosi enforced a totalitarian regime in Hungary, systematically detaining, imprisoning, and executing individuals perceived as both genuine and perceived enemies during multiple rounds of political purges influenced by Stalin. In August 1952, he assumed the position of Prime Minister, officially known as Chairman of the Council of Ministers. Nevertheless, in June 1953, Rákosi and other party officials were called to Moscow, where the Soviet authorities reprimanded their Hungarian counterparts for Hungary’s underwhelming economic performance.
- On 13 June 1953, in order to satisfy the Soviet Politburo, Rákosi agreed to adopt the Soviet model of collective leadership. Although he relinquished the position of prime minister to Imre Nagy, he maintained his role as General Secretary. Hungarian publications joined the onslaught and Nagy was held responsible for the nation’s economic woes. On 18 April 1953, the National Assembly unanimously dismissed Nagy from his position. Despite the disapproval of the Kremlin, Rákosi was reinstated as the prime minister. He and Nagy’s successor, András Hegedüs, promptly steered the country back towards its old Stalinist direction.
- The Hungarian economy in the aftermath of the war faced numerous obstacles. The primary significance lay in the devastation of infrastructure throughout the conflict, resulting in the loss of 40% of the nation’s wealth, including vital elements such as bridges, trains, raw materials, and machinery. The Hungarian economy in the aftermath of the war encountered numerous obstacles. The primary significance lay in the devastation of infrastructure during the conflict, which accounted for 40% of the nation’s wealth, encompassing bridges, railways, raw resources, machinery, and other related assets.
- In 1946, the Hungarian National Bank calculated that the expense of reparations would amount to approximately 19 to 22 percent of the annual national income. However, following the highest recorded inflation rate in global history, a new and stable currency was effectively implemented in August 1946, based on the proposals of the Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party. The insufficient output of consumer products and the underdevelopment of light industry led to recurrent scarcities, particularly in rural areas, which in turn caused dissatisfaction.
- Furthermore, the substantial allocations of funds towards military sectors following the onset of the Korean War resulted in a further decline in the availability of consumer products.
FORCED RETIREMENT AND DEATH
- Rákosi, however, had become a source of embarrassment for the Soviets, especially after Stalin’s death. Consequently, he was compelled to step down as General Secretary of the Party in June 1956, under pressure from the Soviet Politburo. This change in leadership occurred shortly after Nikita Khrushchev’s Secret Speech and resulted in Ernő Gerő assuming the position.
- In October 1956, as the anti-communist rebellion commenced, Rákosi sought refuge in Russia to pursue medical treatment. The unpopularity of Rákosi ’s regime in Hungary led to an uprising in October and November 1956. This rebellion briefly resulted in the establishment of a government led by Imre Nagy, Rákosi ’s competitor, which was dedicated to implementing democratic changes. Additionally, Hungary withdrew from the Soviet alliance known as the Warsaw Pact. Given Rákosi ’s loss of popularity, the populace was now prepared for a substantial transformation in the governance of the nation.
- Despite remaining a communist, Nagy’s commitment to eliminating the one-party system and implementing reforms made him a suitable and agreeable leader for the people of Hungary. The insurgents anticipated military assistance from the international community, but it did not materialise. The United States was ill-equipped to engage in a direct military confrontation with the Soviets and therefore instructed their sole operative in Hungary to limit his actions to gathering intelligence.
- At first, the Soviets consented to engage in discussions over the conditions for their withdrawal from Hungary. Subsequently, they proceeded to invade after altering their decision. Armed civilians engaged in combat with Soviet forces in the urban areas, however, the Nagy administration was overthrown and around 200,000 Hungarian individuals were forced to flee their country due to political persecution. Nagy was convicted of treason and executed, despite the assurance from his Soviet-backed successor, János Kádár, that he would be allowed to leave the country safely.
- The post-communist government of Hungary has restored his reputation after his death. The Soviets were unwilling to tolerate the loss of a satellite and were fully prepared to use a display of military power to prevent it.
- Rákosi resided in the Kirgiz Soviet Socialist Republic for the remainder of his life. Prior to his death in 1970, Rákosi was ultimately authorised to come back to Hungary on the condition that he refrained from participating in any political endeavours. He declined the agreement and stayed in the USSR, where he passed away in Gorky in 1971. Following his death, his remains were sent to Hungary for interment in Budapest.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was Mátyás Rákosi?
Mátyás Rákosi was a Hungarian communist politician who served as Hungary's de facto leader from 1945 to 1956.
- What role did Mátyás Rákosi play in Hungary?
Rákosi was the General Secretary of the Hungarian Communist Party and the head of the government from 1949 to 1956. He ruled Hungary as a Stalinist dictator, using repression, purges, and secret police to maintain control.
- How is Mátyás Rákosi viewed in Hungarian history today?
Rákosi is primarily viewed in a negative light due to his repressive policies and the suffering endured by the Hungarian people during his rule.