In memory of 1956 - blogs review

The history of the last decades, the age of socialism in Hungary is shown usually by unique attractions like the Statue Park in Budapest. There are only few quality collections that show the memories of the Hungarian revolution which tried to change the system of socialism in 1956. (read the entire article on www.hungarystartshere.com)

Kata_rzis posted this picture and comment on 1956 to Flickr:

In memoriam 1956, originally uploaded by Kata_rzis.

"We shall forever remember those who fought for freedom in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and during the repression of the subsequent decades, either with arms in hand or with the power of their spirit, to the point of self-sacrifice.

It is the intention of the Republic of Hungary that this memorial should symbolize the power of desire to be free and the responsibility towards the community as well as the stability of Hungarian society and national unity - the events of October 23, 1956 and of the Revolution took place in the spirit of these values."

If you are interested in history, and if you also share these values, please take a minute to check out the extremely informative page of wikipedia. Among the references and further readings I've found some real gems!

Kristen's blog

"I have learned a lot about communism during my stays here. Each time I learn something new and more interesting to me. The history books in the US talk about it of course from one side. It's just interesting living in a post-communist country where people still remember communism and can talk about it and the differences. It's also interesting living here where there still are some people, although few, who liked it better under communism, which is something you'd never read in an American textbook. As I was sharing this all with my mom on the phone last night, she said I should blog about it, thinking that many others would be interested, too." (read the entire post here)

Viktory has posted this photo and comment to Flickr

HUNGARY, originally uploaded by viktory.

Laszlo Almasi, 80, stands as he holds a picture he took from 1956 in front of the Corvin cinema in Budapest October 18, 2006. The spot where Almasi was standing was a scene of heavy fighting in Budapest during the uprising against the Soviet-supported Hungarian communist regime in 1956. Hungary will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1956 uprising on October 23, 2006. Almasi, who had to flee Hungary in 1957 and returned only in 2004, took many pictures during the uprising in the period between October 23 and November 4, 1956. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh (HUNGARY)

In Mitch Williamson's blog you can find a summary on the events in 1956

Eastern Europe was experiencing considerable tension in the early 1950s. Whatever prestige Communists had enjoyed by association with the defeat of Hitler had been lost. Stalin, by imposing Communist regimes, had turned Communists into servants of foreign domination. Such regimes could never have the legitimacy of the Soviet state. Even more harmful were the Stalinist economic programmes these regimes had been required to impose. Five-year plans, requiring rapid development of heavy industry and the collectivisation of agriculture were ordered without heed to the consequences. The social and economic costs were disastrous.
(read the entire post here)