Polish Solidarity Rally in Support of the Hungarians

During and after the Hungarian Revolution, solidarity demonstrations were held in several Polish cities, the largest of which took place in Olsztyn on October 30. The local Vojvodina Office of Internal Security described the events in detail in its “Urgent Report” dated the following day: At 2:00 p.m., at the initiative of students from the Olsztyn College of Agriculture and the Teacher Training College, university students marched to Red Army Square, where a group of about twenty people was already gathered; its members had placed Hungarian and Polish flags, as well as candles, in the square. Four university students stood as an honor guard, and people laid wreaths at the impromptu memorial sites. The crowd eventually marched to General Świerczewski Square, where a mass rally was held with approximately 10,000 participants. A group that broke away from the crowd removed the nameplates from Red Army Square and replaced them with the name “Hungarian Insurgents’ Square.” The university students carried banners bearing the following slogans: “We demand the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary,” “We demand the sovereignty of Poland and Hungary!” , “Free Poland—Free Hungary,” and “Behold, Soviet internationalism on display in Hungary.” But a sign also appeared showing a map of Hungary, with two blood-dripping hands bearing red stars above it and the inscription “Hands off Hungary” below. After these events, the authorities did not dare to restore the name “Red Army Square,” but “Hungarian Insurgents’ Square” could not remain either. As a compromise, the square was named after General Bem, a hero shared by the Hungarian and Polish nations.