Janos Kadar is one of the most mysterious figures of a bygone era. Historians called his reign “Gulash Socialism.” The Hungarians considered their country to be “the funniest barracks in the socialist camp.” The future head of Hungary came to power using Soviet tanks in 1956. Having proclaimed the construction of socialism in the country, he is creating a completely different regime, which historians will call “Kadarov’s”. The Iron Curtain here was not as dense as in other socialist countries. Hungary
more
Janos Kadar is one of the most mysterious figures of a bygone era. Historians called his reign “Gulash Socialism.” The Hungarians considered their country to be “the funniest barracks in the socialist camp.” The future head of Hungary came to power using Soviet tanks in 1956. Having proclaimed the construction of socialism in the country, he is creating a completely different regime, which historians will call “Kadarov’s”. The Iron Curtain here was not as dense as in other socialist countries. Hungary was visited by tourists, particularly from Western Europe and North America. Foreign students studied in Budapest. Hungarians were also allowed to travel to other countries. For Soviet people to visit Hungary was considered prestigious. In Budapest, even then you could sit in cozy street cafes, freely buy jeans or Marlborough cigarettes. It is the only socialist country to have a Formula 1 track. In 1977, the Hungarian leader makes an unexpected move, not consulting Moscow, he visits the Vatican. Paul VI personally received Janos Kadar. After this meeting, Hungarians were allowed, as in the old pre-Soviet times, to go to church for Sunday service. The authority of Janos Kadar in Hungarian society became unconditional. At every step he destroyed the traditional ideas about the life of the head of state. Janos Kadar didn't like security. He didn't have a personal plane. He preferred to travel to Moscow by train. There was only one woman in his life. They lived together for 54 years. The tragedy for the couple was the news that they could not have children. The 80s brought an economic crisis to Hungary. Discontent with the old Kadar is growing in the party. At the next congress, his closest associates, conspiring, offer him to resign. In order to soften the blow, Kadar is offered instead of the post of General Secretary to take the post of Chairman of the Central Committee of the party, created specifically for him. But he no longer has power. It was the last blow from which Kadar could not recover. After 2 weeks, he died suddenly of lung cancer. Six months ago, Janos Kadar’s ashes were stolen in the central cemetery of Budapest, and the inscription appeared on the tombstone: “Murderer and traitor should not lie in the holy land.” The film is attended by: personal interpreter and assistant of J. Kadar Nadezhda Barta, son of Y. Andropov, Ambassador of the USSR to Hungary (1954–57) Igor Andropov, Doctor of Historical Sciences Bela Zhelitsky, Head of the Bureau in Budapest Yuri Baranov, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Oleg Bogomolov, journalist Irina Presnyakova, Honored Master of Sports in Water Polo Georgy Lezin, politician Viktor Sheinis.