Inspiring Photos of the Hungarian Anti-Communist Revolution

Death and destruction in the streets of Budapest, 1956. Michael Rougier- The LIFE Picture Collection

Firing at the secret police, insurgents emplace old machine guns in a doorway on Rakoczi Avenue, where they have taken hasty refuge from police fusillade. Michael Rougier- The LIFE Picture Collection

Graves of Hungarian freedom fighters lie in the same cemetery with the Soviet dead but are covered with offerings of flowers and wreaths. Michael Rougier- The LIFE Picture Collection

Hungarian rebel fighter, Budapest, 1956. Michel Rougier- The LIFE Picture Collection

Hungarian rebel fighters in the ruins of Budapest, 1956. Michael Rougier- The LIFE Picture Collection

Hungarian rebel fighters, Budapest, 1956. Michael Rougier- The LIFE Picture Collection

Hungarian Revolution, 1965. Michael Rougier- THe LIFE Picture Collection

Maleter was later deceived into meeting senior officers of the Soviet occupying force and arrested on 3 November by the head of the KGB. He was executed on 16 June 1958. The Guardian

Passersby look up at a disabled Soviet tank after the first Soviet departure. People wandered the streets, finding it hard to believe they had driven the enemy away. The Guardian

Potatoes are delivered from the countryside to supply the rebels. The Guardian

Rebels firing on Soviet troops during the Hungarian Revolution, Budapest, 1956. Michael Rougier- The LIFE Picture Collection

Rebels shoot vainly at observation craft flying over Jozef Circle. Soviet jet planes also….strafed the streets in support of the Soviet ground forces. Micael Rougier- The LIFE Picture Collection

Rubble in Budapest, Hungary, 1956 Michael Rougier- The LIFE Picture Collection

The scene in a barricaded hospital room during the Hungarian Revolution, 1956. Michael Rougier- The LIFE Picture Collection

Children walked the streets armed. Michael Rougier- The LIFE Picture Collection

The body of a member of the Soviet security police, who was beaten to death. The Guardian

The Hungarian security police face their captors, after protesting their innocence. The Guardian

The second of a series of shots showing an execution at close range. All those pictured were killed, except the man in the upper right corner, who was protesting his innocence. The Guardian

This woman was thought to be collaborating with the AVH. She was attacked in the street. One of the rebels put her on a bus standing nearby, and although there were shouts of ‘no prisoners’ she was apparently spared. The Guardian

Young rebels later cut out the Communist Rakosi coat of arms from the Hungarian flag. The Guardian

The flag, with a hole with the communist coat of arms cut out, became the symbol of the revolution. Wikipedia