George1959
Well-known Member
Perhaps most of you know of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 or 'Hungarian Uprising'. Between October 23 and November 4 in the year 1956, Hungarians who were no communists, fought for freedom. Sadly their dream never came true but was brutally ended by Sovjet tanks. 2,500 Hungarians and 700 Soviet Army soldiers were killed and about 200,000 Hungarians fled the country, mostly to Austria.
Hungarian Revolution of 1956 - Wikipedia
For many of them a bridge over a small artificial river (in fact a canal), which is part of the border between Hungary and Austria, was their way to freedom. It is located near the Austrian village Andau, thus it's name.
Brücke von Andau - Wikipedia
But even this way to freedom ended as Sovjet troops blasted the bridge on November 21, 1956.
James Michener, the great American novelist, living in Vienna at that time, was present at the border between Austria and Hungary exactly at the period in which a significant wave of refugees fled Hungary. He had many interviews with refugees and eyewitnesses of the Hungarian Revolution, which he incorporated into his novel.
The Bridge at Andau - Wikipedia
Since my wife and I are living in Hungary only some miles away from this bridge (half an hour by car), we visited it several times. The Hungarian Revolution left a deep wound in the Hungarian national psyche. The start of the Hungarian Revolution, October 23, became a national holiday.
Now some pics of the bridge. It had to be rebuild several times. The last one happed in 2025. For this reason the pics in the Wikipedia article are outdated. The last one is the latest edition of Michener's book, which I bought some days ago.
Hungarian Revolution of 1956 - Wikipedia
For many of them a bridge over a small artificial river (in fact a canal), which is part of the border between Hungary and Austria, was their way to freedom. It is located near the Austrian village Andau, thus it's name.
Brücke von Andau - Wikipedia
But even this way to freedom ended as Sovjet troops blasted the bridge on November 21, 1956.
James Michener, the great American novelist, living in Vienna at that time, was present at the border between Austria and Hungary exactly at the period in which a significant wave of refugees fled Hungary. He had many interviews with refugees and eyewitnesses of the Hungarian Revolution, which he incorporated into his novel.
The Bridge at Andau - Wikipedia
Since my wife and I are living in Hungary only some miles away from this bridge (half an hour by car), we visited it several times. The Hungarian Revolution left a deep wound in the Hungarian national psyche. The start of the Hungarian Revolution, October 23, became a national holiday.
Now some pics of the bridge. It had to be rebuild several times. The last one happed in 2025. For this reason the pics in the Wikipedia article are outdated. The last one is the latest edition of Michener's book, which I bought some days ago.
