Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The House of Terror

There is one story from Budapest I have left untold. It's about the House of Terror located in the Andrássy Street. The house contains exhibits related to the fascist and communist dictatorial regimes in 20th century Hungary and is also a memorial to the victims of these regimes, including those detained, interrogated, tortured or killed in the building.

click on the images for a bigger view

With regard to communism and fascism, the exhibition contains material on the nation's relationships to Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. It also contains exhibits related to Hungarian organizations such as the fascist Arrow Cross Party and the communist ÁVH (which was similar to the Soviet Union KGB secret police). Part of the exhibition takes place in the basement, where you can see examples of the cells that the ÁVH used to break the will of their prisoners.


Outside of the Museum, you can find candles and images of people that have fallen under the communist and fascist regime.



One of the images on the wall showed Mansfeld Peter. We saw a statue of him while visiting Buda Castle, that showed him falling off  a wall, and wondered what that was about. We found out here. At 15 he and his family became victims of state terror. He became a freedom fighter at 16 years of age and participated in the 1956 Revolution against Soviet oppression. He was betrayed and arrested by the AVH. He spent the remainder of his life in a political prison, called Hell's Hallway, to reach the legal age of 18 before his death penalty was carried out.




In front of the Museum you can find a literal iron curtain, symbolizing the heavy historic past of this part of Europe. 


It is not a place that you will want to visit first when you come to Budapest. It's a place filled with heavy stories that are not for everyone. But all in all it is a place worth visiting, and a story that shouldn't be forgotten.

33 comments:

  1. I am with you on these things should not be forgotten... and we can hope we learn from the past but i don't think that will happen. the chain is a wonderful photo if we ignore what it stands for... that small green leaf just makes it perfect and those candles and jars are beautiful

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    1. The green leaf was symbolic to me too. I even got a close up of it, but once I saw the image, I noticed that the focus wasn't pulled correctly.

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  2. A very sad post for the day, Mersad, but a part of history we need to make certain that we never forget!! Wonderful, moving captures as always. Hope your week is going well.

    Sylvia

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    1. I know. I don't like to do heavy-hitting stuff, but I had this left over on my drive and didn't want to keep it that way.

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  3. it's sad and we may never forget .....but It's a very good post Mersad.

    Greetings, Joop

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  4. Super Fotos schon wieder. Ich war noch nie dadrinnen. Irgendwie, was mich an Gewalt erinnert,muß nicht unbedingt sein. Die runden Fotos scheinen auf der Straßenseite zu sein, aber die habe ich auch noch nie gesehen, sind vielleicht neu. Liebe Grüße

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    1. Wir waren auch erst am vorletzten Tag hier.

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  5. Poignant photos of a sad chapter. I have not visited this place yet, but remember my sister's visit a few years ago and the haunting images she brought back of this place. A touching post.

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    1. It really is haunting, no matter of someones political opinions.

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  6. Wow, very sobering. But it's a good reminder to never let things like this happen again.

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  7. Hungary's recent history has been so sad - fascism and communism. Let's hope all of that is now behind this country.

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    1. It has been behind them for quite some time now. Modern Hungary is very different.

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  8. Hungarians have suffered too much!

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    1. There have been more stores, that If I had posted them would be too much. But if you like you can google the Secret Police (AVH) from back then, and read for yourself.

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  9. This is so sad. But I agree, it shouldn't be forgotten. Those who ignore/forget history, are destined to repeat it.

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  10. great post, i have just read your one about sharpening,i will give it a try

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  11. You are so correct that these stories should not be forgotten.

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  12. What a dark time in our world's history is represented here. But your photos are, as always, so nicely done and captivating.

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  13. So ist es, es darf nie vergessen werden, aber nur um den Menschen vor Augen zu halten wie furchtbar Kriege sind. Ist bestimmt interessant zu besuchen, ein Stück Geschichte das einfach zu uns Menschen gehört.

    Liebe Grüsse

    Nova

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    1. So was ähnliches hat auch mein Land im Krieg erlebt. Es ist wichitg diese Sachen nicht zu vergessen, aber auch wichtig mit dem Leben voran zu gehen.

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  14. It would upset me too much to visit that place but it serves the purpose of keeping history to the forefront, where it should be.

    Thank you for your good wishes to my Joe. They are appreciated.

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  15. Hallo Mersad...

    geniale Aufnahmen die Du hier zeigst ... sehr gelungen und dem Anlass entsprechend !

    Ganz liebe Grüße und ein schönes WE

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  16. Absolutely amazing! Love all shots, especially the one on top.

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  17. I have to go back to Budapest...

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    1. I hope you do visit again. It's an amazing city.

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  18. For those of us who were not directly involved we forget these things all too easily or bury our heads in the sand and pretend they didn't happen. It is good that they are not forgotten in the (probably forlorn) hope that they will deter the world from perpetrating such evils again.

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