2020-06-18 Thu

Day of Independent Hungary is an official Remembrance Day in the Republic of Hungary observed on June 19. It commemorates the end of the Soviet occupation of Hungary and honors the martyrs of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

In 1944, Hungary was liberated from Nazi Germany by the Soviet Army. Following the defeat of Hungary in the Second World War, the country was occupied by the Soviet Union. In 1949, the Hungarian People's Republic was established. It was a socialist state under the influence of the USSR.

The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was a spontaneous revolt against the country's socialist government. It began as a student demonstration on October 23, 1956. The uprising quickly spread throughout the country but was crushed by Soviet military forces on November 10. On June 16, 1958, leaders of the revolution were executed for treason.

The end of the communist rule in Hungary was peaceful. In the wake of the Revolutions of 1989, Soviet forces began to withdraw from the country. The last Soviet soldier left Hungary on June 19, 1991. Day of Independent Hungary was declared an official memorial day in 2001. It is marked with solemn remembrance ceremonies throughout the country. As it is not a public holiday, employees are not granted paid time off.

In the year 2018, Hungary Post issued a set of 10 stamps to commemorate the Martyrs of the 1956 Revolution from the Roma Community. The stamps are denominated with 100 Hungarian forints and depict the Martyrs of the Revolution.

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