Petőfi Kör · 1955–1956

Petőfi Circle

페퇴피 서클

A youth intellectual debate forum established in 1955 under Hungary's Democratic Youth Association (DISZ). From spring 1956 it held mass public debates openly demanding democratization and press freedom under the Rákosi regime; the press debate of 27 June 1956 drew some 7,000 attendees, and the 'partisan debate' featuring a speech by Júlia Rajk, widow of executed communist László Rajk, became a direct catalyst for the Hungarian Revolution. Banned by the Party Central Committee on 30 June 1956; Mikoyan called it an 'ideological Poznań.'

Related historical events

Sources

  1. Russian Wikipedia «Кружок Петёфи» — formation in 1954 under DISZ, first public meeting 17 March 1956, 12 debates, press debate 27 June with ~7,000 attendees, ban 30 June, Mikoyan called it 'ideological Poznań':
  2. Hungarian Wikipedia «Petőfi Kör» — detailed history of debates, Tánczos Gábor as secretary, the press debate where Tibor Déry called for removal of Rákosi, and the Circle's role in the ferment before the revolution:
  3. Peter Fryer, Hungarian Tragedy (Marxists.org) — firsthand account of the all-night meeting with ~6,000 attendees, Rajk's widow's speech, demands for democratisation and intellectual liberty:
  4. Autonomies.org — account of Júlia Rajk's speech at the Petőfi Circle, overflowing crowds, speeches relayed by loudspeakers:
  5. OpenEdition Journals / Clio — Andrea Pető on Júlia Rajk and the Petőfi Circle's 'partisan debate' of 18 June 1956 as creating the linguistic framework for legitimate criticism of the Rákosi regime:
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