Rakosi matyas biography template

1. Matyas Rakosi - Hungarian Political Leader and Revolutionary
2. Early Life and Revolutionary Activities
3. Return to Hungary and Leadership
4. Stalinist Policies and Legacy
5. Downfall and Exile
6. Later Years

Matyas Rakosi - Hungarian Political Leader and Revolutionary

Matyas Rakosi was a Hungarian political leader and revolutionary who served as the General Secretary of the Hungarian Working People's Party from 1945 to 1956 and later became the dictator of Hungary. He was born as the sixth child in a poor Jewish family.

Early Life and Revolutionary Activities

During the First World War, Rakosi fought on the Eastern Front and was captured, eventually joining the Hungarian Communist Party. After returning to Hungary, he participated in the government of Bela Kun. However, following the fall of Kun's government, Rakosi fled to the Soviet Union. He was involved in the leadership of the Comintern during his time there.

Return to Hungary and Leadership

In 1945, Rakosi returned to Hungary and became the leader of the Hungarian Communist Party. In 1948, he forced the Social Democratic Party to merge with the Hungarian Communist Party, forming the Hungarian Working People's Party (HWPP), of which he was elected as the General Secretary. Rakosi's regime was characterized by political terror and the persecution of opposition, including accusations of "Titoism" and an orientation towards Yugoslavia. Former Minister of Internal Affairs, Laszlo Rajk, was executed during this time.

Stalinist Policies and Legacy

Rakosi referred to himself as "Stalin's best Hungarian disciple" and closely mirrored Stalin's regime, even to the extent of adopting the Soviet military uniform as the Hungarian military attire. During his rule, rye bread, which was previously not consumed in Hungary, was introduced into the market. Despite his Jewish background, Rakosi initiated a campaign against "Zionists" in the late 1940s, effectively eliminating his political rival, Laszlo Rajk.

Downfall and Exile

In 1952, Rakosi also assumed the position of Prime Minister of Hungary, but under pressure from the Soviet leadership, he transferred the post to Imre Nagy in 1953. After the revelations made by Nikita Khrushchev at the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Rakosi was removed from the position of General Secretary of the HWPP. He was later deported to the Soviet Union following the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and lived in Nizhny Novgorod (formerly known as Gorky).

Later Years

In 1970, Rakosi was offered the opportunity to return to Hungary and renounce his active involvement in Hungarian politics, but he declined the offer. He spent his remaining years in exile and passed away in 1971. Despite his controversial and oppressive regime, Rakosi left a lasting impact on Hungarian politics and his adherence to Stalinist policies shaped the country's political landscape during his rule.