Soviet occupation of Hungary

In the spring of 1945, Hungary was liberated from the horrors of World War II by the Red Army, but this also marked the beginning of the Soviet occupation, which would last for roughly 45 years. The memory of this period remains deeply contested: for many, the arrival of Soviet troops represented the recovery of freedom and liberation from fascism, while for others it signaled the start of a period defined by violence, arbitrariness, and communist terror. For Jews, the arrival of the Soviets represented genuine liberation. At the same time, this experience fueled the postwar accusation that Jews had brought communism to the country, providing new fodder for antisemitism.