Janos Kadar

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Kádár, János (b. 26 May 1912, d. 6 July 1989). Hungarian dictator 1956–89 Born an illegitimate child as János Czermanek in Fiume, he joined the illegal Hungarian Communist Party in 1932 and advanced to become its First Secretary in 1943. He was imprisoned by the Gestapo in 1944. After the war, he became the Deputy Chief of Police in 1945. He succeeded Rajk as Minister of the Interior in 1948, and subsequently instigated a series of show trials beginning with that of Rajk himself. He was arrested himself in 1951, but released and rehabilitated in 1954. He became General Secretary of the Communist Party in October 1956 and joined Nagy's government as Minister of State.

A few weeks later, when it became clear that Warsaw Pact troops were about to put an end to the Hungarian Revolution, Kádár escaped to the Soviet forces. He signed a public request for Soviet intervention, which brought down Nagy and elevated him to the leadership of the Communist government. To secure his position, he instigated a repressive regime which led to the execution, with or without trial, of hundreds of alleged opponents, supporters of Nagy. He also had Nagy tried and executed in secret in 1958. In 1963, he eased his iron grip as the country had been brought to submission, and in 1968 he created a New Economic Policy. This created greater economic freedom, as some small-scale private economic activity was allowed. This made him a favoured Communist leader in the eyes of the USA and the European Community, which were happy to grant the state considerable loans. In the 1970s and 1980s, the country became relatively prosperous by comparison with its Comecon neighbours. However, the dominant state sector remained moribund, as available funds were used to subsidize consumption rather than modernize industry. The increasingly desperate state of the Hungarian economy led to his replacement as General Secretary of the Communist Party in May 1988, whereupon he was given the ceremonial title of president of the party.

János Kádár , 1912-89, Hungarian Communist leader. In 1932 he joined the then illegal Communist party and held high government and party posts from 1942, becoming home secretary in 1948, when the Communist party took control in Hungary. In 1951, Kádár was accused of pro-Titoism and imprisoned until 1954. After his release he quickly regained power, becoming a member of the party's central committee in July, 1956, and first secretary of the party (the Socialist Workers' party from Sept., 1956) in October. In the Hungarian revolution of 1956, Kádár at first aligned himself with the rebels and joined the cabinet of Imre Nagy . However, in November he formed a countergovernment with Soviet support, and Soviet troops crushed the revolt. In 1958 he tried and executed Nagy and other leaders of the revolt. Kádár resigned as premier in 1958 but resumed that post from 1961 to 1965. In 1962 he carried out a drastic purge of former Stalinists. During his rule, Kádár remained a consistent supporter of Soviet foreign policy; he supported the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, and many Hungarians never forgave him for his role in the 1956 uprising. Yet, from the early 1960s until his ouster in 1988, Kádár's social and economic policies were, by Soviet-bloc standards, relatively liberal. Under his rule, Hungary became known as the freest and most modern of the Eastern European countries.

Bibliography: See his Socialist Construction in Hungary (tr. 1962), On the Road to Socialism (tr. 1965), and Selected Speeches and Interviews (1985); C. Gati, Hungary and the Soviet Bloc (1988).

Kádár, János (1912–89) Hungarian statesman, First Secretary of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party (1956–88) and Prime Minister (1956–58) and (1961–65). He replaced Imre Nagy as Premier after crushing the Hungarian uprising of 1956. Kádár consistently supported the Soviet Union, involving Hungarian troops in the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia, while retaining a degree of decentralization for the economy. His policy of ‘consumer socialism’ made Hungary the most affluent state in eastern Europe. He was removed as First Secretary following his resistance to the political reforms of the 1980s.

Kádár, János (1912–89) Hungarian statesman, premier (1956–58, 1961–65) and first secretary of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party (1956–88). He fought in the resistance during World War II, and later served as minister of the interior (1948–50). Kádár replaced Imre Nagy as premier after crushing the Hungarian uprising (1956). In 1968 he gave military support to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. Kádár's policy of ‘consumer socialism’ revitalised the domestic economy.