Anti-communist resistance and show trials in Mezőberény during the 1950s

Abstract

Mezőberény is an agrarian town in the Great Hungarian Plain. Its predominantly peasant popula-tion suffered severely during the Stalinist mass terror. Not only the wealthier farmers – the so-called kulaks – but also small peasants were often put on trial. Like in other settlements of Békés county, a resistance group was formed also in Mezőberény. Its members did not create an anti-state conspiracy; they were only planning what to do in the event of a regime change. Nevertheless, they were given heavy prison sentences. Although they were freed by the autumn of 1956, almost none of them took part in the revolution that soon broke out. The events of the revolution were calm, without any casualties. Therefore, the retaliation was also mild.