Soviet Armour, Hungary 1956

Discussion in 'Postwar' started by Owen, Oct 1, 2007.

  1. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    I haven't got the answer and it's not WW2 but what did the Hungarians use to do this to a IS-3 in Budapest in 1956?
    Has anyone read a good book on the fighting then?
    Budapest 1956
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    Another trashed IS-3 here, or it maybe same one.
    >>>>Budapest 1956 with what's left of the turret here. >>>Budapest 1956


    EDIT, just been looking through footage of the Revolution on You Tube and there are several clips with Soviet armour in free-Hungarian markings, T34/85, SU-152 etc etc.
    Such as Hungarian Revolution - Revolt Against The Soviet Union at 1 min 10 sec
     
  2. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Errrr, Godzilla?
     
  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    I've just ordered this book. I'll report back, if it says anything about this.
    http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/2248100/Twelve-Days/Product.html

    <TABLE cellSpacing=0><TBODY><TR><TD>







    </TD><TD class=wide>Twelve Days: Revolution 1956. How the Hungarians Tried to Topple Their Soviet Masters

    Victor Sebestyen

    Also read this. I have seen captions for the above photos as Kilian barracks.
    E-Books : Hungarian Revolt, October 23 - November 4, 1956, The: 9: Hungary: Freedoms' Choice - Historical Text Archive

    Finally there were 20 tanks, some 75 infantrymen, a truck, and an armored car outside the barracks. "Colonel Maleter came and looked down," recalls Peter Szanto. "He picked up a small nitroglycerin bottle and threw it at the truck. The truck disappeared in one big roar. Then we all threw nitroglycerin bottles and benzine flashes and used machine pistols on the infantry. It was a fine trick. We killed the infantry, got the truck, the armored car, and four of the tanks in about five minutes."

    and E-Books : Hungarian Revolt, October 23 - November 4, 1956, The: 13: Inside Hungary - Witness to Red Revenge - Historical Text Archive
    Across the river, Hadik barracks holds out with Hungarian tanks. It's pounded from Gellert Hill, but seven Soviet Panzers are knocked out in first twelve hours.

    When the first Soviet tank charged forward, Szena Ter was ready. From windows rained cascades of Molotov cocktails mixed in Slivowitz bottles. The first tank was set on fire but managed to withdraw after blowing a couple of houses to pieces. The second tank which roared up the incline leading to the police building burst into flames when a barrel of diesel fuel rolled downhill toward it, and exploded under its belly. The turret opened and three Red tank men scrambled out. Szabo motioned his boys to leave them to him. Then, squinting along a burp gun, he picked them off like flies.






    </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
     
  4. Bodston

    Bodston Little Willy

    Interesting stuff Owen. That IS 3 with its turret off. It would have to have been a lucky hit with something large, or more likely by an internal ammunition explosion which could have been caused by something as small as an RPG with a hollow-charge head. Strange times the Hungarian uprising, I would like to know more. Let us know if the book is any good.
     
  5. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Here you go the fighting at Kilian Barracks.
    13. The Battle is Joined | libcom.org
    It was the same in the streets around the Killian Barracks. A group of workers had got hold of a small field gun which they operated from the front of the Corvin Cinema, on the Boulevard. The cinema, Budapest's largest, stood back from the other buildings in the street to form a 'bay'. When under extra-heavy fire, the gun was run back into the shelter of this bay. A tram conductor was put in charge of the aiming and firing of the gun. He and the others sometimes pulled their artillery up the street, to the Barracks at the junction of Ulloi Road and the Boulevard. From there they could shell targets in Ulloi Road until forced back to the Corvin Cinema. During lulls in the fighting, the gun crew would sit smoking and talking shop - revolution was their business. "At one time the discussion became so absorbing that a couple of Russian tanks had got into the Boulevard and were getting perilously close to the Cinema. There was a concerted rush to man the gun. Some way behind them came an odd figure in a furious shuffle to get to the gun. Under his arm was a crumpled newspaper, his hands sought frantically to pull his trousers up from around his ankles. 'Caught with your trousers down, eh?' came the inevitable jibe. The laughter continued as they made the gun ready. They fired the first round almost at point-blank range. It hit the first tank which exploded. The second tank immediately turned and retreated, but was caught in a crescendo of cross fire at the road junction. It stopped dead. Firing ceased. Thousands of eyes watched the tank. Suddenly, the Russian crew clambered out with their hands held high. A group of workers escorted them to the Killian Barracks." [62]


    Towards evening three Hungarian tanks appeared on the scene and took up strategic positions near the Barracks. They went into action the next morning. Each day and all day, the battle raged around the Killian Barracks and in the adjoining side streets.




    Better picture here. Click the link, they do a then and now. Great stuff.
    TIMEeurope Magazine | Europe: Then and Now

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    [​IMG] KILIAN BARRACKS Formerly the Maria Theresia barracks, which served as the Hungarian rebel headquarters in Budapest during the Soviet invasion and was partially destroyed by Soviet tanks. After seven days of fighting — and a fleeting glimpse of freedom — the resistance movement was put down on Nov. 4th. Today this part of town has become a middle-class residential area.
     
  7. Bodston

    Bodston Little Willy

    Showed this to Adam last night. Budapest 1956 again.
    I thought it was a T44 but now I think it is a T54-1.???
    EDIT, no I stick with T44.



    [​IMG]

    Definately a T44/85. Even the very earliest T54's had the distinctive rounded 'turtle shell' turrets. The prototype having a sharply undercut rear. Information from "Russian Tanks 1900-1970" by John Milsom.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  9. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Found this book that seems worth a look.
    http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/2101849/Soviet-Military-Intervention-in-Hungary-1956/Product.html

    Soviet Military Intervention in Hungary, 1956
    This study reveals material on the organization, command, strategy, and tactics of the Soviet armed forces which invaded Hungary in 1956, especially the precise documentation on the irrationally large size of the forces.It opens with a substantial introductory essay by the editors and has a study by Alexandr Kirov, based on research in Soviet military archives. The book also includes the memoirs of General Yevgeny Malashenko, in 1956 a colonel in the Soviet Army and acting Chief of Staff of the Special Corps in Budapest, who provided important insights into Soviet military procedures, politico-military co-operation, and the actual fighting strengths and weaknesses of the Red Army.
     
  10. machine shop tom

    machine shop tom Senior Member

    In my archives somewhere I have a book by Michener that describes the 1956 Hungarian revolution. Seems to me that I remember a LOT of talk of Molotov cocktails being VERY effective against the tanks.

    tom
     
  11. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Just reading on some measures taken to combat the Soviet armour.

    The Hungarians would lower pots and pans filled with water down from upstairs windows until a metre above ground, the tanks would pause, giving enough time for a well placed Molotov cocktail or hand-grenade.

    Bricks were placed across the road covered with wooden paving, the tank crews thinking they were landmines would stop, again to be attacked from above.

    The "funniest" way to mess with the tanks was in hilly Buda.
    Roads were covered in silk and soapy water poured over it. The tanks would slip and slide crashing into eachother.

    All this from Sebestyen's book Twelve Days.
    Great read, simple to follow, full of brutal torture, hopeful rebellion and lack of action from the USA, recommended read.
     
  12. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    I've been looking at those pictures and just wondering if the damage to the buildings was of 1956 origin or 1945 origin. Having seen Berlin I suspect the latter.
     
  13. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    No Ger, they'd not long rebuilt Budapest when the Soviets trashed it again.
    I've just finished Twelve Days by Victor Sebestyen , I always thought "1956" was a rebellion, it was more like a full scale war.
    The second Soviet invasion was done on a war footing with artillery and air attacks.
     
  14. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  15. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Some more photos of the battle.
    These are the tanks in the background to the photo in post #1.
    Looks like they are going to be recovered. As date of photo says 12th Nov, the battle was over by then.
    ViewImages.com


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  16. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    I'm surprised that the IS-3 had such a long career. i thought the T-54/55 had replaced them by this stage. Obviously not though!! Great pictures Owen. Whats funny is that pictures from Vienna, Prague, Budapest and Berlin in 1945 look exactly the same!!!
     
  17. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  18. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  19. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    I'd say tinted??

    Fair few T34's too Gott, and far from it's last conflict.
    Great & grim shots, they all reek of a vicious conflict. A friend of mine's father escaped and essentially walked to London after having been involved in these events, getting a real urge to read more on it now.
     
  20. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    Owen's obsession with Budapest is catching on to all of us!!
     

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