The Secret Police

of Hungary

AFTER THE WORLD WAR II.

THE STATE SECURITY OFFICE The State Security Office (ÁVH) was set

up in September 1948 Its keyword was the fight against

’reactionary elements’ It functioned as the ‘fist of the working

class’

Its headquarters were in the house that had been the 'House of Loyalty‘ earlier.

It is located at Andrássy Avenue 60 in Budapest at present days

Later it moved to the tower block popularly known as the 'White House'.

THE ÁVHnot only security policethe ‘Green ÁVO’(the ArmyBorder Guard)military intelligence

WHAT DID ÁVH DO?

played an important part in preparing and executing show trials.

ÁVH protected the detention camps, the Gulags like Recsk.

The Hungarian Secret Police organized interrogations

TYPES OF TORTURE

moral and physical brutality

interrogations during the night

the prisoners were not allowed to sleep or even

to sit down for days

no food, no drink for days

The ÁVH soldiers guarded the prison of state criminals

THE PRISON

The cellars formed a labyrinthThe prisoners were separated from each otherDeath row

THE PRISONERS’ LIFE

Hunger

Horrible cold

Lack of sleep

Hands and feet were bound

Electricity shocks

No clean underwear

No shower

THE FINAL DAYS OF ÁVH

In 1956 ÁVH units and officers fought against the rebels alongside the Soviet troops

The anger of people turned against the officers and soldiers of ÁVO

They lynched the 'ÁVO' men

THE HUNGARIAN REVOLUTION OF 1956

one of the main demands of the revolution was the breaking up of ÁVO

Imre Nagy’s government achieved this the Kádár government confirmed it the members continued to work for the

State Security Department of the police until 1961.

THE VICTIMS…