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gave shelter in Zugló previously. He was caught when fleeing
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towards Yugoslavia. Dictator Rákosi did not like him, since he
lost against him during the elections. When my grandfather
delivered a speech in Parliament, he started his speeches with
speaking firmly against the anti-democratic policy of Rákosi,
listing all of his ill-deeds. In return, Rákosi came up with the
political “salami technique.” As such, he demanded that the
Smallholders Party should isolate him, as well as others, and
kick them out of the Party. Thus, the political opposition soon
lost its charismatic members.
Since my father still owned his car, we made a trip to
Lake Velence nearby Budapest, then to Balatonakarattya, with
the thought of having in mind that the family would buy land.
Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe some 70 miles
away from Budapest. As we were swimming there, a “rocsó”
turned up on the water. It was a boat with an outboard engine
without a silencer, and it was loud as if a plane had flown low.
Those, sitting inside it, told us strictly and officiously to be
silent. Comrade Rákosi was taking a nap at Aliga, at a lakeside
resort nearby open only for the communist leaders. Everyone
retreated, frightened. The drivers realized with satisfaction that
they had managed to frighten us, then they went on towards the
next beach with a roaring engine. Eventually, we bought a neat
piece of land with a small summer house at Balatonkenese, so
that the children could go on holiday during summertime, also
advantageous being far enough from Aliga.
The fifties were quiet for me. During term I attended
school, participated in kids’ parties, visited the grandparents,
the latter of which always ended in listening to and reciting
religious stories. Despite that, attendance at church became
more and more seldom. The nearby Regnum Marianum church
was demolished, which my parents regretted very much.

7 Mátyás Rákosi, dictator from 1945 until 1956.

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