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…