A Dictator in Exile*

These unprecedented recordings were produced during Mátyás Rákosi’s exile in the Soviet Union. These color 8mm film, mostly without sound, were recorded by his family members between 1959 and 1968, who visited the first secretary while he was on exile. The once dreaded leader of the Hungarian Communist Party spent the last 15 years of his life living in different Soviet cities and villages. On July 26, 1956, Rákosi left Hungary travelling by the airplane dubbed ”Sloth” in the company of his wife. He thought that his leave would be temporary that’s why he took only the most necessary belongings with him for the period of the health treatment. The idea of never returning home did not occurred to him at all. Comrades from Moscow designated Krasnodar – a town with a pleasant climate, 1,400 km away from Moscow – as a place of residence for Mr. and Mrs. Rákosi. Next station for them was Tokmak. The elderly couple travelled 4,000 kms to get to their new residence in September 1962. In November 1965 – with regard to the quickly decaying health of Rákosi and with the prior approval of Brezhnev – the Political Committee of Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party allowed Rákosi to move to a city with better climate but still in a safe distance from Moscow, to Arzamas, and than Gorki. He had a heart attack here in November 1970 and underwent kidney surgery in January 1971. He died on the 5th of February at the age of 79. His so called medical treatment in the Soviet Union was over after 15 years.

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