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COMMUNITY
TheMesaTribune.com |
THE MESA TRIBUNE | NOVEMBER 28, 2021
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East Valley man proud of role as real Freedom Fighter BY MIKE SAKAL Tribune Contributor
W
hen Andras Pongratz celebrated Thanksgiving at the Chandler home of his son, Joe Pongratz, with 33 family members, he had many things to be thankful for. “I’m thankful for my family, first and foremost,” said Pongratz, 82, of Ahwatukee. “I am thankful to be in America and I am thankful for my freedom and being able to go back to Hungary.” Pongratz recently returned from Budapest, where he spoke to thousands of people marking the 65th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Pongratz was one of seven siblings who helped lead the ‘56 revolt against the Russian Communists as anti-sentiment against the oppressive government boiled over on Oct. 23,1956. The massive protests escalated into nearly two weeks of fierce fighting in the streets of Budapest and some of Hungary’s larger cities. Even children threw Molotov cocktails down the turrets of Russian tanks, burning Red Army soldiers trapped inside. Pongratz was 17 when he recruited a welder to cut Joseph Stalin’s statue – a symbol of hatred – in Corvin Square, toppling it with a resounding thud. The ‘56 Hungarian Revolution caused a crack in Communism’s foundation, inspiring other Iron Curtain countries to throw off its yoke some 25 years later. At the time, young adults presented 16 demands at the Parliament Building and radio station. Above all, they demanded freedom. Communist police on the roof of the Parliament building started firing shots into the crowd on Oct. 23, killing some of the protesters. The fight was on. The Hungarian slogan “Ruszkik haza!” – “Russians go home!” – grew louder than ever. In his most recent visit to Hungary, Pongratz spoke to 500 grammar school
students in Dumafoldvar, and it fell.” outside Budapest, where his Pongratz’s older brother, niece, Klari Cseke, is a schoolEdmund, re-assembled the teacher and had arranged for cannon on Corvin Square so it his speech in the school’s auagain would fire. ditorium. “My brother sent another Pongratz also spoke to about teenager to the apartment 1,000 people on Corvin Square building across the street,” in Budapest, where Edmund Pongratz said. “He went up to Pongratz, one of his older the second floor and gave us a brothers, had established signal by waving a white handheadquarters for the Freedom kerchief when a Russian tank Fighters at the height of the was coming down Ferenc Bourevolution. levard and came within about “It was a fantastic experi5 meters of the square. When ence,” Pongratz said. “The the tank got close enough, we students gave a wonderful all pulled the firing line on the presentation in the auditoricannon and shot the tank. We um. They sang national songs took out about 12 tanks withabout the country and free- Ahwatukee resident Andras Pongratz and his entire family fought out damaging the building bedom. They had me walk out in the Hungarian Revolution in 1956 and is grateful for the free- hind it.” doms he enjoys in America. He is show the “Vitézi Rend” award onto the stage in the dark, and Gergely Pongratz led the he received from the Hungarian Parliament in 2004 for his role when they turned the lights on in the 1956 revolution. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer) fighting, something which Anand I saw how the kids were dras said he was “in it” with his looking at me in amazement, it was just commemoration ceremonies of the up- brothers “all the way through.” an emotional experience. I was crying, I rising. Prior to 1990, he was not allowed Pongratz’s only sister, Maria, delivered was amazed. to enter Hungary because of his and his messages to those who were involved in “The kids listened to me speak and family’s role in the revolution. the fighting. asked me questions.,” Pongratz added. In addition to Andras, all of his siblings None of the Pongratzes were killed “The younger generation is beginning to – Edmund, Ernest, Christopher, Gergely, during the revolution. understand and appreciate what we did Balint and Maria – all participated in the By Oct., 29, 1956, the Freedom Fightand why we did it back in 1956.” Hungarian Revolution. ers had won and Premier Imre Nagy In Hungary, the Freedom Fighters are In 2004, Pongratz was knighted in announced that the country had its treated like World War II veterans are Hungary and received the Vitez Knight new government in place. The Russians honored in the United States. They are Award for his role in the uprising. pulled out of the country. considered part of Hungary’s Greatest Pongratz said it took a crowd more Hungary was ecstatic. Some 8,000 poGeneration. than two hours to pull down the Stalin litical prisoners were released. The year following the Revolution, statue. Hungary appealed to the United NaTime Magazine named the Hungarian “We tried for two hours, and it wouldn’t tions for neutrality following the uprisFreedom Fighter its Man of the Year. budge,” Pongratz said. “It was so heavy. ing but received no support. “There’s not many of the Freedom We tried to pull it down with cables, Andy Bogdanyi, a retired tailor who Fighters around anymore, but the few but the cables snapped. Knowing a little lives in Ohio and escaped Hungary in who were there on Corvin Square for the bit about cutting metal with a welding the wake of the revolution, said, “We 65th anniversary felt appreciated,” Pon- torch, I said that we needed some kind had asked for freedom of religion. We gratz said. “Sixty-five years is such a long of metal cutter. A young man who was a had asked for freedom of the press. We time ago.” student at a nearby welding school said asked for individual freedom and for the Except for pandemic-shut 2020, Pon- he had his welder at the school. He ran Russians to leave, but that was all just a gratz has returned to Hungary every and got it, and after he brought it back, dream.” year since 1990 to participate in the I used it to cut off the leg of the statue see FREEDOM page 18
