in the months following the suppression of the revolution nearly 200,000 people left Hungary. The refugees, before settling down in different Western countries, spent a shorter or longer period of time in Austrian and Yugoslavian refugee camps. Even before 4th

November Western governments and civil organizations offered a considerable amount of food and medical aid to support the Hungarians, but only a part ever reached Hungary due to the second Soviet intervention.

In November the call of the UN general meeting was followed by a worldwide campaign to support Hungarian refugees and help them settle down in the West. The United States headed this action and as early as 2nd November it offered $20 million in aid to Hungary. It also took generous care of Hungarians settling down on its own territory and offered support to other nations taking in refugees. A major part of the maintenance costs of Austrian refugee camps was also covered by the United States. The majority of Hungarian refugees – about 80,000 people – found new homes in the United States, while 22,000 settled down in England, 16,000 in the German Federal Republic, 14,000 in Switzerland and 13,000 in France.

Csaba Békés – János Rainer M.
Associates of the 1956 Institute