The Hungarians who sought a new home in Switzerland

Previous Next

The first Hungarian refugees arrived in Buchs in canton St Gallen on November 8, 1956. (Keystone/Photopress) Keystone/Photopress/str

Buchs, November 8, 1956 (Keystone) Keystone/photopress/Str

Buchs, 1956 (Keystone/Fotostiftung Schweiz/Anita Niesz) Keystone/Fotostiftung Schweiz/Anita Niesz

A Hungarian family in Hasenberg bei Waldkirch, canton St Gallen (RDB/ATP/Brechbühl) RDB/ATP/Brechbhl

Like the YMCA? Accommodation in the Kornhausbrücke gymnasium in Zürich (RDB/ATP/Brechbühl) RDB/ATP/Brechb¸hl

To prepare for the arrival of Hungarian refugees, women clean the barracks in Liestal, canton Basel Country. (RDB/ATP) RDB/ATP

A Zurich student prepares an apartment for colleagues from Hungary. (RDB/ATP/Brechbühl) RDB/ATP/Brechb¸hl

Trying on shoes in canton Zurich (RDB/ATP/Brechbühl) RDB/ATP/Brechbühl

Cooking soup for refugees in Buchs (RDB/ATP/Brechbühl) RDB/ATP/Brechbühl

Young Hungarians in Adelboden, Bernese Oberland, 1957 (RDB/ATP/Schürch) RDB/ATP/Schürch

Somewhere in Switzerland: refugee accommodation (RDB/ATP/Pichler) RDB/ATP/Pichler

Rail workers at the main station in Bern observe a moment of silence for Hungary. (Keystone/Walter Studer) Keystone/Walter Studer

Demonstrating solidarity during the Hungarian uprising, at Münsterhof in Zurich, October 19, 1956 (Keystone/Photopress) Keystone/Photopress/Str

• Picture 1
• Picture 2
• Picture 3
• Picture 4
• Picture 5
• Picture 6
• Picture 7
• Picture 8
• Picture 9
• Picture 10
• Picture 11
• Picture 12
• Picture 13

Sixty years ago, the people of Hungary launched an uprising against their Communist rulers. Soviet troops quickly crushed the revolt on November 4, 1956. A few days later the first refugees arrived in Switzerland.

Some 2,600 people died in clashes that lasted around ten days. Thousands were imprisoned and hundreds were executed. The invasion of Soviet troops triggered a mass exodus. Around 200,000 Hungarians fled to western European countries; 14,000 of them found safety in Switzerland. Many of them were well-educated people who, under Soviet rule, would have had to give up their standard of living as well as hope of freedom.

In Switzerland, they were received mainly with open arms. The local population felt sympathy for people who had rebelled against Soviet communism. Hundreds of people took to the Swiss streets to show their solidarity with the insurgents.

Most Hungarians and their descendants have quickly managed to integrate into the new society. They knew that it might take years to return home, so many still feel gratitude for their new home: Switzerland.

(Photo editing: Christoph Balsiger; Text: Peter Siegenthaler)