The Hungarian Embassy in Berlin

The events of the October Revolution divided the staff of the Hungarian Embassy in Berlin. Ambassador Emánuel Safrankó sided with the positions held by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the Soviet Union, whereas the senior staff members followed the line of the Imre Nagy government. The diplomats removed the state coat of arms from the embassy building. Citing a “counter-revolutionary situation” — and in gross violation of international law — Safrankó, with the assistance of GDR security service personnel, had Dr. János Beck, Sándor Kurtán, and István K. Nagy arrested and removed. At a meeting held at the embassy on November 5, Safrankó justified his actions by explaining that the removal of the state coat of arms and the intense interest shown by Western news agencies had deeply agitated GDR leaders — who were already grappling with internal difficulties — leading them to demand the removal of the “ringleaders.”