ÁVHs

ÁVH is an acronym for Állami Védelem Hatósága, which translates to State Protection Authority. It was the Hungarian secret police agency operating during the Stalinist period in Hungary, primarily from 1945 to 1956. The ÁVH was notorious for its widespread surveillance, brutal interrogation methods, political repression, and execution of perceived enemies of the state. It played a significant role in consolidating communist power in Hungary after World War II, often acting in conjunction with Soviet advisors.

The agency was responsible for suppressing dissent, including political opponents, religious figures, and intellectuals. Its operatives engaged in arbitrary arrests, torture, and the establishment of a vast network of informants. The ÁVH's activities instilled widespread fear among the Hungarian population. Its power was at its peak under the leadership of figures like László Rajk and later Mihály Farkas.

The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 saw a violent uprising against the communist regime and its oppressive apparatus. During the revolution, the ÁVH headquarters in Budapest was stormed by revolutionaries, and many of its agents were captured, attacked, or killed. Following the Soviet intervention that crushed the revolution, the ÁVH was officially dissolved. However, its legacy of repression and fear continued to mark Hungarian society for many years. The term ÁVH is often used colloquially in Hungary to refer to any oppressive secret police or state security force.