How many stories can a building tell? The Kilián laktanya stands before us. It is a silent witness to Budapest’s turbulent past.
This imposing structure is at the junction of Ferenc körút and Üllői út. It faces Corvin közzel. The Kilián laktanya played a vital role in the 1956 revolution. Later executed, Maléter Pál had his headquarters here during the uprising.
Before 1892, this place was known as the Mária Terézia laktanya. It became the Kilián laktanya. This change reflected Hungary’s shifting allegiances.
Hild József designed the building. Construction took place between 1843 and 1845. The Kilián laktanya opened in 1845. It is a prime example of classicist architecture. Its massive size covers 30000 square meters.
The Kilián laktanya was more than just bricks and mortar. It became a symbol of resistance. In 1956, the revolution’s National Guard formed here. Király Béla led this brave group.
Alongside the nearby Corvin köz, the Kilián laktanya fought bravely. The press even considered it the symbolic heart of the resistance.
However, some harbored suspicions. Pongrátz Gergely commanded forces at Corvin köz. He felt the press unfairly favored the Kilián laktanya. Maléter’s poor relationship with Pongrátz further fueled this tension.
Strategically located, the Kilián laktanya controlled a vital route. It stood in the path of Soviet forces advancing on Üllői út. The Soviets aimed to crush the uprising.
During the revolution’s early days, most soldiers here performed labor service. Maléter Pál commanded the Katonai Műszaki Kisegítő Alakulatok. These units only controlled part of the building. A workers’ hostel also existed within its walls.
Csiba Lajos, then a captain, commanded the Kilián. He recalled the events in his diary. It was published in 1989. The Chicago-based Szivárvány newspaper printed it.
On October 23rd, 1956, Vörös, a lieutenant, reported that a crowd wanted to enter the Kilián laktanya. Soon gunfire erupted in the street. Csiba contacted Maléter. Maléter sent a car. Horváth, his deputy, accompanied the car. They entered the Kilián laktanya. The courtyard was full of armed people.
The Kilián laktanya had few weapons. The guards possessed only ten submachine guns and thirty pistols. On October 24th, they collected weapons from insurgents.
Fighting broke out. Szabó, a captain, and Kolmann, a lieutenant, were injured. They went to the hospital. On October 25th, Maléter arrived with five tanks. He positioned one at the main gate. The tanks fired on buildings where insurgents hid.
Civilians began doubting the Kilián laktanya’s loyalty. They wondered if the Hungarian garrison supported the revolution. The Nagy Imre government’s stance remained unclear. Political and military leaders urged the disarmament of civilian units.
According to Pongrátz, the Kilián laktanya’s real role began on October 24th. A diplomatic car fired on unarmed civilians. An old man torched an armored car. People extinguished the fire to get the car’s machine gun. They took it to the Kilián laktanya’s second floor.
The Soviets later destroyed the Kilián laktanya. A Nepszava article described the devastation. The building was in ruins. Its corner facing the Körút was demolished. Windows lacked glass. Rooms were empty. Weapons had roared there just hours before.
The Kilián laktanya’s cellar became a makeshift hospital. Severely injured people entered through the back entrance. They were then sent to hospitals. Minor injuries received treatment on site. The dining area became an operating room.
After the revolution, arcades were built on the Kilián laktanya’s Körút side. Soldiers slowly left the building. Today, the Fővárosi Ingatlankezelő Műszaki Vállalkozói Zrt manages a significant portion. Companies and shops operate here. The Ruttkai Éva Theater was also located here.
The Kilián laktanya has been a protected monument for eight decades. But little money is allocated for its renovation.
Makai Zsuzsa claimed that the Kilián laktanya’s cashier seduced József Áron. He was Attila József’s father. József left his family and emigrated. He went to Romania. The family long believed he had gone to America.
Around the millennium, entertainment venues operated on the ground floor and basement.
The Kilián laktanya stands as a reminder of sacrifice. It embodies the spirit of a nation’s fight for freedom. Its story echoes through Budapest’s streets.