In the late 1930s, as it became increasingly clear that Europe was about to be
plunged into war again for the second time in the space of only a few decades,
Hungary, nestled among the states of Central Europe, found itself at the
collision of the two most destructive ideologies of the past century. While the
names of the willing collaborators of either Nazi Germany or Stalin and his
henchmen have been rightfully recorded in the history books, the names of those
who took a stand against injustice and inhumanity under any flag have perhaps at
times been too hastily overlooked. Often far from the hallowed halls where
statesmen made the momentous decisions which shaped the course of history,
ordinary people put their own lives at grave risk by daring to defy the
totalitarian regimes. These were people from almost all walks of life, including
church figures, scientists, mechanics, teachers, students, and some of them
defied both those politicians who insisted on fighting on Nazi-Germany's side
during the Second World War and the communist forces which seized control of the
country in its wake. Their lives and their sacrifices offer eloquent testimony
to the power of the individual to take a stand against totalitarianism. This
book, which includes a rich array of photographs from the time, is intended as a
tribute to these heroes, their courage and defiance in the face of tyranny. Let
it remind us that, while many of these brave souls paid the ultimate price for
their shows of fortitude, the regimes against which they fought have since
fallen, and these everyday heroes have emerged as the victors.