October 6. The funeral of the victims of a mock political trial - Laszlo Rajk and his comrades, takes place in Budapest. The ceremony is attended by 200,000 people.

Sandor Kopacsi (head of Budapest’s police):

   The party oppositionists and, especially, Laszlo Rajk’s widow, insisted that the funeral ought to be a solemn and grand ceremony attended by many people. This, however, could prove dangerous. Although the residents of Budapest cared little about the scores that were being settled within the party they felt they had enough of poverty and mismanagement. Thus, there was a risk that the crowd of subjects could use the funeral ceremony as an occasion to riot. [...]

   Despite the fact that a procession of 200,000 people marched past the catafalque there, fortunately, were no disturbances. The guard of honour changed every five minutes. [...] When the turn came for the Politburo members – Rakosi’s associates, to stand at the catafalque as the honour guard a violent blast of wind was suddenly felt. Everybody noticed that. It was an extraordinary, Shakespearian scene.