Started much earlier
I know hungarians who actually were friends with russians…russians who started to like our lifestyle and history, and they did not hurt us at all…when they had to leave they were devastated …God bless their souls
I am sure that individuals did have friends who were Russians, however, I saw with my own eyes the disgust that some showed towards Russians. We stayed in a hotel, if you want to consider it one, it had no bathroom, except for a sink, small narrow beds placed head to head that I slept on one and husband slept on another. There was a Russian woman who had a small boy with her, she wanted a room and spoke Russian, many Hungarians knew Russian and the woman at the counter understood she wanted a room. She just ignored her completely.
After the wall fell and the Russian military left their quarters, they burned down the trees in the forest and destroyed their quarters.
I think much of the anger was towards the military and the KGB. We also experienced dealing with KGB and that was scary for me.
On a personal basis, people are just people and can forge friendships with all ethnic groups, despite hostilities between countries.
We must remember that it was a very sad time during the occupations of the Eastern European countries. Thank God they are now all free.
I was just visiting there and really only had relationships with Hungarians, usually related to my husband.
God Bless
Bernadette
