Mór Gerő

Mór Gerő (also known as Ernő Singer; born July 4, 1898, in Terény, Austria-Hungary; died March 12, 1980, in Budapest, Hungary) was a prominent Hungarian Communist politician. He was a key figure in the Hungarian Communist Party during the Rákosi era and held various important positions within the government and party apparatus.

Gerő was a dedicated Stalinist and played a significant role in the implementation of socialist policies in Hungary, including nationalization of industries, collectivization of agriculture, and the suppression of political opposition. He was known for his hardline approach and his close ties to the Soviet Union.

He served as Minister of Finance from 1948 to 1949, Minister of State from 1949 to 1953, and First Secretary of the Hungarian Working People's Party (the Communist Party's official name) briefly in 1956, succeeding Mátyás Rákosi. His appointment to this position, rather than addressing popular discontent, further fueled the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

Gerő's staunch Stalinist policies and refusal to acknowledge or address public grievances contributed directly to the outbreak of the revolution. After the revolution began, he was quickly ousted from power and replaced by János Kádár, with Soviet support.

Following the suppression of the revolution, Gerő was briefly exiled to the Soviet Union. He later returned to Hungary and lived a relatively quiet life. He was expelled from the Communist Party in 1962 but was later readmitted in 1989, shortly before his death. His legacy remains controversial in Hungary due to his role in the repressive Rákosi regime and his contribution to the events leading up to the 1956 revolution.