The Budapest siege, which took place between 29 October 1944 and 13 February 1945, left the city in tatters. Reduced to an unrecognisable state, the biggest challenge arose from the destruction of its bridges, severing the link between Buda and Pest as all the Danube-crossing bridges were destroyed during the siege.
Transportation challenges
Helló Magyar writes that after the Second World War, no bridge remained intact in Budapest. To address transportation needs, makeshift ferries and pontoon bridges provided a temporary fix. However, a permanent solution was urgently needed. The situation was aggravated by the harsh winters at the time, making the Danube impassable. The long-awaited permanent solution came in the form of the Kossuth Bridge, which connected Kossuth and Batthyány Squares. Until the reopening of the Liberty Bridge (Szabadság híd) on 20 August 1946, Kossuth Bridge was the only connection between the two sides of the Hungarian capital. The bridge was successfully built in less than a year. Today, there is only a plaque on the Pest quay commemorating the construction that once stood there.
Swift resolution
The construction of the Kossuth Bridge began on 16 May 1945. The bridge was aimed to be semi-permanent, serving until the reconstruction of Budapest’s ruined bridges. It opened to pedestrians on 15 January 1946 and to vehicular traffic on 18 January 1946. The construction took only 8 months, providing a significant morale boost for the city’s revival. Recognising that Ferenc József Bridge and the Liberty Bridge were easier to renovate, the primary focus was on replacing the Margaret Bridge and the Chain Bridge.
Kossuth Bridge design
Designed by Endre Mistéth and Elek Hilvert, the nine-span bridge was initially planned to be built with a wooden deck. However, it ended up being mostly steel and was later replaced by and all-steel construction. Given the time constraints and the limited raw materials, Kossuth Bridge had its limits. Its load-bearing capacity was dangerously low, leading to restrictions on buses and eventual pedestrian-only access. Planned for a 10-year lifespan as a temporary solution, it was demolished in 1960, with no trace by 1963. However, it resurfaced twice as a pontoon bridge on 20th August 1973 and 15th March 2003.
Symbol of renewal
It was a major achievement to build a bridge at such an extraordinary speed, thus, it rightly became the symbol of reconstruction and a new beginning. In 1946, the builders received a special prize. Though largely forgotten today, Kossuth Bridge played an important role in Budapest’s history as the first connection between the divided city, helping normalise post-war conditions and giving a ray of hope to Hungary regarding its future.
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