Brücke von Andau

The Brücke von Andau (Hungarian: Mosontarcsai híd or Andaui híd) is a small bridge over the Einserkanal [de; hu; it; nl; pl] / Hanság-főcsatorna, a small artificial river which forms part of the border between Austria and Hungary.

With political turmoil in the People's Republic of Hungary during the summer and fall of 1956, more and more Hungarians fled to the west over the border to Austria.

After crossing the border, fugitives had to walk a nine km (5.6 mi) long road, the "Road To Freedom" (Fluchtstraße), to the village of Andau, where they were received with great hospitality by the inhabitants of Andau and the surrounding villages.

Organised as a joint operation by the Austrian and Hungarian armies, it replaced a stub bridge, which had been built by peasants for transportation reasons.

The Bridge of Andau is also the topic of Der Bockerer III – Die Brücke von Andau [de], a 2000 Austrian movie dealing with the Hungarian Revolution in a slightly humorous manner, the third part of Der Bockerer.

The Bridge at Andau today
The Bridge at Andau looking to Austria from Hungary.
Backdrop for the film “Der Bockerer III”