The memorial plaque for Otto Szirmai was dedicated in the foyer of the Radio Hungary Building in 1993. This plaque created from white granite was donated by the Association of Hungarian Journalists. Otto Szirmai was born in Budapest in 1932. His family had been associated with the Socialist movement for several generations. After school, Szirmai was at first employed as a simple worker, as his family could not afford higher education due to their poor financial status. In 1943, he accepted a position as stage decorator at the Budapest National Theatre, before taking up studies at the Academy of Arts. At the same time, Szirmai had begun collaborating on radio programmes. After the liberation of Hungary in 1945, he joined the Communist Party and – even after the enforced unification in 1946 – remained a member of the Hungarian Workers' Party. As early as October 23, 1956, Szirmai had participated in the first mass demonstrations at Parliament Square. As the siege of the radio station began, he attempted to influence the demonstrators to act with moderation, mainly due to the massive presence of security forces. Once the skirmishes had erupted, Szirmai was chiefly concerned with evacuating women from the besieged building. Four days later, he negotiated with Parliament regarding rights of access to state radio for the insurgents, but was later, however, placed on a list of subjects to be arrested due to these activities. Szirmai then joined the resistance. He joined forces with a resistance group in the 8th Municipal District led by István Angyal, but was unable to actively participate in the fighting due to a right hand which was lame from birth. After the second invasion of Soviet troops on November 4, 1956, Szirmai – now a Member of Parliament representing the insurgents - took part in the unsuccessful negotiations with the occupying troops. On November 6th, Szirmai transported a wounded Austrian journalist to the hospital at Bakáts Square, but was prevented from returning to his group as a result of a Soviet resolution. Thus, he joined the insurgents in the hospital in the Pérterfy Street, where he was mainly busy with the composition of flyers. Simultaneously, Szirmai made efforts to establish a new youth party, which, however, remained a good intention due to the political circumstances. At the end of November, the underground newspaper "Élünk (We live)“ was published under his leadership. After the defeat of the Revolution, Szirmai spoke out against armed resistance, though at the same time consistently championing the political fight against the Kádár regime. After he had been able to establish contact with Workers' Councils at the close of 1956, Szirmai was most probably arrested on January 14, 1957 by the Hungarian Secret Service ÀHV. On April 17, 1958 he was sentenced to death by the court of primary jurisdiction, charged with the formation of an underground movement. The judgment was affirmed by the Court of Justice at the Superior Court on November 27, 1958. After the plea for clemency had been rejected, Otto Szirmai was executed on January 22, 1959.