Freed from prison in 1953 after five years, Baránszki became a freedom fighter during the Hungarian revolution, helping to organize assistance. He went to Rome in 1956 to seek Western support for the revolution. When the rebellion was crushed by the Soviets, Baránszki did not want to return home. He liked Communists as much as he liked Nazis. "If you want to think like a cartoonist, Hitler and Stalin would be two cherries on the same tree," Baránszki said. "There was no difference." He was sent back to Hungary, but he was able to slip out again among many other refugees.