In early 1946, they returned to Budapest devastated by long battles between German and Soviet troops. The coalition government, formed by the party of small landowners, trade unionists, national peasants, socialists and communists, gave them the triumphant welcome due to the historic founders of the new state. As a convinced Stalinist, Deputy Prime Minister Mathias Rakosi only tolerated the sharing of responsibilities on a temporary basis. From 1947, the gradual but violent elimination of the moderates, then of the right-wing socialists, gradually gave him the country.