Hungary

• What were the main causes of the Hungarian uprising in 1956?


  • Reaction against Stalin's dictatorship
  • Introduction of de-Stalinization by Khrushchev
  • Limits on freedoms in Eastern bloc
  • Riots in Poland and Czechoslovakia
• Who was the Hungarian leader before the uprising?

  Mátyás Rákosi
• What role did Rákosi's secret police play in Hungary?

  They created a climate of fear and arrested dissenters
• What was the impact of Soviet troops in Hungary?

  They drained resources and led to poverty
• When did the Hungarian protests begin against Rákosi's regime?

  June 1956
• What happened on 23 October 1956 in Hungary?

  Students took to the streets demanding reforms
• What were the key events during the Hungarian uprising in October 1956?

  • 23 October: Students protest for reforms
  • 24 October: New government formed under Imre Nagy
  • 28 October: Soviet tanks withdraw from Hungary
  • 1 November: Nagy introduces reforms
  • 4 November: Soviet tanks invade, leading to fighting
• What reforms did Nagy introduce on 1 November 1956?

  Leaving the Warsaw Pact and declaring neutrality
• How many Soviet tanks crossed into Hungary on 4 November 1956?

  6,000
• What was the outcome of the fighting on 4 November 1956?

  30,000 people were killed
• Why did the West not intervene in the Hungarian uprising?

  • Focus on the Suez Crisis
  • Eisenhower's re-election campaign
  • Difficulty accessing Hungary through Austria
  • Khrushchev's threats of nuclear retaliation
  • Lack of willingness to rollback communism
• What was the reaction of Eastern European countries to the events in Hungary?

  • Realization of USSR's intolerance for independence
  • Acceptance of communism on USSR's terms
  • Warning against attempts to break free from the Warsaw Pact
• How did the West and USSR view the situation in Hungary differently?

  • West sympathized but did not intervene
  • USSR maintained strict control over Eastern Europe
  • Khrushchev's de-Stalinization did not mean less control
• What reforms were supported by the workers and the Hungarian army?

  Ending reforms
• When did the Soviets agree to the formation of a new government in Hungary?

  24 October 1956
• Who was the leader of the new government formed in Hungary?

  Imre Nagy
• What significant action did Soviet tanks take on 28 October 1956?

  They withdrew from Hungary
• What happened on 4 November 1956?

  6,000 Soviet tanks crossed the border
• How many people were killed during the fighting in Hungary?

  30,000
• What was vandalized during the Hungarian uprising in 1956?

  A statue of Stalin
• Why did the West not intervene in Hungary despite expressing sympathy?

  They were focused on the Suez invasion
• What was President Eisenhower's situation during the Hungarian uprising?

  He was campaigning for re-election
• What was a challenge for the West in accessing Hungary?

  Austria was neutral
• What threat did Khrushchev make regarding intervention in Hungary?

  He threatened Britain and France with rockets
• What was clear about the West's stance on communism in Eastern Europe?

  They were not prepared to roll back communism
• What happened to Hungary after the uprising?

  It was placed under strict communist control
• What realization did Eastern European countries come to after the Hungarian uprising?

  USSR would not tolerate independence attempts
• What warning did the events in Hungary serve to other Soviet-influenced countries?

  Not to attempt any move towards independence
• What were the contrasting views of the West and the USSR regarding control over Eastern Europe?

  • The West accepted USSR's firm grip.
  • Khrushchev aimed to maintain control at any cost.
  • President Eisenhower faced criticism for inaction.
  • The West was powerless to influence events.
• What was the main reason for the West's inaction during the Hungarian uprising?

  Focus on the Suez invasion