history superpowerrelarins

• The Hungarian Uprising in 1956 was a revolt against the oppressive regime imposed by the Soviet Union on Hungary.
• In 1949, the Cominform imposed an oppressive regime on Hungary, redistributing land to other Eastern European countries and shipping Hungarian coal, oil, and wheat to the Soviet Union.
• Hungarians suffered from a lack of food and low wages under the oppressive regime.
• The government, police, and army were controlled by the Soviet Union during the oppressive regime.
• Matyas Rakosi was appointed as the leader of Hungary under the oppressive regime.
• Matyas Rakosi was a ruthless leader from 1949-56.
• Matyas Rakosi described himself as ‘Stalin’s best pupil’.
• Hungarians gave Matyas Rakosi the nickname ‘the bald butcher’.
• Matyas Rakosi developed what were known as ‘salami tactics’, meaning he dealt with his opponents ‘slice by slice’.
• Mátyás Rákosi's oppressive regime imprisoned 387,000 and was responsible for more than 2,000 deaths.
• The impact of Stalin's death led to Malenkov initially becoming leader of the USSR, allowing Imre Nagy to become leader of Hungary, and the establishment of the Warsaw Pact in May 1955.
• On 6th October 1956, thousands of Hungarians turned out for the state funeral of Laszlo Rajk, a reburial as he had been executed in 1949 because though a Communist he had wanted Hungary to break away from Soviet control.
• Reasons for Hungarian opposition to Soviet control included censorship, persecution of the Hungarian Catholic Church, use of terror and torture by the secret police (AVO), and the presence of Soviet troops in their country.
• In May 1955, Khrushchev emerged as the leader of the Soviet Union.
• In July 1956, Rakosi was forced from power on orders of Moscow and replaced by his friend Erno Gero, who was equally unpopular with the Hungarian people.
• The statue of Stalin was pulled down in the capital.
• On 23rd October 1956, students demonstrated in Budapest, demanding free elections, a free press, and the withdrawal of Soviet troops.
• Mátyás Rákosi divided opposi O on by dividing it bit by bit.
• Nagy had sought protection in the Yugoslavian embassy, but it was agreed with Khrushchev that he was free to leave Hungary.
• The Uprising really ended in November, but trouble rumbled on into 1957.
• The UN officially condemned the Soviet invasion, but took no further action.
• Kadar published his Five-Point Programme which removed all of Nagy’s reforms.
• As soon as Nagy left the embassy, he was arrested, accused of treason and found guilty.
• Khrushchev’s policy of de-Stalinisation would only go so far, as the Soviet Union was not going to relinquish its control over the satellite states.
• America did offer $20 million worth of food and medical help to Nagy’s government.
• The West’s aloof response was more focused on the Middle East and the Suez Crisis, where Britain and France attempted to seize back control of the Canal from the Egyptians, also involving a lack by the Israelis.
• Khrushchev appointed Janos Kadar as the new Hungarian leader.
• President Eisenhower praised the bravery of the Hungarians, encouraging them to fight on.
• About 650 Soviet troops were killed and about 1,250 wounded during the Uprising.
• Nagy was taken to Romania and shot in 1958.
• The US, despite its initial encouragement, offered no military help to the Hungarian uprising as it was a matter of 'highest priority to prevent the outbreak of war', which could result in the nuclear annihilation of Hungary and the rest of the world.
• On 25th October 1956, Gero was forced to resign and Janos Kadar took over as temporary Prime Minister.
• On 3rd November, Nagy announced a coalition government.
• Between 29th October and 1st November, Nagy announced further reforms including the end of one-party rule, free elections, complete evacuation of Soviet troops from Hungary, Hungary should withdraw from the Warsaw Pact and become neutral, and Hungary should ask the UN for protection from the USSR.
• On 27th October, Nagy announced a new government, which included members from non-Communist parties.
• Fighting occurred with the AVO.
• Two weeks of bitter fighting followed.
• On 26th October 1956, Nagy was re-instated as Prime Minister.
• Nagy held talks with the Soviet Union, leading to an agreement that the tanks should withdraw.
• On 4th November, 200,000 Soviet troops and 6,000 tanks returned to Hungary.