Hungarian uprising

• Hungarian uprising

  1956
• Many in Hungary were hostile to Soviet interference – they had welcomed the Nazis in the 1940s and from the elections in November 1945 an independent Smallholders Party won the election
• Communist government was forced upon the Hungarians under the dictatorial leadership of Rakosi
• The USSR accepted how harsh Rakosi had been and the economic hardship that had been brought to Hungary
• Rakosi replaced by Imry Nagy following Stalin's death


  March 1953
• By 1955 the USSR feared they were losing influence in E Europe, especially with W Germany joining NATO in the West so Nagy was replaced by Rakosi again in April 1955
• Rakosi removed and replaced by Erno Gero, a friend to Khruschev


  July 1956
• Gero seemed to signal there could be reform and that there was regret for the harsh rule of Rakosi
• Demonstrations from many students and others in Hungary

  October 1956
• The USSR sent tanks to keep control
• Gero resigned and then Nagy became Prime Minister again

  25 October 1956
• Nagy and the USSR appeared to reach an agreement – the tanks left
• Reforms planned

  • Release of political prisoners
  • Free elections
  • Trade links with the west
  • Freedom of speech, worship, the press
  • Hungary to leave the Warsaw Pact and to become a neutral state
• The USSR responded by sending 6,000 tanks and 2000, 000 troops into Hungary on 6th November 1956
• Ant reform was suppressed
• Believing they would get help from the UN, the Hungarians tried to hold out
• 7000 Soviet troops were killed; 20, 000 Hungarians
• Ceasefire agreed

  10th November 1956
• Nagy was removed from power (Later hanged in 1958 despite promises of immunity)
• Soviet backed Kadar took up the leadership