Hungarian Uprising

• Order of leaders:

  • 1953-55: Nagy
  • 1955: Ratski takes power - Stalinist
  • 1956: Nagy - destalinisation leads to protests, USSR hope Nagy will stabilise country
• Timeline:

  • Feb 1956: Krushchev leader of USSR, to use diplomacy
  • June 1956: Hungarians protest against Ratski, USSR agrees to Liberal Nagy to reform Hungary
  • 1 Nov 1956: Nagy announces reforms, Hungary to leave Warsaw Pact
  • 4 Nov 1956: USSR invade Hungary, 20,000 Hungarians killed, West does not respond for help
  • 10 Nov 1956: USSR regain control, ceasefire, pro-communist government set up under Janos Kadar
  • July 1958: Nagy executed, Krushchev describes his death as "lesson to leaders of socialist countries"
• Unhappiness of Hungarians:

  • No freedom of speech
  • USSR troops stationed in Hungary - led to economic problems, fuel shortages, bad harvest
  • Russian language forced onto Hungary - feeling of assimilation into USSR
• Nagy reforms:

  • Free elections to choose government
  • Legal system to ensure fair trials
  • Farmers allowed private ownership
  • Hungary to leave Warsaw Pact and have neutrality in Cold War - USSR unhappy, domino effect, other countries to follow
• Impacts:

  • Made Krushchev's position in USSR more secure
  • USSR strong position in Warsaw Pact - rebellion led to no help from USA
  • USSR more confident in working with USA - USA unlikely to take military action
  • West looked weak - did not back up words with military support