16. The Hungarian Uprising Flashcards
Who was the leader of Hungary from 1949?
Matyas rakosi, a hardline stanilist who didn’t tolerate any opposition
How did rakosi gain a firm hand over Hungary?
With help from the secret police (the AVO) but many Hungarians began to resent the tight control from Moscow
What effect did de stalinisation have over Hungary?
Made students there see this as an opportunity to bring change to the country and gain greater independence from Moscow
When was the protest? Where? When? Who?
23 October 1956 Students took to the streets of Budapest and issued a list of demands including:
- greater freedom and civil rights
- removal of rakosi and return of imre Nagy
- withdrawal of soviet troops
What happened to the small student protest?
It grew quickly and became violent, su tanks were set alight and in response some fired on the protesters
What did Nagy do to try and help the violence in protests
Called for calm and pledged support for the Hungarian Communist Party while Khrushchev ordered withdrawal of soviet troops between 29 and 31 October, causing protesters to celebrate
How did Hungary dramatically change after the people protested?
Nagy became prime minister and after people wanted even greater reforms, Nagy withdrew from the Warsaw Pact in November 1st 1956 announcing Hungary as an independent, neutral country
What was the soviet response to Hungary’s withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact?
Khrushchev was worried other members may follow Hungary’s example and on November 4 1956, 200,000 troops and 2500 tanks were sent into Hungary overpowering the Hungarians and crushing the uprising
What did the su do to Nagy in the end?
Forced him out of power and later tried and executed him. He was replaced with Janos Kadar who brutally dealt with any opposition and was loyal to Moscow
What was the west’s response to the withdrawal of the Warsaw Pact by Hungary?
- Eisenhower didn’t interfere as Hungary was within the sphere of influence and USA involvement risked direct conflict with Moscow
- the UN discussed the issue on November 4 1956 and the Security Council held a vote calling the SU to withdraw but it simply vetoed it. Nothing more could be done
- for most countries the Suez Crisis was much more concerning than events in Hungary
What effect did events in Hungary have on the war?
Khrushchev showed he was willing to do anything to keep countries under Moscow’s control despite talks of peaceful co-existence while the USA showed it would not interfere in events behind the iron curtain
How was Hungary itself effected by the events
There were over 2000 soviet casualties and around 4000 Hungarians were killed. Around 200,000 fled and left Hungary altogether. 35,000 Hungarians were arrested and 300 executed
Give methods of soviet control that caused people to protest
- The AVO (secret police) used methods of terror to remove political opponents
- many resented the red army in Hungary with thousands of troops in towns and cities making people feel uneasy
- the su controlled education making children learn the communist version of their history
What kind of political freedom did people have that made them want to protest?
- there was no freedom of speech
- government controlled all film, radio, art and literature
- Hungarians were religious but the government prosecuted the Catholic Church
What economic problems cause Hungarians to protest?
- there were severe food shortages due to the Russians collective farming meaning people had to give out their own farms
- industrial workers were poorly paid
- many industrial goods made in Hungary were not sold there and had to be sent straight to the su instead
