16. The Hungarian Uprising

Question 1

When Krushcev became leader and what did he do straight away

As in what did he believe and thus what was the period known as…

Answer 1

1955, after Stalin died in 1953 there was a two year Leadership by malenkov. He did Warsaw Pact and

Denounced Stalin’s secrete and started “de-stalinisation. “ he believed in peaceful co- existence, the idea that communist snd capitalist countries could live together. This period was known as the thaw in the Cold War, but changed in the uprising .

Question 2

What was hungary like after ww2?

How did Soviet get their influence in essentially

Answer 2

SU invaded Hungary when it was an ally of Hitler in sep 1944. Here it drove basis back and scoret troops took control even though sn ALLIED control commission for Hungary was set up to run the country .

A new provisional government was set up and agreed to pay the Su $300 million

Question 3

How did communists make coalition of Hungary with smallholder s?

Answer 3

1) elections held in nov 145, where smallholders party won 57% compared to communist party only 17..
HOWEVER, the head of soviet forces refused to allow smallholder party to establish a full government and instead forced a coalition government instead with the Hungarian communist party .

Question 4

How did the communist party take control over hungry after the coalition?

(How RAKOSI Su came leader )

Answer 4

1) in feb 1947, leaders of smallholders and national peasant party were arrested and others fled Hungary as a result of the soviet pressure.
2) next elections communist party were the largest but didn’t have a majority so was still In coalition .
3) HOWEVER, a constitution in Su made hungrier the republic of “workers and working peasants “.

As a result Mathias RAKOSI became leader of Hungary, declaring. It a member of cominform and took its orders from Moscow now.

Question 5

Who was the leader of Hungary from 1949?

Answer 5

Matyas rakosi, a hardline stanilist who didn’t tolerate any opposition

Question 6

How did rakosi gain a firm hand over Hungary?

How many killed and imprisoned ?

Answer 6

With help from the secret police (the AVO) but many Hungarians began to resent the tight control from Moscow.

2000 people were killed and 200k imprisoned in the purges

Question 7

Why was it significant that Hungary was strongly catholic?

Who arrested

Answer 7

Because the arrest of cardinal mindszenty and other religious leaders caused particular anger (in 949 for life)

Question 8

How did RAKOSI try save the Hungarian economy (and why)

Why did this make him unpopular

Answer 8

• Comecon controlled Hungary economy, meaning they traded unfairly with Su and had bad economy
• RAKOSI put forward 5 year plan to save Hungary but it didn’t work as it focussed on heavy industry but Hungary had no iron or coming coal to make the steel.

Therefore living standards decreased and RAKOSI was ever more unpopular

Question 9

What effect did de stalinisation have over Hungary?

Answer 9

Made students there see this as an opportunity to bring change to the country and gain greater independence from Moscow

Question 10

(About Leadership )

What happened in 1943 after Stalin died and malenkov came ?

What the happened in 1955 (two thing)

Finally on 1956 in July after Krushcev secret speech what happened

Answer 10

Imre Nagy replaced RAKOSI

The. RAKOSI replaced Nagy and Warsaw Pact under Krushcev was formed

3) RAKOSI forced from power and succeeded by erno Gero

Question 11

What happened in the 23 October 1956?

Important

Answer 11

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

Statue of Stalin was dragged through the streets

Question 11

What happened to the small student protest?

Answer 11

It grew quickly and became violent, su tanks were set alight and in response some fired on the protesters

Question 12

What was Soviet response to protests in October 1956

How did Nagy come back to power after small student protest

Answer 12

First Su sent tanks in to stop the protests , and 12 people died and more than hundred wounded

2) Erin Gero resigned forcefully snd Nagy reinstate

Question 13

What did Nagy do to try and help the violence in protests

Answer 13

Managed to agree tanks would be removed .Khrushchev ordered withdrawal of soviet troops between 29 and 31 October, causing protesters to celebrate

Question 14

What were the reforms that nagy did (inducing prisoner release)

Answer 14

1) release political prisoner like cardinal MINDSZENTY
2) said free elections, trade with west, end to one party system, press religion worship , trad unions etc
3) Hungary would be neutral state and would leave the Warsaw Pact

Question 15

What was the soviet response to Hungary’s withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact?

Answer 15

on November 4 1956, 200,000 troops and 6000 tanks were sent into Hungary overpowering the Hungarians and crushing the uprising

Question 16

What was suez crisis?

Why was USA presidential election beneficial to Su ?

Answer 16

Egyptian leader nasser nationalised Suez Canal.
- Britain and France landed troops to regain control and USA and in wanted them to leave. THSI CREATED DIVERSION FOR SU

2) although Secretary of State said “you can count on us” Eisenhower relecutant to actually help people of Hungary in case that would possibly affect his presidential elections upcoming, allowing Su to do what they want without us interference

Question 17

How did the invasion go down?

Answer 17

Soviet army captured airports bridges and key roads.
- yet the Hungarians fought with Guerilla tactic, but eventually were no match .

• ceasefire happened and fighting eventually ended mid 1957

Question 18

WHY did the Su invade Hungary ? (4, first is broad)

Answer 18

1) couldn’t be seen as weak to SU and Warsaw Pact Members so they wouldn’t think they would have a chance to leave , so example for rest of Eastern Europe and remained control of them
2) Mao Zedong urged him to protect communism , pressure China
3) USA and UN involved in suez crisis: so distraction was there
4) us presidential elections meant Eisenhower wasn’t getting involved…

Question 19

What happened I. Terms of presidency for Hungary next, and what to nagy

Answer 19

Janos Kadar became the President backed by Su.

Nagy his in Yugoslav embassy. Kader offered him safe passage out the country, but broke his word and arrested him, and taken to Romania where hung later (1958)

Question 20

What was the west’s response to the invasion of Hungary

Answer 20

West couldn’t and USA involvement risked direct conflict with Moscow causing nuclear war due to arms race developments

• the UN discussed the issue on November 4 1956 and the inquiry was rejected by hungary/soviet governments . At the end all happened was a condemnation
• for most countries the Suez Crisis was much more concerning than events in Hungary, so America and Britain could t even say anything

Question 21

What effect did events in Hungary have on soviet stance and Krushcev ideology

What happened to reforms in Poland and Hungary afterwards…

Answer 21

Khrushchev showed he was willing to do anything to keep countries under Moscow’s control despite talks of peaceful co-existence. De stalinisatin would only be as far as they want

West also nit get involve

Finally other eastern countries were slow to reform like Poland and Hungary too

Question 22

How was Both sides effected (stats who died arrested , fled etc)

Answer 22

There were over 7000 soviet casualties and around 20000 Hungarians (rebels) were killed. Around 200,000 fled and left Hungary altogether. 35,000 Hungarians were arrested ,

Question 23

Give methods of soviet control that caused people to protest

Answer 23

• 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

Question 23

What kind of political freedom did people have that made them want to protest?

Answer 23

• there was no freedom of speech
• government controlled all film, radio, art and literature
• Hungarians were religious but the government prosecuted the Catholic Church

Question 25

What economic problems cause Hungarians to protest?

Answer 25

• 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

Question 26

What social consequences came as a result of the invasion in the west?

Answer 26

1) time magazine named Hungarian freedom fighter ,an of the year for 1956
2) Americans sympathised. Ed Sullivan a popular tv presenter asked viewers to send aid to hungerst refugees, raising $6million by 1957