Hungarian uprising Flashcards
What did the people of Hungary begin to do in 1956?
Protest about their lack of political freedoms and problems created by fuel shortages and poor harvests
What happened in October 1956?
There were riots in the capital, Bucharest, and police clashed with protestors
Who did Khrushchev replace Rakosi with and why?
Imre Nagy as he was a former prime minister who believed that within a communist regime, there could still be personal freedoms. Khrushchev hoped this would end prltests
What did Nagy do within days of his appointment?
Announced a set of proposed reforms:
. Reorganised Hungarian government to include members of non-communist parties, ending the on-part state in Hungary
. Authorised the immediate release of many polticial prisoners
. Persuaded Khrushchev to withdraw Soviet troops from Hungary
Under what circumstances was Khrushchev prepared to accept Nagy’s reforms?
If Nagy calmed the unrest in Hungary
What did Nagy announce on 1st November 1956?
Hungary would leave the Warsaw Pact
Why couldn’t Khrushchev allow Hungary to leave Warsaw Pact?
If Hungary broke away, other Eastern European countries might follow. Then the whole strategy of achieving security for the Soviet Union by surrounding it with pro-communist governments would be under threat
What happened on 4th November 1956?
1000 tanks rolled into Budapest
What is known as the ‘Hungarian Uprising’?
Supporters of Nagy put up a fight against Soviet tanks
What dis Nagy beg for?
Western support, none came
What was the result of the invasion of Hungary?
20,000 Hungarians killed, new pro-communist government set up under Janos Kadar
What did Nagy and his supporters believe Khrushchev’s criticism of Stalin would lead to?
A ‘softer’ approach with satellite states
Why did Khruschev take a tough approach on Hungary?
Had to protect communism
What did Khruschev describe the death of Nagy as?
‘A lesson to the leaders of all Socialist countries’
When did Nagy die?
July 1958, Hungarian Government announced Nagy had been tried and executed
Where else were there protests in summer 1956?
In Poland against Soviet control
Who was the Polish leader?
Gomulka
How did Gomulka manage to stop an armed Soviet invasion like in Hungary?
By persuading Soviets that, while Poland wanted to make some of its own decisions, the Poles were totally loyal to the Warsaw Pact and communism
What did Nagy and his followers expect after proposing to leave Warsaw Pact?
Support from USA and other Western nations since the US had shown they were willing to support in the Marshall plan
How did Eisenhower view the situation?
Sympathetic to the Hungarians
What did some NATO nations do in response to Hungarian uprising?
Some did take in refugees but no military support was offered during the uprising
Why did the USA not help Hungary?
Due to US’s policy of containment, USA was not prepared to interfere in the affairs of an existing communist country even if it was to reduce the influence of communism
What could a military attack on a Soviet state have triggered?
Nuclear war which would have had much more devestating consequences
What did the Hungarian Uprising do to Khrushchev’s position?
Made it more secure and gave him a stronger position in the Warsaw pact
How did the Hungarian Uprising make Khruschev more confident in dealing with the USA?
he knew they were unlikely to risk taking milkitary action
How did the failure of the Hungarian uprising reflect badly on the West?
The USA and its allies encouraged communist countries to stand up to the Soviet Union but ere not prepared to back up their words with military support
What did Khruschev’s crackdown do to relations?
Soured them
