Hungarian Uprising 1956

Question 1

Who was Khrushchev?

Answer 1

• in 1956 succeeded Stalin
• destalinisation (secret speech)
• peaceful co existence of superpowers

Question 2

Impact of Soviet rule in Hungary after WW2

Answer 2

• Suffered a lot under Stalin’s rule
• Food and industrial products sent to USSR
• Opposition in Hungary was wiped out
• Rakosi was a brutal leader
• Communist rule was unpopular

Question 3

Why was Rakosi unpopular?

Answer 3

• used terror and brutality
• secret police (AVH)
• Comecon meant controlled economy,
• solution was Rakosis 5 year plan but this failed due to lack of heavy industry materials

Question 4

Solutions to demonstrations against communism (Oct 1956)

Answer 4

• Khrushchev hinted at relaxation of Soviet control
• people were fed up of communism and started demonstrations
• Khrushchev appointed Nagy as he was more liberal
• sent tanks who killed 12

Question 5

Nagys reforms

Answer 5

• leave Warsaw Pact and become a neutral country
• hold free elections (no more forced communist government)
• UN protection from USSR
• develop trade links with west

Question 6

Khrushchevs Problems with Nagys Reforms

Answer 6

• withdrawal from Warsaw Pact set an example that other Eastern European counties would follow and Warsaw Pact would collapse

Question 7

Why did the USSR decide to invade Hungary?

Answer 7

• Did not want to be seen as weak so returned troops and tanks
• pressure from China to protect communism
• US elections and Suez crisis removed attention
• set an example to rest of Eastern Europe/ fear of loss of control/damage to Warsaw Pact

Question 8

Events of the invasion

Answer 8

• USSR captured airports, bridges and roads Hungarians fought on using guerilla tactics
• USSR defeated rebels despite rebels pleading for help from West
• USSR backed Kadar replaced Nagy who had been in hiding and then hanged in 1958

Question 9

Consequences of the Hungarian uprising

Answer 9

• over 5000 Hungarians killed (many became political refugees)
• Nagy and his government were deposed
• Khruchev reasserted control using Nagys hanging as an example
• Kadar appointed (15 point programme led to better communism but still communism)

Question 10

International reactions

Answer 10

• UN a condemned USSR actions and some countries boycotted the 1956 Olympics
• USA supported uprising with money, medical aid and words and accepted refugees
• USA couldn’t send troops at risk of nuclear war
• Hungary was on its own and had to give in
• Soviet control reasserted