Hungary Flashcards
Hungary 1956
causes of uprising
March 1953, Stalin died, in 1955 he was replaced by Nikita Khrushchev. Khrushchev’s policies suggested that there would be a thaw in cold war
In 1955-56, Khrushchev
visited Yugoslavia and apologized for Stalin’s treatment of the country
met with leaders of west in Geneva
In his secret speech he denounced Stalin’s policies and urged development of peaceful co-existence with non communist nations
Advocated policy of de Stalinization to end Stalin’s influence over USSR
Ordered the breaking up of Cominform
Iron Curtain countries listened to Khrushchev Secret Speech with great interest and hope of relaxed; one which provide economic prosperity and better living standard
What happened during the Hungarian Uprising of 1956, July 1956
Riots and demonstrations in Poland and Czechoslovakia
23rd of October
Students took to the streets demanding reforms and were supported by the workers and the Hungarian army
24th October
Soviets agreed to new formation of a new government under l- a popular communist leadership of more liberal Imrie Nagy- a popular communist leader
1st November
Nagy introduces reform including leaving Warsaw pact, declaring neutrality in the cold war, complete removal of Soviet troops from Hungary and holding free democratic elections
4th of November
6000 Soviet tanks crossed Hungarian border, Bitter street fighting occurred and 30,000 killed
Immediate aftermath
30,000 died
1/4 million fled westwards
Nagy was arrested and executed
Kadar became leader of Hungary and communist control was re-asserted
Response of west
no attempt of intervention by USA or western Europe, America did nothing
problem getting access as Austria was neutral and NATO could not advance through it
Khrushchev threatened Britain and France with rockets if they tried to intervene
Hungarian uprising consequences
Hungary placed under strict communist rule
In EE, realization that USSR would not tolerate anyone breaking free from Warsaw pact
clear warning not to attempt to move towards independence
USSR was determined to keep a firm grasp over Eastern Europe and prepared to be brutal keeping occupied states in line.
west was powerless to influence events under iron curtain but became more determined to resist soviet expansion into western countries
Eisenhower faced criticism on his talk of rolling back communism and upholding the Truman doctrine as he did nothing to aid Hungarians, they accepted eastern Europe as soviet sphere of influence.
leadership
since 1949 Matyas Rakosi was a hard line communist fuly under control of Moscow.
Policing
secret police created a climate of fear and arrested anyone who spoke out against communist rule, no freedom of speech and even listening to western music could lead to an arrest
Soviet presence
thousands of soviet troops and officials were stationed in Hungary and drained Hungarian resources leading to a poverty
much of the food and goods produced in Hungary were sent to the Soviet Union
language
Russian Language was forced on the Hungarian people, especially in schools
Religion
Hungarians were strongly Christian but communism discouraged religious belief. The Catholic church was penalized, and its leader Cardinal Mindszenty was imprisoned
Promises from the west
Hungarians thought that UN or new US president, Eisenhower would help them
