Hungary 1956 - Cold War

Question 1

What was Hungary like in 1956?

Answer 1

• Living standards were poor
• Resources taken to Russia (coal, oil)
• Removal of opposition - ‘salami’ tactics (removing an opponent one at a time)
• Religious teaching banned + Catholic Cardinal arrested
• Rakoskis rule compared to a mini Stalin / ‘ bald butcher’
• 1945 - Soviets take over - ‘free’ elections Communists come to power
• People became unhappy - leads to protests

Question 2

What happens on the 23rd of October 1956?

Answer 2

Student demonstrations began in Budapest demanding free elections and withdrawl of Soviet troops

Question 3

What happens on the 24th of October 1956?

Answer 3

Khrushchev agrees Nagy can be the true Prime minister

Question 4

What happens on the 28th of October 1956?

Answer 4

Soviet troops withdraw from Budapest, government promises free elections and freedom of speech

Question 5

What happens on the 3rd of november 1956?

Answer 5

Nagy announces Hungary is leaving the Warsaw Pact

Question 6

What happens on the 4th of november 1956?

Answer 6

Soviet troops return, after a bloody street battle Soviets regain control

Question 7

With the Nagy reforms that are introduced, what parts of the reforms would concern the soviet union?

Answer 7

• Hungary leaving the Warsaw Pact (would lead to other countries leaving and suppressing USSR control and communism)
• Immediate release of political prisoners (would lead to an non-communist Ruling Hungary and suppress communism)
• Hungarian government would include non-communist parties ending the one-party state in Hungary (lead to a non-communist ruler and suppress communism)

Question 8

What were the consequences of the Hungarian Uprising effects on Hungary?

Answer 8

• 20,000 Hungarians killed as the Soviet forces re-established control
• Nagy was arrested and executed by being kidnapped
• 200,000 fled Hungary

Question 9

What were the consequences of the Hungarian Uprising effects on the USSR?

Answer 9

• Fears of other countries from the Warsaw Pact retaliating like hungary
• Set up a re Pro-communist government in Hungary to maintain communism
• Khruschev’s position more secure

Question 10

What were the consequences of the Hungarian Uprising effects on the superpower relations?

Answer 10

• Lost influence as they didn’t go give military support towards Hungary (For USA)
• Made relations between the USA and USSR worse
• West condemned the Soviets but could do little else
• ‘Peaceful co-existence’ from Kruschev is a sham/lie

Question 11

What was the key features of the Hungarian uprising?

Answer 11

1) Khrushchev made Imre Nagy Prime Minister,
2) Nagy then announced he wanted to leave the Warsaw Pact,
3) this led to Khrushchev sending in 200,000 troops and 1,000 tanks.

Question 12

What was the causes of the Hungarian uprising?

Answer 12

1) De-Stalinisation and Khrushchev’s ‘Secret Speech’ gave Hungarians hope that there would be reform in Hungary.
2) Matyas Rakosi was a cruel leader, imprisoning 387,000 people, killing 2000.