The Global War, 1955–1963: Khrushchev and East-West Relations - The Hungarian Uprising

Question 1

When did the Hungarian Uprising happen?

Answer 1

• 23 October 1956 - 11 November 1956

Question 2

Give a brief overview of the Hungarian Uprising

Answer 2

• 23 October - student demonstrations called for 16 demands and arm revolts start after students were fired on by Hungarian Secret Police
• 24 October - Imre Nagy appointed prime minister
• 28 October - Khrushchev agrees to withdraw Soviet troops from Budapest
• 31 October - Moscow reverses its decision
• 4 November - Soviet troops begin to suppress uprising

Question 3

What demands were the students making on 23 October 1956?

Answer 3

• Appointment of Imre Nagy as prime minister
• Withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary
• Freedom of speech
• Free press
• Multi-party elections

Question 4

Who was Imre Nagy?

Answer 4

• Famous political figure in post-war communist Hungary

- Challenged oppressive control from Moscow

Question 5

Describe the appointment of Imre Nagy

Answer 5

• 24 October 1956, Imre Nagy is appointed Prime Minister

- Appointed to avert further violence

Question 6

Briefly describe how the USSR and Nagy respond to the initial demonstrations before 31 October 1956?

Answer 6

• USSR uses military intervention
• Nagy meets Soviet delegation to convince the USSR that military intervention was not necessary
• Khrushchev agrees to withdraw Soviet troops

Question 7

Describe Nagy’s attempts to stop Soviet military intervention

Answer 7

• 24 October - Nagy meets with a Soviet delegation, led by Anastas Mikoyan, to convince the USSR that military intervention was unnecessary
• Nagy argued revolt could be calmed and Hungary would remain loyal to Moscow

Question 8

When does Khrushchev agree to withdraw Soviet troops from Budapest and the whole of Hungary?

Answer 8

• 28 October 1956

Question 9

When did Khrushchev reverse his decision to withdraw troops?

Answer 9

• 31 October 1956

Question 10

Why did the USSR change its mind about withdrawing troops?

Answer 10

Feared the

• Collapse of communism in Hungary and other satellite states
• Introduction of a multi-party political system
• Dissolution of the Secret Police
• Move towards freedom of press

Question 11

When did Nagy announce that Hungary would withdraw from the Warsaw Pact?

Answer 11

• 1 November 1956

Question 12

When did the USSR resume military intervention in Hungary?

Answer 12

• 4 November 1956

Question 13

By 3 November 1956, how many Red Army divisions and tasks had surrounded Budapest?

Answer 13

• 15 divisions of Red Army

- 4000 tanks

Question 14

Who replaced Imre Nagy?

Answer 14

• János Kádér

- New government loyal to Moscow

Question 15

How many Hungarians were killed and went into exile?

Answer 15

• 4000 civilians killed

- 200,000 went into exile

Question 16

What happened to Imre Nagy?

Answer 16

• Nagy fled to Yugoslavia but was captured and tried for treason
• Executed in 1958

Question 17

How did the US show initial support for the Hungarian Uprising?

Answer 17

• The USA’s Radio Free Europe, a radio station sponsored by the US government, encouraged Hungarians to revolt
• Hungarians were led to believe that the US and NATO would send aid, but this was unlikely

Question 18

How did the West respond to the Hungarian Uprising?

Answer 18

• Minor debating issue in UN, no intervention

- US Secretary of State, John Dulles, announces that US would not help the Hungarians

Question 19

When did John Dulles announce the US would not help the Hungarians and what did he say?

Answer 19

• 27 October 1956
• ‘US had no ulterior purpose in desiring the independence of the satellite countries’ and would not ‘look upon these nations as potential military allies.’

Question 20

Why didn’t the US send aid to Hungary?

Answer 20

• Feared confrontation with the USSR