The Global War, 1955–1963: Khrushchev and East-West Relations - The Hungarian Uprising Flashcards
When did the Hungarian Uprising happen?
- 23 October 1956 - 11 November 1956
Give a brief overview of the Hungarian Uprising
- 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
What demands were the students making on 23 October 1956?
- Appointment of Imre Nagy as prime minister
- Withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary
- Freedom of speech
- Free press
- Multi-party elections
Who was Imre Nagy?
- Famous political figure in post-war communist Hungary
- Challenged oppressive control from Moscow
When was the appointment of Imre Nagy
- 24 October 1956, Imre Nagy is appointed Prime Minister
- Appointed to avert further violence
Briefly describe how the USSR and Nagy respond to the initial demonstrations before 31 October 1956?
- USSR uses military intervention
- Nagy meets Soviet delegation to convince the USSR that military intervention was not necessary
- Khrushchev agrees to withdraw Soviet troops
Describe Nagy’s attempts to stop Soviet military intervention
- 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
When does Khrushchev agree to withdraw Soviet troops from Budapest and the whole of Hungary?
- 28 October 1956
When did Khrushchev reverse his decision to withdraw troops?
- 31 October 1956
Why did the USSR change its mind about withdrawing troops?
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
When did Nagy announce that Hungary would withdraw from the Warsaw Pact?
- 1 November 1956
When did the USSR resume military intervention in Hungary?
- 4 November 1956
By 3 November 1956, how many Red Army divisions and tasks had surrounded Budapest?
- 15 divisions of Red Army
- 4000 tanks
Who replaced Imre Nagy?
- János Kádér
- New government loyal to Moscow
How many Hungarians were killed and went into exile?
- 4000 civilians killed
- 200,000 went into exile
What happened to Imre Nagy?
- Nagy fled to Yugoslavia but was captured and tried for treason
- Executed in 1958
How did the US show initial support for the Hungarian Uprising?
- 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
How did the West respond to the Hungarian Uprising?
- Minor debating issue in UN, no intervention
- US Secretary of State, John Dulles, announces that US would not help the Hungarians
When did John Dulles announce the US would not help the Hungarians and what did he say?
- 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.’ - in line with Eisenhower’s intention to not interfere in soviet bloc in New Look policy
Why didn’t the US send aid to Hungary?
- Feared confrontation with the USSR
-Eisenhower didn’t want to interfere in Soviet bloc
