The Hungarian Uprising

Question 1

Who was the leader of Hungary from 1949-1956?

Answer 1

Matyas Rakosi - hardline communist

Question 2

What are the reasons for the Hungarian Uprising (7)

Answer 2

• Hungarians hated the restrictions imposed on them
• No freedom of speech
• Matyas Rakosi
• Fear of secret police
• presence of thousands of soviet troops and officials in Hungary
• Hungarians had to pay for soviet forces to be in Hungary
• Hungarian schools, shops, street signs etc. replaced by Russian ones

Question 3

When was the first opposition?

Answer 3

June 1956

Question 4

What was the opposition?

Answer 4

Communist party in Hungary opposed Rakosi, complained to Khruschev, Rakosi retied for “health reasons”

Question 5

Who was leader of Hungary for a short time in 1956?

Answer 5

Erno Gero

Question 6

Example of a protest (What, When & Where)

Answer 6

• Student demonstration
• 23 oct 1956
• Statue of Stalin in Budapest pulled down

Question 7

What reforms were made in 1956 after Rakosi left? (3)

Answer 7

• New government under respected Imre Nagy
• Hungarians created local councils to replace soviet power
• Thousands of Hungarian soldiers defected from the army to join rebel cause

Question 8

What were plans made by Nagi’s gov? (6)

Answer 8

• Free elections
• Impartial court
• Private ownership of farmland
• Withdrawal of soviet army
• Leave Warsaw pact
• Hungary neutral in cold war

Question 9

Why did USSR retaliate?

Answer 9

Hungary wanted to leave the Warsaw Pact

Question 10

What & When was retaliation by USSR?

Answer 10

• Nov 1956
• USSR troops moved into Budapest
• 3000 Hungarians dead

Question 11

Who was leader after uprising and what did he do?

Answer 11

Janos Kadar
- He cautiously introduced some reforms

Question 12

Who was USSR leader during the Hungarian uprising?

Answer 12

Nikita Khruschev

Question 13

Aftermath of Hungarian uprising? (4)

Answer 13

• Imre Nagy imprisoned and executed
• 35000 resistance imprisoned 300 executed
• Hardline communism reestablished by Janos Kadar
• Hungary remained pro-Soviet

Question 14

Positives of uprising for USSR & Khruschev (3)

Answer 14

• Military victory
• No other uprisings for 10 years
• UN/western powers looked useless as they were preoccupied with Suez canal

Question 15

Negatives of uprising for USSR & Khruschev (5)

Answer 15

• Khruschev looked harsh/cruel
• Made it look like communism could only survive through force and violence
• Showed destalinization didn’t work
• USSR lost support of China
• Worsened relations with west (no peaceful coexistence)