Hungary 1956

1
Hungary 1956

• The Hungarian Revolution and the response of the
  USSR

2
Learning objectives

• By the end of these lessons you will
• Understand why the Hungarians rose up against
  occupation by the USSR in 1956
• Describe the events of the revolution and the
  response of the USSR to it
• Evaluate the importance of the event in the
  History of the cold war

3
Hungary and the cold war
4
Background

• After WW2 the USSR imposed Comm on Hungary
  banned other parties
• Treated her as a defeated enemy took land and
  resources
• USSR occupied the country and controlled the
  government and the army
• COMINFORM 5 in prison
• Dictator Matyas Rakosi

5
Matyas Rakosi

• Led from 1949 to 1956
• Puppet leader did as he was told by Moscow
• Hated by his own people nickname the bald
  butcher
• Got rid of opposition using salami tactics
  divide and rule
• Imprisoned 387 000
• Killed 2000

6
Destalinisation

• Stalin died in 1953 hated and oppressive
• His death offered a new start
• Replaced by Nikita Khrushchev a more liberal
  Communist condemned Stalin's actions
• In Hungary people rioted against the rule of the
  USSR and stoned Russian troops
• Huge demonstrations demanding reform

7
Imre Nagy

• Replaced Rakosi in 1956
• More Liberal USSR agreed to accept him
• Hungary leave the Warsaw Pact and become neutral
• Communism in Hungary should end free elections
• Would ask the UN for protection from the USSR

8
Khrushchevs response

• Khrushchev was angry could not let Hungary
  leave the Warsaw Pact others might follow their
  lead
• November 1956 200 000 USSR troops sent to
  Hungary to crush the new govt
• Two weeks of fighting 20 000 killed
• 200 000 escaped to Austria
• Nagys government was crushed

9
Nagys trial and execution

• Nagy asked for protection in the Yugoslav embassy
  and passage to Yugoslavia USSR agreed to this
• As soon as he left the embassy he was arrested by
  Russian troops
• Accused of treason and put on trial
• Hanged in June 1958
• Gave other leaders of eastern Europe a valuable
  lesson

10
The international reaction

• USA had supported the uprising but did not offer
  military support worried about upsetting the
  USSR and risking war
• USA gave 20m and encouraged the revolution but
  did nothing more
• UN condemned the Ussr's action but did nothing
  more
• Discouraged democrats in Eastern Europe USA
  would not provide military help

11
Hungary after 1956

• USSR appointed a new leader Janos Kadar had
  no real power USSR in control
• Published a 15 point programme
• Communist control in Hungary
• Remain in Warsaw Pact
• Withdrawal of USSR troops
• Hungarian people had no choice to accept this