The Hungarian Uprising, 1956

Hungary under Soviet rule

• Stalin claimed he had liberated Hungary from the Nazis but then imposed an oppressive regime:
  • Hungarian land was redistruputed to Eastern european countries.
  • Huhgarian coal, oil and wheat was shipped to the USSR while Hungarians were deprived of food.
  • Non-communist political parties were abolished.
  • Soviet officials controlled the government, the police and the army.
  • Cominform began a reign of terror, executing popular political leaders and their supporters.
  • Matyas Rakosi became the dictator of Hungary.
    • Stalins 'best pupil'.
    • 'Bald Butcher'.
    • 'Salami tactics' - dealing with opponents 'slice by slice'.
    • During his rule 387,000 were imprisioned and he was responsible for 2,000 deaths.

Krushcev and 'Destalinisation'

• Wanted people to move away from Stalin's methods of ruling.
• In the 'secret speech' in February 1956 he criticised Stalin and said that 'peaceful coexistence' was essential.
• He believed that the West would recognise the superiority of Communism NOT through war.

• People were cleary unhappy under Soviet rule. Following Khrushchev's speech, student rioted and attacked Soviet troops. Demonstrations took place in Budapest and these soon became violent. It wasclear the authorities were losing control of the situation.
• July, PM Rakosi forced to resign. His successor (Gero) was equally unpopular
• 6th October, 1,000s attend the funeral of Laszlo Rajik. He had wanted to break away from the USSR, and had be executed by Stalin.
• 23rd October, Demonstrations in Budapest led to fighting with the AVO. The protestors wanted Imre Nagy to be the new PM.
• 24th October, Nagy becomes PM. Soviets send troops to Budapest to fight the Hungarian army.
• 27th October, Nagy announces a new government which included non-communists. Cardinal Minszentry was freed from prision.
• 29th October to the 31st of October, Soviet forces withdrawn from Budapest.
• 29th October to the 1st of November, Nagy introduces further reforms; ending one-party rule, evacuation of Soviet troops from Hungary and withdrawal from the Warsaw pact. The Americans pledged support but the Hungarians thought this would be direct military intervention. While they were prepared to offer words of encouragment, President Eisenhower would not offer direct military intervention.

The reaction of Khrushchev

• He didn't want to look weak to other communists (Mao Zedong was urging him to take firm action). 
  • He decided Nagy had gone too far - on the 4th November he ordered 200,000 Soviet troops and 6,000 tanks to re-capture key positionds such as airports,bridges and key roads.
• The Hungarians fought against this using guerrilla tactics BUT they were no match for the Soviet forces.
  • A ceasefire was agreed for the 10th November but sporadic fighting continued until the middle of 1957.
• However, the world was distracted by the Suez Canal in the Middle East.
  • British and French forces invaded the Suez Canal, while Israelis invaded Egypt.
  • The Americans wanted them to withdraw.
  • This was a VERY useful diversion for the Soviets who were able to re-assert control over Hungary while the world was watching what was happening in Eygpt.
    • Janos Kador was made PM, while Nagy was arrested and EXECUTED in 1958.

Why did the USSR react like this???

• Nagy had gone to far by trying to stop Soviet rule. They were worried it could encourage other european countries to try and leave as well.
• China encouraged Khrushchev to deal harshly with the Hungarians.
• Khrushchev was just a fledgling leader. He needed to establish his own position. Any weakness could cause an interantional coup in the USSR.
• He knew the West was distracted by the failure of the Suez crisis. The Americans were worried that the British and French would cause WWIII and feared that the oil rich arab states would turn to the USSR. So admist all of this he could crack down on the Hungarians.
• Even if the West did react they would trigger a nuclear war.