The Hungarian Uprising, 1956

Question 1

Why were people in the satellite state of Hungary unhappy in 1956?

Answer 1

• lack of political freedom
• fuel shortages
• poor harvests

Question 2

Who replaced the Hungarian prime minister Rakosi in 1956?

Answer 2

Imre Nagy (Krushchev hoped he would improve things in Hungary)

Question 3

What did Nagy do after he became prime minister?

Answer 3

He reorganised the government to include

non-communists, released political prisoners and persuaded Krushchev to withdraw Soviet troops from Hungary

Question 4

What did Nagy announce on November 1st 1956

Answer 4

He would withdraw Hungary from the Warsaw Pact

Question 5

What happened during the Hungarian uprising?

Answer 5

• Krushchev could not accept Hungary would leave the
  Warsaw Pact.
• On 4th of November 1956, his Soviet army invaded
  Hungary (1,000 tanks rolled into Budapest).
• Nagy begged the West for support but none came.
• Up to 20,000 Hungarians were killed.
• A new pro-communist leader would be set up under new
  leader János Kádár.
• Despite being offered safe passage out of Yugoslavia,
  Nagy was tried and executed in 1958.

Question 6

What did the US do in response to the Soviet invasion of Hungary?

Answer 6

Nothing, as the US not prepared to interfere in the affairs of an existing communist country

Question 7

What was the impact of the Hungarian uprising on international relations?

Answer 7

• Krushchev’s position in the Soviet Union was now more
  secure
• Warsaw Pact members now knew they had to do what
  the USSR said or they would be met with force
• Krushchev was now more confident dealing with
  the USA as he knew they would probably not take
  military action
• The West looked bad (as they had not offered military
  support for Hungary)
• Relations got worse again between the USA and USSR
  as the USA condemned the Soviet invasion of Hungary