The Hungarian Uprising Flashcards
Who was the dictator of Hungary between 1949 and 1956?
Matyas Rakosi
How did Rakosi describe himself?
As ‘Stalin’s best pupil’
How was Rakosi described by the people of Hungary?
‘The bald butcher’ - for his brutality
How many people were imprisoned under Rakosi between 1949 and 1956?
387,000 people
How many people were killed by Rakosi’s regime between 1949 and 1956?
2,000 people
Which key Cold War figure died in 1953?
Josef Stalin
Who was Stalin succeeded by?
Nikita Khrushchev
What did Khrushchev do in 1956?
Made a ‘secret speech’ promising to end the brutal oppression of Stalinism (around 20 million people had been killed under Stalin)
Did Khrushchev’s speech remain secret?
Categorically not. It was heard far and wide.
What happened when people in Hungary heard about ‘de-Stalinisation’ in Khrushchev’s ‘secret speech’?
The people of Budapest (the capital of Hungary) took to the streets, protesting against Rakosi’s brutal rule and Communist control of radio, newspapers, schools, factories etc.
What did Rakosi do when people in Budapest began rioting?
Rakosi fled the city.
Which more liberal communist replaced Rakosi?
Imre Nagy
When Imre Nagy became PM in 1956, what did he promise?
Imre Nagy promised the Hungarian people the freedoms they were asking for. AND Khrushchev (initially) agreed.
What key thing Nagy declare Hungary would do?
Nagy declared that Hungary would leave the Warsaw Pact
Why was Nagy’s declaration that Hungary would leave the Warsaw Pact too much for Khrushchev to take?
Khrushchev worried that if Hungary left the Warsaw Pact, it would set an example to other communist countries who would also leave. This would greatly weaken the power of the Soviet Union.
