Between 1948 and 1953, Hungary was badly treated by Stalin and all opponents of Soviet power were dealt with ruthlessly.

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Hungary

Hungary was a proud nation with a strong sense of identity and the people resented being part of the Soviet empire.  

Between 1948 and 1953, Hungary was badly treated by Stalin and all opponents of Soviet power were dealt with ruthlessly.  

Why did a rising occur in 1956?

  1. The Hungarians were resentful of the Soviet Union’s control and damage to their economy.  Rakosi had tried to turn Hungary, a rich farming country, into an industrial nation to fit in with Stalin’s 5-year plans.  Hours were long, wages were low and instead of recovering after the war, the standard of living fell by 5% between 1949 and 1955.  Rakosi had also set up a secret police (the AVH) and there were police informers everywhere.  The Hungarians wanted independence.  
  2. Riots in East Germany and Poland had led to political compromise.  
  3. Stalin’s death in 1953 had encouraged them to hope for change.  
  4. Khrushchev’s secret speech of February 1956  where he denounced the brutal rule of Stalin encouraged Hungarian discontent and hopes for change.  
  5. Between 1953 and 1955, life had been better under the rule of Nagy and they believed that further demands and demonstrations should lead to freedom rather than a return to Rakosi.  
  6. The Hungarians hoped for aid from the US and/or the UN because of the Truman Doctrine.  
  7. Yugoslavia had been allowed a degree of independence and Hungary hoped for the same.  
  8. The Hungarians believed that they could start a chain of riots throughout Eastern Europe since other countries would follow their example.  This would ease off the pressure on them alone.  
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Events

Khrushchev was aware of disturbances in Hungary and he agreed to replace the unpopular leader, Rakosi, with Nagy.  He hoped this would solve the problem, but the Hungarians wanted more.  Under Nagy’s rule, revolutionary councils were established and by October 1956, people were demanding Soviet withdrawal from Hungary.  They called for:

  • free, multi-party elections,
  • a free press,
  • Hungary’s withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact.  

During a demonstration, the AVH (Hungary’s terror system) shot into the crowd, sparking off riots (the Hungarians did not begin the violence).  A general strike was proclaimed and workers became ...

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