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 freedom fighters. All members of the secret police became targets for revenge. Two Red Army tanks were also attacked. On 29 October, Soviet troops withdrew from Budapest and for the short period of a week, the Hungarians thought that they had won. Khrushchev, however, was angered by Nagy’s betrayal and he authorised an invasion. Soviet forces reached Budapest on 4 November 1956. The Red Army forces consisted of 200,000 soldiers and 2,500 tanks. The Hungarians fought back and at least 3,000 were killed in their bid for freedom. Despite Nagy’s desperate appeal, neither the UN nor the USA did anything to help. The powerful Soviet forces took control of Hungary and imposed a new, pro-Soviet regime.
Why did Khrushchev authorise the invasion of Hungary?
We can split this into the message he was trying to send out to Hungary, Eastern Europe, the rest of the World and Russia.
HUNGARY
- He was proving to the Hungarians that their demands were too great and that they would be crushed if they attempted to remove Soviet control.
- He was not prepared to allow the break-up of the Warsaw Pact.
- He had compromised and given the Hungarians Nagy, but they were not grateful and instead made further demands. The Hungarians had rejected his offering and now he was angry – they had gone too far.
- He believed in communism and believed that communism was right for Hungary.
EASTERN EUROPE
- He was not going to allow the break-up of his empire. He was demonstrating to other countries in Eastern Europe that although he was a more reasonable leader, he was still a strong leader. He was demonstrating his strength and telling them that they must remain part of the Soviet empire.
- He was worried about the Domino effect. If he had allowed Hungary independence or sent out signals of weakness, then other countries in Eastern Europe might also start to make demands.
REST OF WORLD
- He was demonstrating to the rest of the world the power and strength of Russia and the Red Army – his victory was guaranteed; there was no way the Hungarians could have been able to withstand the Soviet Forces.
RUSSIA
- Khrushchev was a new leader who had emerged after a power struggle and he could not risk looking weak in the Soviet Union, since this would give others an excuse to remove him from power.
- The loss of Hungary would weaken his empire since it would be a loss of resources and size.
- The secret police (AVOs) were linked to Moscow, so he needed to take vengeance for the fact that many of them had been tortured and killed by the Hungarians.
Why did the rising fail?
- Hungarians were inexperienced and poorly equipped.
- Soviet Union had many more trained soldiers and they had tanks.
- Red Army were ruthless and used terror to regain control.
- No aid from the US or UN.
- Other Eastern European states did not become involved or create similar uprising as expected, which would have eased the pressure on Hungary.
- Khrushchev reacted swiftly and harshly, which led to defeat.
Consequences
- A pro-Soviet government was established in Hungary, but it was better than Rakosi’s government since economic conditions gradually improved.
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Supporters of the rising were punished and Nagy was executed in 1958.
- The people of Eastern Europe realised that there was no means of escape from soviet control.
- The Soviet Union confirmed its control of Eastern Europe and military strength to the rest of the world.
- The world was shocked by Soviet brutality.
- The US and UN were regarded as weak because they did not confront the USSR. However, the Russians were reassured that the Americans respected their sphere of influence.