Hungarian Revolution of 1956

Memorial to the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.

The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 or Hungarian Uprising of 1956 (Hungarian: 1956-os forradalom or felkelés) was a spontaneous nationwide revolt. It was against the government of the Hungarian People's Republic and its Soviet-imposed policies. It lasted from 23 October until 10 November 1956. It was the first major threat to Soviet control since the USSR's forces drove out the Nazis at the end of World War II and took over Eastern Europe. Despite the failure of the uprising, it was highly influential. It played a role in the fall of the Soviet Union decades later.

Prelude

At the end of World War II Hungary was liberated from the Nazis. It was occupied by the Soviet Union’s Red Army. Hungary's communists were led by General Secretary Mátyás Rákosi and backed by Joseph Stalin. The communists destroyed all political opposition. In 1949 Hungary officially became the People’s Republic of Hungary. Rákosi was an oppressive ruler. He exiled, imprisoned or killed over 300,000 Hungarians. After Stalin died, the soviet communists replaced Rákosi with Imre Nagy. They thought his softer approach would win them popularity. But the Kremlin decided he had become too popular. Rákosi was returned to power in April 1955. His secret police, the AVO, carried out Rákosi's oppressive orders again. Eventually, the Hungarian people got tired of their bad living standards and protested.

When the revolt broke out in October 1956, the Hungarian revolt was very sudden. Nobody had any idea it would sweep the country and break out everywhere all at once. However, there were warning signs that trouble was coming. The Communist Party in Hungary had lost much of its authority and respect. In July of 1956 Rákosi was removed again as leader of the party. He was sent back to the Soviet Union.

Results

2,500 Hungarians died and thousands were imprisoned. Hundreds of Soviet troops died. 200,000 fled Hungary. Communists in the Western Bloc argued about the Soviet Union intervening to stop the uprising.

Hungarian Revolution Of 1956 Media

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  Stalin's man in Hungary: Mátyás Rákosi addresses an audience in Budapest, 1948.

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  In the Eastern bloc, Hungarian Prime Minister Imre Nagy (centre) proved too progressive a Communist in his government's pursuit of the Hungarian road to Socialism, taking it too far out of the Soviet Union's orbit. (October 1956).

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  In Budapest, anti-communists and nationalists place a Hungarian national flag atop a demolished statue of Josef Stalin.

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  Kossuth Lajos Street seen from Ferenciek Square: anti-Soviet demonstrators march in protest against the USSR's control of Hungary, 25 October 1956.

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  The corpse of a communist officer killed defending the headquarters of the Hungarian Communist Party, Republic Square, Budapest.

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  Anti-communist Hungarian revolutionaries amid the damaged buildings of Budapest, November 1956.

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  The political flyer announces: A New Government Has Been Formed. Prime Minister Imre Nagy is head of the government, 27 October 1956.

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  A crowd cheers nationalist Hungarian troops in Budapest.

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  The Soviet repression of the Hungarian Revolution saw T-54 tanks patrolling the streets of Budapest, until the Red Army temporarily withdrew on 31 October 1956.

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  The damaged headquarters of the Hungarian Communist Party, on Köztársaság tér, in Budapest.

• 1 November newsreel about the situation in Hungary