Case Study: Hungarian Uprising 1956

From 1949 to 1956 Hungary was led by a hard line communist called Matyas Rakes. Hungarians hated it.

In 1956 a group within the communist party opposed Rakes and after Khrushchev wouldn’t back him a new leader was appointed. He was no more popular and there was a huge student protest in October of 1956.

A new government was formed under Imre Nagy and Soviet troops began to leave, NAgy’s government made plans to reform and be neutral in the cold war (leave the warsaw pact). Hungary would be independent of the USSR.

Khrushchev wouldn’t allow this and in November of 1956 Soviet troops entered Budapest. The Hungarians fought back for two weeks. Thousands died. The west protested the USSR’s actions but took no action.

A new leader was appointed with some reforms but Hungary has to stay a member of the Warsaw Pact.