World History: Hungarian Revolution

Since 1945, Hungary was controlled by Soviet Union. Thousands of Russian troops and hundreds of Tanks were deployed, and it was a kind of rule by force. The Hungarian leader Rakosi was a stooge of Stalin of Russia. The people from Hungary wanted freedom from Soviet and Stalin’s death in 1953 gave them some hope.

In 1956, the new Russian leader Khruschev made criticized the harsh policies of Stalin. This was followed by resignation of Rakosi was forced to resign. However, Hungarians expected something better than this. The bad harvest, fuel shortage and cold weather prepared a recipe for a revolution. In October 1956, the students, workers and soldiers attacked the Russian soldiers and smashed the statue of Stalin. In the same month, Imre Nagy took over as prime minister and asked Khrushchev to move Russian troops out. Khrushchev agreed and Russian army pulled out of Budapest in same month.

For five days, there was a freedom in Hungary. The new government in Hungary introduced democracy, freedom of speech and freedom of religion. On 3 November 1956, Imre Nagy announced that they would leave the Warsaw Pact. However, Russia would not let this happen. He claimed that he received a letter from communist leaders of Hungary seeking help.

On the very next day, some 1000 Russian Tanks rolled into Budapest and destroyed the Hungarian army; captured Hungarian Radio. The Hungarian civilians including children fought with Russians and got killed in thousands. Khrushchev put the Russian supporter Janos Kadar as new prime minister.

Causes of the Hungarian Revolution

• Khrushchev’s policy of ‘de-Stalinisation’ caused problems in many Eastern European Communist countries, where people hated the hard-line Stalinist regimes that Russia had put in place. There was also trouble in Poland in 1956, and Khrushchev had to send in Russian troops.
• The Hungarians were patriotic, and they hated Russian control, especially:
  • The secret police called the AVH in Hungary.
  • Russian control of the economy, which had made Hungary poor.
  • Russian control of what the schools taught.
  • Censorship and lack of freedom.
• The Hungarians were religious, but the Communist Party had banned religion, and imprisoned Cardinal Mindszenty.
• Hungarians thought that the United Nations or the new US president, Eisenhower, would help them.

Effects of the Hungarian Revolution

• Repression in Hungary – thousands of Hungarians were arrested and imprisoned. Some were executed and 200,000 Hungarian refugees fled to Austria.
• Russia stayed in control behind the Iron Curtain – no other country tried to get rid of Russia troops until Czechoslovakia in 1968.
• Polarisation of the Cold War – people in the West were horrified – many Communists left the Communist Party – and Western leaders became more determined to contain communism

Role of Europe and America in Hungarian Revolution

Europe and American could do nothing except offering moral support and condemnation of Russia during this event. There were several reasons for the same. Firstly, the Geographical location of Hungary was such that any support to it could not be given without entering into a full-fledged war with Soviet. Secondly, Hungary was a member of Warsaw Pact. Thirdly, any economic blockade of Soviet Union would not be successful because it was already getting what it needed from territories it occupied. Last but not the least, west was more occupied in Suez Crisis (1956) which occurred almost same time, and was more relevant for Britain, US and France. Thus, they used their resources to that crisis instead to alleviate the sufferings of Hungary.