LO To identify the causes events and effects of the Hungarian Uprising Hungary under Stalin 194953 Hungary was liberated by Soviet troops after WW2 and in 1949 COMINFORM imposed an oppressive communist regime ID: 544453
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Slide1
The Hungarian Crisis 1956
L/O – To identify the causes, events and effects of the Hungarian UprisingSlide2
Hungary under Stalin 1949-53
Hungary was liberated by Soviet troops after WW2 and in 1949, COMINFORM imposed an
oppressive communist regime on Hungary.Land was
redistributed
to other Eastern European countries.
Hungarian coal, oil and wheat were shipped to Russia.Non-communist parties were abolished.COMINFORM began a reign of terror, executing political leaders and supported.Matyas Rakosi was appointed as dictator.Slide3
Matyas
Rakosi – Hungary’s DictatorRakosi
was dictator from 1949-1956. He described himself as ‘Stalin’s best pupil’ but Hungarians nicknamed him ‘
the bald butcher
’.
He was famous for what he called ‘salami tactics’. He dealt with his opposition ‘slice by slice’, i.e. dividing his opposition bit by bit.His regime imprisoned over 380,000 and was responsible for more than 2,000 deaths. He effectively introduced a Stalinist police state.Slide4
Peaceful Co-existence
Stalin died in 1953 and in the resulting power struggle, Nikita
Krushchev became leader of the USSR.Stalin and ‘Stalinism
’ was responsible for more than
20 million deaths
of his own people during his reign of terror. Most victims were innocent. Krushchev sought a more liberal approach to government and sought to distance himself from Stalinism. He gave a ‘secret speech’ in 1956 promising ‘peaceful co-existence’ with the West and an end to Stalinism.Slide5
Hungarian Protests
Krushchev’s ‘Secret Speech’ was interpreted by many in Eastern Europe as an end to Soviet Rule
. People believed that Krushchev would let them rule themselves
.
In Hungary,
students rioted and attacked Soviet troops with petrol bombs and grenades. It was illegal to demonstrate by law but huge demonstrations took place in Budapest.The protests became violent and police lost control. Protests began to spread to other cities in Hungary.Slide6
Nagy’s Reform Programme
In response, Khruschev agreed to the appointment of a more liberal leader,
Imre Nagy. Nagy proposed reforms:Hungary should
leave the Warsaw Pact
and become neutral.
Communist government in Hungary should end.Hungary should became a Western-style democracy with free elections.Hungary should ask the UN for protection from Russia.How do you think Khrushchev would react to these proposals?Slide7
Khrushchev responds to Nagy
The reforms essentially ended Hungary’s alliance with the USSR. Khrushchev believed this was unacceptable
and if Hungary left the Warsaw Pact, others would soon follow.Khrushchev knew that people were
unhappy with communism
across Eastern Europe. To allow greater freedom for these countries would mean the
end to Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe.In Nov 1956, he sent 200,000 Soviet troops and tanks to crush Nagy’s government. 20,000 Hungarians were killed and 200,000 escaped to Austria. Slide8Slide9
Nagy’s trial and execution
Nagy sought protection in the Yugoslavian embassy but was arrested by Soviet troops when he tried to leave.He was accused of
treason and was found guilty in a trial overseen by Khruschev. He was
hanged
in June 1958.
Khrushchev stated that Nagy’s execution was ‘a lesson to the leaders of all socialist countries’.Slide10
International Reaction
America had encouraged the uprising and gave economic support. $20 million worth of food and medical aid.
New US President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-61) praised the bravery of the Hungarian people and encouraged them to fight on.
The UN
officially condemned
the Soviet invasion but did nothing more.Slide11
International Reaction
The US stopped short of offering military help. The American government believed it was ‘
a matter of highest priority to prevent the outbreak of a war’, which could lead to nuclear war.American’s failure to support the Hungarians proved that is commitment to liberating Europe from communism
did not include offering military support
.
This discouraged other radicals in Eastern Europe from following Hungary’s example.Slide12
Reasserting Soviet control
Khrushchev appointed Janos Kadar as the new Hungarian leader. Kadar had
no real power as Hungary was under the control of the Soviet army.But he did published a 15-point
programme of reform
:
Re-establish communist control of HungaryUse Hungarian troops to stop attacks on Soviet forcesRemain in the Warsaw PactNegotiate the withdrawal of Soviet troops.