The Hungarian Uprising, 1956-1958 (Edexcel GCSE History)

What Caused the Hungarian Uprising? - Timeline & Summary

Who was Imre Nagy?

Political unrest in Hungary

• In October 1956, there were violent protests in Hungary's capital, Budapest

  • Hungarian students led a peaceful demonstration asking for more political and personal freedom 

    • Hungary's secret police arrested protestors and used tear gas to end the march

    • When the students attempted to free the arrested, the police shot at the protestors

  • Soldiers joined the student protestors

    • The Hungarian Communist government requested military support from the Soviet Union

  • By 24th October, the Soviet Union restored order in Budapest

Why did Khrushchev appoint Imre Nagy?

• Khrushchev decided to change the leadership of Hungary

  • He replaced Rákosi with Imre Nagy

• Imre Nagy had previously been prime minister of Hungary

  • In 1949, the Communist Party removed Nagy from the government

    • As Minister for Agriculture, he argued for better treatment of the peasants

  • He served as prime minister between 1953 and 1955

    • Other communist members removed Nagy from office. They did not agree with his reforming attitudes

• Khrushchev believed that Nagy would resolve the unrest in Hungary

  • The people liked Nagy

  • Limited reforms would stop Hungarians from protesting

Nagy's Reforms

• Within days of becoming prime minister, Nagy introduced a series of reforms

What reforms did Nagy propose for Hungary?

A concept map showing the areas of reform that Nagy attempted to introduce in October-November 1956

• Khrushchev allowed Nagy some freedom to reform

  • He wanted Hungary to stop protesting against communism

    • The protests made communism look bad to the West

• Khrushchev could not accept Nagy's attempt to withdraw Hungary from the Warsaw Pact

  • The Soviet Union needed Hungary to remain in the Warsaw Pact

    • Khrushchev may have needed Hungarian troops to suppress uprisings in other satellite states

    • Hungary's withdrawal may have prompted other satellite states to do the same

    • The Soviet Union relied upon the collective security of pro-Communist states as stated in the Warsaw Pact. The satellite states would not protect the Soviet Union if they did not have to 

  • Khrushchev did not want any more independent communist states in Eastern Europe

    • Yugoslavia, under the leadership of Tito, broke away from the Soviet Union's influence in 1948.

    • Yugoslavia became closer to the West by accepting military support from NATO. Tito explored different versions of communism that undermined the Soviet Union

    • Khrushchev did not want other satellite states to form alliances with Yugoslavia

Khrushchev's Reaction to the Uprising

• Khrushchev's reaction to Nagy's reforms was extremely violent

How did Khrushchev stop the Hungarian Uprising?

A flow diagram explaining Khrushchev's reaction and punishment of the Hungarian Uprising

International Reaction to Russia's Invasion of Hungary

• When the Soviet invasion force entered Hungary, Nagy believed that the West would support his government

  • Radio Free Europe was a US-funded radio channel that transmitted across Eastern Europe. The station encouraged Eastern Europeans to rise up against the Soviet Union

  • The Marshall Plan showed that the USA would give money to the satellite states. Nagy believed this help would extend to military support

• Khrushchev's suppression of the Hungarian Uprising shocked many Western nations

  • Khrushchev's actions did not match his previous policies of de-Stalinisation

• The USA had many issues to consider before they decided whether to help Nagy

Should the USA intervene in the Hungarian Uprising?

• Ultimately, Eisenhower decided not to give military support to Nagy

  • He did not believe the cause was worth risking a nuclear war for

• Hungary did receive some support from the West

  • European members of NATO accepted Hungarian refugees

The Impact of the Hungarian Uprising on Cold War tensions

• Relations between the Soviet Union and the USA worsened

  • Khrushchev's suppression of Hungary had shocked and appalled the West

  • The relationship between the USA and the Soviet Union continued to deteriorate throughout the 1960s

• Khrushchev increased his power over the Soviet Union

  • He stated that the execution of Nagy taught:

• Khrushchev's actions tightened the Warsaw Pact

• The Hungarian Uprising ruined the USA's reputation as a protector of freedom 

  • The USA had an opportunity to help a country free themselves from communism. They did not take the opportunity

  • The event proved that the USA did not back its words with actions

    • Satellite states were less likely to rebel against the Soviet Union

    • It increased the Soviet Union's confidence that the USA would not risk military action against them

Causes and consequences of the Hungarian Uprising

A flow diagram showing the causes and consequences of the Hungarian Uprising on the USA and the Soviet Union