Why was Soviet rule in Hungary

challenged in 1956 and why did it fail?

Starter – what do you think the
story of this image is?
 Hungary under Soviet control-
1949
Why?
● Hungary was an important and large country in
Eastern Europe.

What?
● Hungarian land was redistributed to other East
European countries.
● Hungarian coal, oil and wheat were shipped to
USSR, while Hungarians did not have enough food.
● Non-communist parties were abolished.
● Religion was banned with the popular Cardinal
Mindszenty imprisoned.
● Russian officials controlled the government and the
army.
● Matyas Rakosi was installed as Hungary’s dictator.
● Cominform began a reign of terror – executing
opposition leaders and their supporters.
Rule of Rakosi- 1949-53 and 1955-56
Why?
● Rakosi was loyal to the USSR.
● Rakosi was willing to employ brutal methods to
establish Soviet control

What?
● Rakosi’s oppressive regime targeted political
opponents and Catholics where nearly 400,000
were imprisoned or executed.
● The Soviets took control of the education system.
● Living standards began to fall after a failed
economic plan to stimulate industrial production.

Significant?
● Rakosi became an increasingly hated figure within
the Hungarian people.
Why?
De-Stalinisation – 1953-56
● The death of Stalin and the emergence of
Khrushchev led to the move away from extremely
oppressive government.

What?
● 1955, the Austrian State Treaty saw USSR agree
with their wartime allies to remove their forces
from Austria rendering it a neutral country.
● 1956, Khrushchev’s secret speech criticised Stalin
and suggested greater freedoms within the USSR.
● 1956 saw a small uprising in Poland against
Communist rule which the Soviet replaced the
Polish dictator.

Significant?
● This gave Hungary the impression that the USSR
was open to relaxing controls.
 Leadership of Imre Nagy – 1953-
55
Why?
● Nagy replaced Rakosi as Hungarian leader in 1953
as Rakosi had become unpopular with the Soviet
leadership due to his failed economic plans.

What?
● Imre Nagy was a popular Hungarian politician,
more concerned about the people than the state,
which made him a figure of suspicion for the
Soviets.
● A more humane leader, Nagy wanted to move
away from the tactics of Rakosi but the Soviets
stopped him from doing this and he was replaced
with Rakosi and thrown out of the Communist
Party in 1955.

Significant?
● Nagy became a leader the Hungarians turned to
who were fed up with the Communist regime.
 Growing discontent and violence
in Hungary – October 1956
Why?
● Bad harvests and fuel shortages led to riots in
October 1956.
● Growing anti-Soviet feeling.
● Concessions made in Poland – Hungary wanted the
same – a moderate leader. That man was Imre
Nagy.
● Falling living standards.
● Impression Khrushchev gave in his Secret Speech
about reform.

What?
● Students led demonstrations in Parliament Square
demanding a 16 point list of reforms to be made.
● Fighting between police and the people spread
throughout Hungary.
● Nagy was reappointed Prime Minister.
 Nagy wants reforms – 1956
Why?
● Nagy wanted reforms to support the people,
remove USSR influence from Hungary and gain
support from West.
What?
● Wanted Hungary to leave the Warsaw Pact.
● Hold free elections.
● Have a free press and freedom of speech.
● Wanted the UN to recognise Hungarian
neutrality and defence against any USSR
invasion.
● Wanted US financial support.

Significant?
● Split the government with the pro-USSR, Janos
Kadar, setting up an alternative government.
 USSR Invasion of Hungary –
November 1956
Why?
● Khrushchev was faced with almost total collapse of the
Communist government in Hungary.
● Khrushchev hated the proposed reforms and had to take action
or face accusations of weakness.
What?
● USSR forces marched into Hungary on 4th November in support
of Kadar’s government.
● Two weeks of bitter fighting took place around Budapest with
over 200,000 Hungarians fleeing abroad.
● Janos Kadar took over as Prime Minister of Hungary as Nagy was
sacked.
● Most of this took place while the world was diverted with the
Suez Crisis.
Significant?
● USSR was in effective control of Hungary by the end of
November, although still faced some vestiges of the uprising
until early 1957.
 USSR clean up operation –1956 -
1959
Why?
● Imre Nagy was still alive.
● USSR wanted to show they were still in control of Hungary
and serve it was a warning to other countries who wanted to
break away.
What?
● Nagy was put on secret trial and executed in 1958.
● Kadar became Hungarian Prime Minister and his programme
included membership of Comecon and the Warsaw Pact
● US gave Hungary aid and allowed 80,000 Hungarian refugees
to come to America. No practical military support was
offered.
● UN made disapproving statements towards the USSR but did
nothing.
● Some nations boycotted the 1956 Olympics in protest.

Significant?
● USSR was in effective control of Hungary by the end of
November, although still faced some vestiges of the uprising
until early 1957.
 Task
Complete the note making framework – either on the sheet or
copying it into your exercise book. The framework concentrates
on three areas –

Why the Hungarian Uprising took place?

What happened during the Hungarian Uprising?
What were the consequences of the Hungarian Uprising?
 Task

This word cloud summarises

the content of the Hungarian
Uprising