Today we will understand the reasons behind the Hungarian Uprising Lesson starter: What made the relationship between the USA and the USSR deteriorate in the 1950s and 60s Vietcong who? Today we will understand the reasons behind the Hungarian Uprising

All opposition was removed. Stalin installed a puppet government in Hungary in 1945 (Stalin controlled it) All opposition was removed. Soviet propaganda was everywhere. However, Hungarian protest groups emerged demanding democracy.

On 25/02/56, Nikita Khrushchev denounced Stalin during a ‘secret speech’ at the Twentieth Party Congress De-Stalinization (This speech was not made public until 18/03/56 and not in the Soviet Union until 1988).

Those who heard about the speech thought this might mean countries like Hungary would be allowed to make their own decisions.

On 23/10/56, students and workers in Budapest (Hungarian capital), held a demonstration. The Communist party leader rejected their demands and the peaceful protest turned into a rebellion. Communist dictatorship was overthrown. Opposition groups unite and support Imre Nagy (ex-PM). Imre Nagy

04/11/56 Khrushchev orders Red Army to take control of Budapest and put down uprising.

Bitter and bloody street fighting between Hungarian’s and the Red Army.

All opposition group leaders were captured and executed including Imre Nagy Krushchev had shown that he was similar to Stalin He had also shown he wanted Europe to stay under Soviet control

20,000 Hungarians were killed. 150,000 fled abroad. Communist order restored.