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Hungary gradually became a one-party state
After WW2, gradually power was transferred from the freely elected Hungarian government Independent Small Holders Party to the Soviet-backed Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party led by Matyas Rakosi.- Authoritarian government.
- Economic stagnation.
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Death of Stalin
His successor, Khrushchev, would present revisionist ideas that would inspire Hungarian reformists and weaken the Communist bloc. -
Imre Nagy takes over as Prime Minister
But Rakosi remains as General Secretary and suppresses Nagy. -
Khrushchev's Revisionist Speech
- Led to Sino-Soviet split and weakened Communist bloc.
- Inspired Hunagrian reformists.
- Discredited Rakosi, who resigned. But his close friend Erno Gero took his place.
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Mass protests against Soviets in Poland
- Poland managed to negotiate wider autonomy and liberalization.
- A year later, Austria managed to declare itself neutral and avoid joining the Warsaw Pact.
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Mobilization at the Parliament
- Erno Gero refused Sixteen points resolution
- Students reacted by bringing down Stalin's statue and attempted to occupy radio station (AVH opened fire).
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Sixteen point resolution
Hungarian Writers Union read out a proclamation of independence, to which the Techinical University students added a sixteen point resolution demanding everything from the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the country to the right to sell their uranium deposits on the free market.
Obs.: war reparations + stagnated economy caused resent towards Soviet prohibition of the Marshall Aid. -
Soviet Tanks in Budapest
- First Soviet tanks rolled into Budapest
- Nagy reapointed Prime Minister and promises reforms, but calls for an end to violence
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Soviet retreat
After violent fighting, Nagy promises amnisty, withdrawal from Warsaw Pact and the abolition of AVH. -
Soviets strike back
- Khruschev, pressured by Cold War tensions, decides to continue invasion
- Nagy appeals to Western aid - ignored
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Kádár declares defeat of nationalists
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Imre Nagy arrested and executed
