16. The Hungarian Uprising Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in 16. The Hungarian Uprising Deck (16)
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1
Q

Who was the leader of Hungary from 1949?

A

Matyas rakosi, a hardline stanilist who didn’t tolerate any opposition

2
Q

How did rakosi gain a firm hand over Hungary?

A

With help from the secret police (the AVO) but many Hungarians began to resent the tight control from Moscow

3
Q

Why was it significant that Hungary was strongly catholic?

A

Because the arrest of cardinal mindszenty and other religious leaders caused particular anger

4
Q

What effect did de stalinisation have over Hungary?

A

Made students there see this as an opportunity to bring change to the country and gain greater independence from Moscow

5
Q

What happened in the 23 October 1956?

A

Students took to the streets of Budapest and issued a list of demands including:

  • greater freedom and civil rights
  • removal of rakosi and return of imre Nagy
  • withdrawal of soviet troops
6
Q

What happened to the small student protest?

A

It grew quickly and became violent, su tanks were set alight and in response some fired on the protesters

7
Q

What did Nagy do to try and help the violence in protests

A

Called for calm and pledged support for the Hungarian Communist Party while Khrushchev ordered withdrawal of soviet troops between 29 and 31 October, causing protesters to celebrate

8
Q

How did Hungary dramatically change after the people protested?

A

Nagy became prime minister and after people wanted even greater reforms, Nagy withdrew from the Warsaw Pact in November 1st 1956 announcing Hungary as an independent, neutral country

9
Q

What was the soviet response to Hungary’s withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact?

A

Khrushchev was worried other members may follow Hungary’s example and on November 4 1956, 200,000 troops and 2500 tanks were sent into Hungary overpowering the Hungarians and crushing the uprising

10
Q

What did the su do to Nagy in the end?

A

Forced him out of power and later tried and executed him. He was replaced with Janos Kadar who brutally dealt with any opposition and was loyal to Moscow

11
Q

What was the west’s response to the withdrawal of the Warsaw Pact by Hungary?

A
  • Eisenhower didn’t interfere as Hungary was within the sphere of influence and USA involvement risked direct conflict with Moscow
  • the UN discussed the issue on November 4 1956 and the Security Council held a vote calling the SU to withdraw but it simply vetoed it. Nothing more could be done
  • for most countries the Suez Crisis was much more concerning than events in Hungary
12
Q

What effect did events in Hungary have on the war?

A

Khrushchev showed he was willing to do anything to keep countries under Moscow’s control despite talks of peaceful co-existence while the USA showed it would not interfere in events behind the iron curtain

13
Q

How was Hungary itself effected by the events

A

There were over 2000 soviet casualties and around 4000 Hungarians were killed. Around 200,000 fled and left Hungary altogether. 35,000 Hungarians were arrested and 300 executed

14
Q

Give methods of soviet control that caused people to protest

A
  • The AVO (secret police) used methods of terror to remove political opponents
  • many resented the red army in Hungary with thousands of troops in towns and cities making people feel uneasy
  • the su controlled education making children learn the communist version of their history
15
Q

What kind of political freedom did people have that made them want to protest?

A
  • there was no freedom of speech
  • government controlled all film, radio, art and literature
  • Hungarians were religious but the government prosecuted the Catholic Church
16
Q

What economic problems cause Hungarians to protest?

A
  • there were severe food shortages due to the Russians collective farming meaning people had to give out their own farms
  • industrial workers were poorly paid
  • many industrial goods made in Hungary were not sold there and had to be sent straight to the su instead