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The Hungarian Revolution of 1957. By: Joshua Dixon. Causing Actions. During WWII Hungary was part of the Axis Powers and was therefore allied with Nazi-Germany. Hungary participated in the occupation of Yugoslavia and the invasion of the Soviet Union.
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The Hungarian Revolution of 1957 By: Joshua Dixon
Causing Actions During WWII Hungary was part of the Axis Powers and was therefore allied with Nazi-Germany. Hungary participated in the occupation of Yugoslavia and the invasion of the Soviet Union. When the tides turned and the Soviet Union began to gain ground and force the Hungarians back, in order to prevent being invaded, the Hungarians began armistice negotiations. Germany however ended negotiations when it set up a Pro-Nazi regime within Hungary.
Causing Actions In September of 1944 the Soviet Army invaded Hungary in order to liberate it from Nazi rule. The Soviets then set up an alternative government in Debrecen, the regional center of North-Eastern Hungary, on December 21st, 1944. Budapest, which is the actual capitol of Hungary was not captured until nearly a month later on January 18th, 1945.
Election of 1945 • Hungary had not participated in an election in over six years and were required to participate in one by the Yalta Agreement. • The three major political parties at the time were: • The Independent Smallholders Party • The only true opposition of the Communist Party. • Won 57% of Votes. • Hungarian Communist Party • A Marxist-Lenist party which had the same ideological ideas as the Soviet Union. • Predicted themselves to win the election by a landslide but only gained 17% of votes. However through the use of Salami Tactics were able to take charge of the country. • The Hungarian Socialist Democratic Party • Co-Ruled the country along with the Independent Smallholders Party. Pressured to join the Communist Party and eventually did. • The merger created the Hungarian Working Peoples Party.
The AVO • The AVO (AllamvedelmiOsztaly) were the Hungarians State Security Agency and secret police. • They were headquartered at 60, Andrassy Place in Budapest which is now known as Terror House and was formerly occupied by the Nazi Arrow Cross Movement. • Their work was one of the main causes of the Uprising. • They created a climate of fear and known members were publicly lynched in front of large crowds in Budapest during the Uprising.
Economic Decline • After Hungary became a communist state under the leadership of MátyásRákosi the AVO began using scare tactics and forcibly removed, tortured, and executed all opposition Working Peoples Party in Budapest. • The now vacated housing was then appropriated to party members. • As a result jobs and housing became scarce throughout all of Hungary due to the sudden surge of displaced citizens and the standard of living began to decrease. • Hungary was also required to pay reparations to the Soviet Union (approx. $300 million usd) • Hungary then experienced one of the highest rates of inflation ever recorded. (aka Hyperinflation) • Hungary was also restricted from trading with the west and could not receive Marshall Plan aid.
The Revolution Begins • During the afternoon of October 23rd of 1956 20,000 protestors gathered and began to sing the now censored “National Song”. • In a few hours the crowd had swollen to more than 200,000 people. • Someone had also by this time cut the communist coat of arms out of the Hungarian flag.
The Revolution Continues • The crowd made demands that were then denied. • After being denied the mob toppled a bronze Stalin monument. • Around 9:30 that night, the crowd had surrounded a radio building which was heavily guarded by the AVO who then opened fire on the crowd after being taunted. • Hungarian troops were sent to assist the AVO but then retaliated and joined the protestors. • That night Soviet assistance was requested and received.
The Restoration of Peace • The violence continued for about a week during of which the government virtually collapsed due to attacks on the capitol building. • Casualties: • 2500 Hungarian Citizens • 700 Soviet Troops • 200,000 fled as refugees • More than 200 Working Peoples Party members were lynched or executed. • Thousands were prosecuted in the immediate aftermath and were either deported, executed, or imprisoned.
“The New Government” • Due to outbreak of violence, the Hungarian Government had no choice but to make changes. • The AVO was abolished along with the one-party political system. • Political Prisoners were released and previously banned political parties were allowed to join the coalition. • New non-communist leaders were put into place • Local councils began to appear throughout Hungary and took over responsibility once held by the communist government and were soon officially recognized by the national government.
Cold War • Many saw the failure of Hungary’s uprising as proof that the Cold War had became a stalemate. • Many were also discouraged from resorting to take drastic action in fear of suffering the same fate. • The Secretary-General of NATO called the Hungarian revolt "the collective suicide of a whole people".
