The Hungarian Uprising from 1956 was a revolt against communist control in Hungary that was crushed by the Red Army. The Hungarians revolted against their government because they were encouraged by Soviet leader Khrushchev’s suggestion that Moscow would tolerate different types of communism. However, when moderate Hungarian leader Imre Nagy announced that Hungary would leave the Warsaw Pact, it resulted in a Soviet invasion of the country to maintain communist control by force.

1. HUNGARIAN
UPRISING 1956
IGCSE HISTORY
REVISION

2. DEFINITION
The Hungarian Uprising from 1956 was a revolt against communist
control in Hungary that was crushed by the Red Army.
Hungarian uprising, October 1956. Soviet tanks in the streets of Budapest.

3. Question 1
Name the Hungarian communist leader
in 1956.

4. Answer 1
Mátyás Rákosi speaks in Budapest, 1948.
Matyas Rakosi.

5. Question 2
Why did the Hungarians revolt against
their government?

6. Answer 2
They were encouraged by Soviet leader Khrushchev’s suggestion that
Moscow would tolerate different by types of communism.
Erno Gero, Hungarian leader and politician (left), propaganda postcard showing the Soviet State nailed to the cross, whilst the
crown of Old Hungary shines (centre left), Hungarian leader and politician Dezso Sulyok (centre right), Hungarian freedom fighter
holds Hungarian flag with communist symbol cut out in the Cleveland , Ohio statue symbolizing the 1956 Hungarian uprising (right).

7. Question 3
What decision by moderate Hungarian
leader Imre Nagy resulted in a Soviet
invasion of the country?

8. Answer 3
He announced that Hungary would leave the Warsaw Pact.
Hungarian freedom fighter holds Hungarian flag with communist symbol cut out in the Cleveland , Ohio statue
symbolizing the 1956 Hungarian uprising.

9. Question 4
Did the Western powers support the
Hungarians in their fight for greater
freedom?

10. Answer 4
No. They were preoccupied with the Suez Crisis and unwilling to risk full
war with the USSR over the fate of Hungary.
Imre Nagy and the statue of Stalin being pulled down by protestors in 1956.

11. Important
The uprising demonstrated that communism could be maintained in
place only by force.
Hungarian man burning picture of Lenin, shows what he thinks of Communism. Budapest, 1956.