Hungary was occupied by Soviet forces after World War 2 who imposed Communist rule. This led to poverty, repression of freedoms, and the secret police terrorizing citizens. Inspired by reforms in Poland, Hungarians launched a revolution in 1956 against Soviet domination. A new prime minister negotiated the withdrawal of Soviet troops but the USSR later invaded with a large army to reassert control, killing and imprisoning resistors. The revolution demonstrated the Soviets' willingness to use military force to maintain influence over Eastern Europe and the lack of response by Western nations.

2. Hungary is a country located in Eastern Europe. It
was also one of the main flashpoints at the start
of the Cold War.

3. During WW2, the Soviet
Union stationed soldiers in
Hungary. They did not leave
after the war ended and
instead took control.
Hundreds of thousands of
Hungarians were killed or
sent to prison for opposing
Soviet rule.

4. The occupation of
Hungary proved to
countries such as the
USA and UK that the
Soviet Union could not
be trusted.
By controlling smaller
countries, it showed the
Soviets wanted to impose
Communism.

5. Large number of Hungarians
lived in poverty, which
made them angry. Political
and religious freedoms
were limited e.g. Catholic
leaders were imprisoned.
Hungarian leader Matyas
Rakosi used terror to rule
the country, including the
secret police (AVH).

6. Joseph Stalin died in
1953, meaning people
believed changes would
happen in the USSR. In
1956 there was political
change in Poland.
Due to all this,
Hungarians were inspired
by this to have their own
revolution.

7. Small groups of Hungarians
started attacking Soviet
troops and spies.
In October 1956, a new
Prime Minister, Imre Nagy
took power. He negotiated
with a deal with the USSR
to start moving troops out
of Hungary.

8. After the 1956
Revolution, many
political changes were
introduced in Hungary.
These changes included
having free elections
and also Hungary leaving
the Warsaw Pact. The
Soviet Union was very
angry at this.

9. The Soviet Union decided
to again take control of
Hungary.
It invaded Hungary with
a large army and once
more ran the country.
Anyone opposed to the
Soviets was killed,
jailed or left the
country.

10. Even after the Soviet
invasion, it can be argued
people’s lives were better
because of the revolution.
Under new Communist leader
Janos Kadar, many people
were released from prison
and the country became a
little richer.

11. The Hungarian Revolution is
important to the Cold War
because it showed two
things:
1) The Soviets were prepared
to use the military to
control other countries
2) The USA and other NATO
countries wouldn’t stop them