Hungarian Revolution

Hungarian Revolution (23 Oct.-4 Nov. 1956) The process of de-Stalinization which was begun in February 1956 at the XXth Congress of the Soviet Communist Party created an atmosphere of hope and patriotism in Hungary, a country that had been plagued by violent repression and arbitrary purges since the trial of Rajk in 1949. Khrushchev forced the hated Stalinist party leader Rákosi to resign in July, but the appointment of the almost as repressive Ernó Geró proved to be an own goal, as it fuelled popular protest against the leadership. On 23 October 1956, the confused secret police answered a demonstration by university students for democratization and the return of Nagy as Communist Party leader by opening fire on the crowd. However, the incident became a victory for the students, as the panicking guards then surrendered their arms. Geró declared martial law, and requested the installation of Soviet tanks in the streets of Budapest. On 25 October, Hungarian policemen fired on a crowd of demonstrators and killed 300 people. An enraged population stampeded into the Communist headquarters. On 28 October, a cease-fire was established, Soviet tanks were withdrawn, and a new government under Nagy was formed. Political prisoners such as Mindszenty were released, and political parties were legalized. Nagy announced his country's withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact. He was betrayed, however, by his Minister of State, Kádár, who fled towards the advancing Soviet troops and officially requested their intervention on 3 November 1956. The next day, Nagy was overthrown by an invading army of over 150,000 Warsaw Pact troops and 2,000 tanks. He was imprisoned and executed in secret, while Kádár created a regime that lasted for more than thirty years.