Hungarian Revolution of 1956 facts for kids

Memorial to the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.

The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 or Hungarian Uprising of 1956 (Hungarian: 1956-os forradalom or felkelés) was a spontaneous nationwide revolt. It was against the government of the Hungarian People's Republic and its Soviet-imposed policies. It lasted from 23 October until 10 November 1956. It was the first major threat to Soviet control since the USSR's forces drove out the Nazis at the end of World War II and took over Eastern Europe. Despite the failure of the uprising, it was highly influential. It played a role in the fall of the Soviet Union decades later.

Prelude

At the end of World War II Hungary was liberated from the Nazis. It was occupied by the Soviet Union’s Red Army. Hungary's communists were led by General Secretary Mátyás Rákosi and backed by Joseph Stalin. The communists destroyed all political opposition. In 1949 Hungary officially became the People’s Republic of Hungary. Rákosi was an oppressive ruler. He exiled, imprisoned or killed over 300,000 Hungarians. After Stalin died, the soviet communists replaced Rákosi with Imre Nagy. They felt his softer approach would win them popularity. But the Kremlin decided he had become too popular. Rákosi was returned to power in April 1955. His secret police, the AVO, carried out Rákosi's oppressive orders again. The Hungarian people grew more and more tired of communist rule.

When it broke out in October 1956, the Hungarian revolt was a sudden explosion. It wasn't organized by any group. Nobody had any idea it would sweep the country and break out everywhere all at once. However, there were warning signs that trouble was coming. The Communist Party in Hungary had lost much of its authority and respect. In July of 1956 Rákosi was removed again as leader of the party. He was sent back to the Soviet Union.

Results

Thousands of Hungarians died and thousands were imprisoned. Hundreds of Soviet troops died. Over a hundred thousand Hungarians fled to countries outside the Eastern Bloc. Communists in the Western Bloc disagreed on whether crushing the rebellion was a good idea.

Images for kids

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  Stalin's man in Hungary: Mátyás Rákosi addresses an audience in Budapest, 1948.

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  In the Eastern bloc, Hungarian Prime Minister Imre Nagy (centre) proved too progressive a Communist in his government's pursuit of the Hungarian road to Socialism, taking it too far out of the Soviet Union's orbit. (October 1956).

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  In Budapest, anti-communists and nationalists place a Hungarian national flag atop a demolished statue of Josef Stalin.

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  The Soviet repression of the Hungarian Revolution saw T-54 tanks patrolling the streets of Budapest, until the Red Army temporarily withdrew on 31 October 1956.

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  The damaged headquarters of the Hungarian Communist Party, on Köztársaság tér, in Budapest.

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  Dutch anti-communists march in support of the Hungarian Revolution. (Eindhoven, Netherlands, 5 November 1956)

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  A Soviet-built BTR-152 armored personnel carrier burns on a Budapest street, November 1956.

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  Two disabled Soviet ISU-152 assault guns in Budapest's 8th District with an abandoned T-34/85 tank in the background.

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  Corvin Cinema after the end of the revolution

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  Ruszkik haza! ("Russians go home!") slogan in Budapest

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  Rubble after the end of fighting in Budapest's 8th District

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  Eleanor Roosevelt meets exiled Hungarian revolutionaries at Camp Roeder in Salzburg, 10 May 1957.

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  Memorial plaque at the Embassy of Serbia, Budapest in memory of Imre Nagy, who took sanctuary in what was the Yugoslav embassy during the Hungarian Revolution.

See also

In Spanish: Revolución húngara de 1956 para niños