The Hungarian revolution of 1956 was a nationwide revolution against the Stalinist administration of the Hungarian domestic policies and the Hungarian People’s Republic enforced by the USSR. Hungary’s problems commenced in 1956 when thousands of people protested, demanding democracy in the political system as well as freedom from Soviet oppression. In this revolution, soviet troops raided en masse and destroyed the independent national government. As a result, Hungary was subjected to significant repression, and thereafter, multiple Hungarians flew to the West. During the Hungary revolution, thousands were wounded and killed. I believe the cold war tension increased since it was a long struggle that incorporated the Soviet Union and the United States. I also think that Europe was important during the cold war since the Soviet Union controlled Eastern and Central Europe.
The Hungarian revolution started as a student demonstration attracting thousands of people as the protesters marched to the parliament building via the central Budapest. A student delegation that entered the radio building to broadcast their demands got detained. When the release of the delegation was demanded by demonstrators, the State Security Police fired upon them. Such news spread rapidly, and thereafter, violence and disorder exploded in the capital. Khrushchev was involved in the Hungarian revolution as he ordered the Red Army to bring down the Hungarian Uprising forcefully[1]. The Soviet tanks and troops, as well as the Hungarians, were also involved in the Hungarian revolution.
The overall tensions increased during the Hungarian revolution due to the merciless repression and abolitions that were involved. The increased attacks made hundreds of thousands of Hungarians to flee to the West in a bid to look for safety. The Hungary rebellion exposed the weaknesses of Eastern European communism[2]. The events that increased tensions during the cold war were the alliance system, brinkmanship, and militarism. Europe became important in the cold war, considering that it was controlled by the Soviet Union[3]. Although the Soviet Union was not exposed to severe international consequences, the Hungarian revolution had substantial effects on soviet internal affairs and the Eastern Bloc. The Kadar government and the Nagy government, which were actively involved in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, resulted in the Uprising of Hungary[4]. Protests regarding the lack of basic political sovereignties such as voting and free speech were involved.
In summary, The Hungarian revolution of 1956 was against the Stalinist administration of the Hungarian domestic policies as well as the Hungarian people’s republic. The revolution was enforced by the USSR, where people protested, demanding for a democratic political system through which they could vote and have freedom of speech. The Soviet troops and tanks were involved in the destruction of the independent national government, and due to the intensified attacks, a significant number of Hungarians flew to the West. The overall tensions heightened during the Hungarian revolution as the attacks increased and events such as the alliance system, brinkmanship, and militarism took place. Considering that the Soviet Union controlled Europe, such moves made Europe be considered significant. Europe was considered a central place in which attacks could be planned with ease. The Uprising of Hungary was a result of the Hungarian revolution where political sovereignties were demanded.
Bibliography
Kovács, Zoltán. “Understanding and Positioning the 1956 Hungarian Revolution in History, Memory and Politics.” (2021).
McCabe, Michael. “Soviet Security and the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.” The Histories 10, no. 2 (2019): 5.
Pelchat, T., 2020. Fostering a Feeling of Betrayal: the United States Foreign Policy and the 1956 Hungarian Revolution (Doctoral dissertation, University of New Hampshire).
Richardson, Sean. “History of Eastern Europe 13 December 2019 Imre Nagy’s Influence on Goulash Economics The Hungarian revolution of 1956 resulted in a Soviet invasion, the overthrow and.” (2019).
[1] Kovács, Zoltán. “Understanding and Positioning the 1956 Hungarian Revolution in History, Memory and Politics.” (2021).
[2] McCabe, Michael. “Soviet Security and the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.” The Histories 10, no. 2 (2019): 5.
[3] Pelchat, T., 2020. Fostering a Feeling of Betrayal: United States Foreign Policy and the 1956 Hungarian Revolution (Doctoral dissertation, University of New Hampshire).
[4] Richardson, Sean. “History of Eastern Europe 13 December 2019 Imre Nagy’s Influence on Goulash Economics The Hungarian revolution of 1956 resulted in a Soviet invasion, the overthrow and.” (2019).
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