THE HUNGARIAN REVOLUTION
OF
1957
By: Joshua Dixon
Causing Actions
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During WWII Hungary was part of
the Axis Powers and was therefore
allied with Nazi-Germany.
Hungary participated in the
occupation of Yugoslavia and the
invasion of the Soviet Union.
When the tides turned and the
Soviet Union began to gain ground
and force the Hungarians back, in
order to prevent being invaded,
the Hungarians began armistice
negotiations.
Germany however ended
negotiations when it set up a ProNazi regime within Hungary.
Causing Actions
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In September of 1944 the
Soviet Army invaded Hungary
in order to liberate it from
Nazi rule.
The Soviets then set up an
alternative government in
Debrecen, the regional center
of North-Eastern Hungary, on
December 21st, 1944.
Budapest, which is the actual
capitol of Hungary was not
captured until nearly a month
later on January 18th, 1945.
Election of 1945
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Hungary had not participated in an election in over six years
and were required to participate in one by the Yalta
Agreement.
The three major political parties at the time were:
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The Independent Smallholders Party
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Hungarian Communist Party
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The only true opposition of the Communist Party.
Won 57% of Votes.
A Marxist-Lenist party which had the same ideological ideas as the
Soviet Union.
Predicted themselves to win the election by a landslide but only
gained 17% of votes. However through the use of Salami Tactics
were able to take charge of the country.
The Hungarian Socialist Democratic Party
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Co-Ruled the country along with the Independent Smallholders Party.
Pressured to join the Communist Party and eventually did.
The merger created the Hungarian Working Peoples Party.
The AVO
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The AVO (Allamvedelmi
Osztaly) were the Hungarians
State Security Agency and
secret police.
They were headquartered at
60, Andrassy Place in Budapest
which is now known as Terror
House and was formerly
occupied by the Nazi Arrow
Cross Movement.
Their work was one of the main
causes of the Uprising.
They created a climate of fear
and known members were
publicly lynched in front of
large crowds in Budapest during
the Uprising.
Economic Decline
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After Hungary became a communist state under the leadership of
Mátyás Rákosi the AVO began using scare tactics and forcibly
removed, tortured, and executed all opposition Working Peoples
Party in Budapest.
The now vacated housing was then appropriated to party members.
As a result jobs and housing became scarce throughout all of
Hungary due to the sudden surge of displaced citizens and the
standard of living began to decrease.
Hungary was also required to pay reparations to the Soviet Union
(approx. $300 million usd)
Hungary then experienced one of the highest rates of inflation ever
recorded. (aka Hyperinflation)
Hungary was also restricted from trading with the west and could
not receive Marshall Plan aid.
The Revolution Begins
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During the afternoon of
October 23rd of 1956 20,000
protestors gathered and began
to sing the now censored
“National Song”.
In a few hours the crowd had
swollen to more than 200,000
people.
Someone had also by this time
cut the communist coat of arms
out of the Hungarian flag.
The Revolution Continues
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The crowd made demands that were then denied.
After being denied the mob toppled a bronze Stalin
monument.
Around 9:30 that night, the crowd had surrounded a
radio building which was heavily guarded by the AVO
who then opened fire on the crowd after being taunted.
Hungarian troops were sent to assist the AVO but then
retaliated and joined the protestors.
That night Soviet assistance was requested and
received.
The Restoration of Peace
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The violence continued for about a week during of
which the government virtually collapsed due to attacks
on the capitol building.
Casualties:
2500 Hungarian Citizens
 700 Soviet Troops
 200,000 fled as refugees
 More than 200 Working Peoples Party members were
lynched or executed.
 Thousands were prosecuted in the immediate aftermath and
were either deported, executed, or imprisoned.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY7_vSDPr
6M
“The New Government”
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Due to outbreak of violence, the Hungarian Government
had no choice but to make changes.
The AVO was abolished along with the one-party
political system.
Political Prisoners were released and previously banned
political parties were allowed to join the coalition.
New non-communist leaders were put into place
Local councils began to appear throughout Hungary
and took over responsibility once held by the communist
government and were soon officially recognized by the
national government.
Cold War
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Many saw the failure of Hungary’s uprising as
proof that the Cold War had became a
stalemate.
Many were also discouraged from resorting to
take drastic action in fear of suffering the same
fate.
The Secretary-General of NATO called the
Hungarian revolt "the collective suicide of a whole
people".