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Many consider the Hungarian Uprising in 1956 the nation’s greatest tragedy. This utmost The Uprising, also commonly referred to as the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, represented a clearly spontaneous revolt by the Hungarian people against the ruling Stalinist regime and Communist party at the time, both of which . The Uprising was in turn were crippling response to post-war Hungary’s crippling development under Moscow’s Soviet policies and the Russian oppression. Although the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 comprised consisted of several major events, undoubtedly, it did begin began with the vast students’ protests on October 23 in Budapest and it was . The protests were quickly, though fiercely, crushed only a few weeks later with the infamous proclamation by the Soviet-backed Janos Kadar on November 11 announcing that he had killed the Uprising.

Nowadays , it is a National Holiday when commemorations take place in Budapest and entire Hungary to remind Hungarian people Hungarians of their brave historic revolt against the communists’ Soviet oppression and Soviet ruled system. Furthermore, later in 1989, after the fall of communism, Hungary symbolically declared a republic on October 23, as well. Thus, “Day of the Republic” turned into a memorial recognition of the nationwide heroism's Hungarian emblematic act of nationwide heroism.

==PreA man of Stalin’s ilk, Rakosi, initiated his relentless Soviet-existing conditions backed authoritarian regime over Hungary and set about communizing the country and purging the nation of dissidents, arresting or executing his political opponents often mercilessly and without proper trials. Meanwhile, his mishandling of the economy and huge expenditures for the revolt regime's militarization unsurprisingly led to drastic falls in the post-war Hungary==virtually every Hungarian quality of life.

In 1945On the other hand, the residents previous leadership members feared their vanishing privileges and that they would be accounted for their prior unjust deeds. Meanwhile, former Hungarian communist leader Rakosi had held a decent political power post as General Secretary of Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and the other countries Hungarian Workers Party in the regionbackground. Unsurprisingly, welcomed the Soviet troops pouring in Eastern Europe in pursuit members of the fleeing German Army as liberators. Unfortunatelyprevious leadership backed Rakosi, soon enough who convinced the euphoria died out with the quick realization Russian party leaders that Stalin did not intend to withdraw from Eastern Europe after Nagy’s program endangered the defeat very state of Nazi Germany. Instead, the absolute Soviet ruler was planning to turn the region socialist-communist system in Russian satellite friendly nationsHungary.<ref>Hungarian history: War and renewed defeat October 23, 1956, Revolution - httpshttp://www.britannicabudapestbylocals.com/placeevent/Hungary23rd-october-1956-revolution/History#ref411390</ref> FurthermoreMoscow ordered Nagy to withdraw his government program, like many but he refused to cooperate. As Nagy set about releasing anti-Communists from jail and removing state control of its neighboring countries in the regionmedia, in 1949 the Russians coerced Rakosi campaigned against him. Soviets quickly discredited and effectively forced Hungarians to sign a mutual assistance treaty with the Soviet Uniondenounced Nagy, removed him from power, granting them rights to enforce a continued military presence and thereby assure ultimate political control. Gradually the communists shifted power transferring it quickly excluded him from the freely elected Hungarian government Independent Smallholders Party to communist party. Rakosi then once more became the Soviet-backed Hungarian Socialist Worker’s Party led by the infamous and sinister Matyas Rakosination’s leading politician.

A man of Stalin’s ilkFurthermore, Rakosi initiated his relentless Soviet-backed authoritarian regime over Hungary and set about communizing it turned out that the events in Poland were the trigger for the country and purging Hungarian Revolution. Although the nation of dissidentsPolish government forces violently put down Poznan workers' staged mass protest earlier in June 1956, arresting or executing his political opponents often mercilessly the Soviets in Moscow were worried. They let Poland negotiate wider autonomy and without proper trialsliberalization to avoid further unrest. MeanwhileA year earlier, his mishandling of the economy Austria had also managed to declare itself neutral and huge expenditures for militarization of avoid joining the regime unsurprisingly led Warsaw Pact. In turn, many Hungarians hoped to drastic falls of quality of life for virtually every achieve something similar. When students from the Budapest Technical University (who had become a strong political voice) heard that the HungarianWriters Union planned to express solidarity with Poland's pro-reform movements, they decided to join them.

HoweverThis uncompromising stance infuriated the Hungarian people, following Stalin’s death and they carried out one of their demands in 1953 the Soviet block sixteen point resolution, tearing down Stalin's statue in 1951. By that time, other demonstrations started to weaken with riots in East Berlin and Poland in at several other parts of the following yearcity.<ref>1956 A large crowd gathered at the Hungarian Uprising: Post War Hungary & Sowing The Seeds Radio headquarters as it became the focal point of Dissent - http://www.local-lifethe events.com/budapest/articles/1956-hungarian-uprising</ref> FurthermoreMoreover, the AVH (Hungarian conditions got a little improved when Secret Police) heavily guarded its entrance and tried to prevent the same year Moscow forced Rakosi oncoming delegation from attempting to also resign in 1953broadcast their demands nationwide. The far more liberal Imre Nagy became AVH then threw tear gas and opened fire on the leader of Hungary unarmed crowd, and declared this cold-blooded killing provoked a newfull-scale riot against the communists and the AVH. Police cars were set on fire, more liberal government programweapons were seized, which aimed at increasing standard of living and easing the burdens of farmersCommunist symbols were torn down and vandalized. Nagy promised a new course – ending In the forced development of following panic, Erno Gero called on military intervention from the heavy industry, providing more consumer goods, no more forcing of peasants into Soviet Union to suppress the collectives, uprising as the release freedom fighters seized control of political prisoners, the Radio building and other important parts of Budapest. On the closing eve of internment camps. Introducing these reformsOctober 23-24, however, Moscow hesitated to support him for being well too liberal at the time. Imre Nagy started a positive change returned as an appointed prime minister once more in the politics by a thorough review of the illegally condemned nationals’ casesassurance to continue with his reformist program.

On Around 2 am on October 24, the other hand, first Soviet tanks entered Budapest and positioned strategically outside the members of parliament building to bring down the previous leadership feared their vanishing privileges and that they would be accounted for their prior unjust deedsrevolution. Meanwhile, former Hungarian communist leader Rakosi had held a decent political power post as General Secretary of Hungarian Workers Party more Soviet troops penetrated key positions in the backgroundcity. UnsurprisinglyOn the radio, the members Nagy called for an end to violence and promised to initiate political reforms abolished three years earlier. Despite all efforts for a peaceful resolution of the previous leadership backed Rakosi who convinced riots, when Erno Gero ordered a Soviet tank to fire upon unarmed peacefully demonstrating protesters in Parliament Square on October 25, the Russian party leaders that Nagy’s program endangered the very state of socialist-communist system in Hungaryfighting escalated. <ref>October 23 Hungarian Revolution of 1956 Revolution : First shots - httphttps://wwwen.budapestbylocalswikipedia.comorg/event/23rd-october-1956-revolutionwiki/Hungarian_Revolution_of_1956</ref>Moscow ordered Nagy The demonstrators tried to withdraw his government programseek refuge in the ministry of agriculture building, but he refused they weren’t allowed in, and around 800 died that day in what is now referred to cooperateas the “Bloody Thursday. As Nagy set about releasing anti-Communists from jail and removing state control of ” After the mediaSoviet public massacre, Rakosi campaigned against himthe revolution was unstoppable. Soviets quickly discredited The Soviet troops and denounced Nagytheir AVH cohorts continued to fight against the revolutionaries until 28th October, removed him from power and quickly excluded him when Moscow ordered the Soviets to retreat from the communist partycity. Rakosi then once more became the nation’s leading politician. HoweverThe Communist regime was widely denounced by Hungarians, Nikita Khrushchev who had succeeded Stalin in Kremlinwith Hungarian Workers’ Party discredited, shortly removed him from power denouncing Stalin and all of his close followers acknowledging their mistakes endangering the very socialist-communist regime. Nevertheless, before stepping down, Rakosi secured the appointment of his close follower Erno Gero was forced to resign as the new General First Secretary of Hungarian Workers Party. The political leadership , with Erno Gero – the former second in command of Rakosi cabinet – did not aim at conducting any reforms, while more and more Hungarians were demanding real changes. Therefore, the scene was still ripe for unrestJanos Kadar replacing him.

Furthermore, it turned out that the events in Poland were the trigger for the Hungarian Revolution. Although the Polish government forces violently put down the staged mass protest of Poznan workers earlier in June 1956, the Soviets in Moscow were worried and they let Poland to negotiate wider autonomy and liberalization in order to avoid further unrest. A year earlier Austria had also managed to declare itself neutral and avoid joining the Warsaw Pact. In turn, many Hungarians hoped to achieve something similar, and when students from the Budapest Technical University (who had become a strong political voice) heard that the Hungarian Writers Union planned to express solidarity with pro<dh-reform movements in Poland, they decided to join them.ad/>

== Why did the Soviet Union decide to Crush the Hungarian protests vs Soviet violence – first wave Revolution of Russian tanks enter Budapest1956? ==The Soviet Union’s new leader Khrushchev had a different approach from Joseph Stalin. He debated the matter of Hungary’s independence in Moscow, even considering negotiating its constant withdrawal of troops. Despite the Politburo and Presidium's initial decision not to remove the new Nagy Hungarian government and to withdraw the Soviet forces from Hungary, only a day later - on 31 October, the Soviet leaders decided to reverse their decision and to strike back. Soviets believed that the rebellion directly threatened the very Communist rule in Hungary. The West would quickly recognize a sign of weakness in Moscow’s lack of response, especially after the British, French, and Israeli strike against Suez that had begun on October 29. Soviets also feared the spread of anti-Communist feelings in Hungary, which also started threatening neighboring satellite leaders' rule. Finally, the Soviet party members would fail to understand any lack of response by force in Hungary. <ref><i>The 1956 Hungarian Revolution: A History in Documents</i> - http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB76/</ref>

The tension reached its peak in October 1956. On the evening of October 22Undoubtedly, 1956, students most of the University of Technology following developments within the very Hungarian leadership also played a key part in Budapest had decided to demonstrate the next dayMoscow’s decision. They organized their demands in 16 point resolutionNagy, which included: withdrawal of who Moscow reinstated once more into the country’s leadership role after it became clear that the Soviet troops from Hungary; granting free electionscrowd completely discredited all old Stalinist leaders, liberty of speech and press; abolishment of surrendering of goods and the right to sell Hungarian uranium deposits on the free market; removal of the Stalin statues; Imre Nagy had proved ineffective following strict Moscow’s orders. His appeal to be appointed prime minister. In the late afternoon of October 23, 1956, over 50 000 people gathered at the statue of Hungarian General Bem United Nations to demonstrate on establish the streets and read out their proclamation of independence together with country’s neutrality endangered the Hungarian Writers Soviet Union. In the following hours, the crowd marched across the Danube to demonstrate outside the Hungarian parliament where people demanded Imre Nagy to deliver and represented a speech. By 6 pm, more than 200 000 people had gathered and breach in the mood was spirited but peacefulSoviet defensive buffer zone of satellite nations. However, at 8 pm Erno Gero broadcasted a speech dismissing the demands Soviet fear of invasion from the Writer’s Union West and the students and labelling them Hungarian enemies development of the yet another capitalist statewere decisive.<ref>The Hungarian Revolution of On November 1, 1956: Russians go home! - http://www.historyinanhour.com/2013/02/21/hungarian-revolution-of-1956-summary/ </ref>This uncompromising stance infuriated , Nagy formally addressed the Hungarian people and they carried out one of their demands in the sixteen point resolution, tearing down the statue of Stalin erected in 1951. By that time, other demonstrations started at several other parts of over the city. A large crowd gathered at the headquarters of the Hungarian National Radio as it became and declared Hungary’s withdrawal from the focal point of the eventsWarsaw Pact and Hungary’s neutrality stance. Moreover, the AVH (Hungarian Secret Police) heavily guarded its entrance He also released many political prisoners and tried allowed previously banned political parties to prevent reappear and join the oncoming delegation from attempting to broadcast their demands nationwidecoalition. The AVH then threw tear gas and opened fire on mood was defiantly optimistic. For a short period, it seemed that Nagy would be able to achieve the unarmed crowd and this coldHungarian people’s wishes for a neutral, multi-party social-blooded killing provoked a full scale riot against the communists and the AVHdemocratic nation. Police cars were set on fireHowever, weapons were seized he conducted dramatic steps that did not please and Communist symbols torn down and vandalized. In the following panic, Erno Gero called on military intervention from infuriated the Soviet Union to suppress the uprising as the freedom fighters seized control of the Radio building and other important parts of Budapest. On the eve of October 23-24, Imre Nagy returned as an appointed prime minister once more leaders in assurance to continue with his reformist programMoscow.

Around 2 am The second Soviet intervention left no one guessing about the oncoming outcome. In the early hours on October 24November 4, the first Soviet tanks entered Russians' strongest continental army attacked Budapest and positioned strategically outside Hungary with over 1 000 tanks, destroying the parliament building as to bring down fierce but uncoordinated resistance of the revolutionpoorly armed Hungarian freedom fighters. Meanwhile more Soviet troops penetrated Soviets quickly seized control and occupied all key positions in the city. On Nagy made his final broadcast to the radioworld at 05:15 in the morning, Nagy called appealing for end to violence and promised to initiate political reforms abolished three years earlierinternational help. Despite all efforts for a peaceful resolution of the riotsHowever, when Erno Gero ordered a Soviet tank to fire upon unarmed peacefully demonstrating protesters in Parliament Square Western powers were much more concentrated on October 25, the fighting escalatedSuez Crisis at the time. <ref>Hungarian Revolution Janos Kadar, fully backed by Moscow, proclaimed himself head of 1956: First shots a new “Hungarian Revolutionary Worker- https://enPeasant Government.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_Revolution_of_1956</ref>The demonstrators tried to seek refuge in the ministry of agriculture building but they weren’t allowed in and around 800 died ” He declared that day in what is now referred to as the “Bloody Thursday”. After the Soviet public massacreImperialistic western powers were financing this counter-revolution, the revolution was unstoppable. The and he called on Soviet troops and their AVH cohorts continued help to fight against the revolutionaries until 28th October, when Moscow ordered the Soviets to retreat from the city. Communist regime was widely denounced by Hungarians with Hungarian Workers’ Party discredited put it down and Erno Gero restore order since Nagy’s government was forced to resign as First Secretary, with Janos Kadar replacing him“illegal. ”

In order to prevent any further escalation The Soviets backed up the so-called “restoration of order” by heavy artillery and in attempt to calm the infuriated massesairstrikes. Budapest became a bloodshed field with over 2000 dead casualties, Nikita Khrushchev initially decided to order Soviets retreat from Budapestmost of them under 30 years old. Оn October 28Another 13 000 were injured, Nagy announced an immediate with many more imprisoned and general cease-fire over executed, as the radio Soviet troops often failed to distinguish between civilian citizens and freedom fighters, firing indiscriminately at people andbuildings. More than 700 Soviet soldiers also gave up their lives, on behalf most of the new national government declared that a multi-party system was them executed for refusing to replace fight. Janos Kadar proclaimed the communist single-party dictatorship as well as: that end of the government would assess the uprising not as counter-revolutionaryrevolution officially on November 11, 1956. Soviets, led by Kadar, later lured, but as a “greattrapped, national and democratic event”; an unconditional general cease-fire arrested Nagy and amnesty for those who participated in the uprising; negotiations his followers. Janos Kadar then charged them with the insurgents; the dissolution of the AVH; the establishment of a national guard; the immediate withdrawal of Soviet troops from Budapest treason and negotiations for the withdrawal of executed all Soviet forces from Hungaryon June 16, 1958.

==Hungary’s Fate decided in Moscow. Soviet following decisive interventions What was the Aftermath of 4 November: The Soviet Empire strikes back ending the 1956 Revolution? ==Recriminations followed with tens of thousands of Hungarians arrested, imprisoned, and deported to the Soviet Union, often without evidence or proper trials. Until mid-1957, many enemies of the communist regime were executed without a trace, and more than 200 000 people fled Hungary - either fearing for their lives or to escape from the Communist regime. Moreover, many of them were Hungary’s best-educated people searching for a better life in the Western world.

The With most of Budapest under Soviet Union’s new leader Khrushchev had different approach from Joseph Stalincontrol by November 8, and he debated the matter Kadar became officially Prime Minister of Hungary’s independence in Moscow even considering negotiating the constant withdrawal “Revolutionary Worker-Peasant Government” and General Secretary of troops from the countryHungarian Communist Party. Despite Few Hungarians rejoined the reorganized Party, its leadership having been purged under the initial decision supervision of the Politburo and Soviet Presidium not to remove the new Nagy Hungarian government . Step by step, Kadar steadily increased his control over Hungary and to withdraw the Soviet forces from Hungary, only a day later - on 31 Octoberneutralized dissenters. In May 1957, the Soviet leaders decided to reverse their decision and to strike back. Soviets believed that the rebellion directly threatened the very Communist rule Union increased its troop levels in Hungary and that the West would quickly recognize a sign of weakness in Moscow’s lack of response, especially after the British, French and Israeli strike against Suez that had begun on October 29. Soviets also feared the spread of anti-Communist feelings in Hungary, which also started threatening the rule of neighboring satellite leaders. Finally yet importantly – the members of accepted the Soviet party would fail to understand any lack of response by force in Hungary. <ref>The 1956 Hungarian Revolution: A History in Documents - http://nsarchive.gwupresence permanently under a new enforced treaty.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB76/</ref>

Undoubtedly, most of the following developments within the very Hungarian leadership also played a key part in Moscow’s decision. Nagy, who Moscow reinstated once more into the country’s leadership role after it became clear that the crowd completely discredited all old Stalinist leaders, had proved ineffective in following strict Moscow’s orders. His appeal to the United Nations for help in establishing the country’s neutrality, endangered Soviet Union and represented a breach in the Soviet defensive buffer zone of satellite nations. Soviet fear of invasion from the West as well as of development of yet another capitalist state were decisive. On November 1, 1956, Nagy formally addressed Hungarian people over the National Radio and declared Hungary’s withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact as well as Hungary’s stance of neutrality. He also released many political prisoners and allowed previously banned political parties to reappear and join the coalition. The mood was defiantly optimistic. For a short period, it seemed that Nagy was going to be able to achieve the Hungarian people’s wishes for a neutral, multi-party social-democratic nation. However, he conducted dramatic steps that did not please and infuriated the Soviet leaders in Moscow. The second Soviet intervention left no one guessing about the oncoming outcome. In the early hours on November 4, the strongest continental army lead by the Russians attacked Budapest and Hungary with over 1 000 tanks, destroying the fierce but uncoordinated resistance of the poorly armed Hungarian freedom fighters. Soviets quickly seized control and occupied all key positions in the city. Nagy made his final broadcast to the world at 05:15 in the morning, appealing for international help. However, Western powers were much more concentrated at the Suez Crisis at the time. Janos Kadar, fully backed by Moscow, proclaimed himself head of a new “Hungarian Revolutionary Worker-Peasant Government”. He declared that Imperialistic western powers were financing this counter-revolution and he called on Soviet help to put it down and restore order since Nagy’s government was “illegal”. The Soviets backed up the so-called “restoration of order” by heavy artillery and airstrikes as Budapest became bloodshed field with over 2000 dead casualties, most of them under 30 years old. Another 13 000 were injured with many more imprisoned and executed, as the Soviet troops often failed to distinguish between civilian citizens and freedom fighters, firing indiscriminately at people and buildings. More than 700 Soviet soldiers also gave up their lives, most of them executed for refusing to fight. Janos Kadar proclaimed end of revolution officially on November 11, 1956. Soviets, led by Kadar, later lured, trapped and arrested Nagy and his followers. Janos Kadar then charged them with treason and executed all on June 16, 1958.  ==Aftermath of the 1956 Revolution and International recognition== Recriminations followed with tens of thousands of Hungarians arrested, imprisoned and deported to the Soviet Union, often without evidence or any proper trials. Until mid-1957, many enemies of the communist regime were executed without trace and more than 200 000 people fled Hungary - either fearing for their lives, or simply to escape from the Communist regime. Moreover, many of them were Hungary’s best educated people searching for a better life in the Western world. With most of Budapest under Soviet control by November 8, Kadar became officially Prime Minister of the “Revolutionary Worker-Peasant Government” and General Secretary of the Hungarian Communist Party. Few Hungarians rejoined the reorganized Party, its leadership having been purged under the supervision of the Soviet Presidium. Step by step Kadar steadily increased his control over Hungary and neutralized dissenters. In May 1957, the Soviet Union increased its troop levels in Hungary and Hungary accepted the Soviet presence on a permanent basis under a new enforced treaty. However, despite seeming to sell out to the Soviets, Kadar proved to be a better Hungary leader for Hungary than many expected. After the excessive reconstruction of the post-revolution period's excessive reconstruction, he successively successfully eased much of the people's oppression felt by the people, famously declaring, “who is not against us is with us”us. ” He also engineered a unique Communism brand of Communism which that incorporated elements of free -market economics which was , later dubbed “Goulash Communism”Communism. ” Indeed, Hungary was considered to be one of the happiest Soviet satellites until the fall of the Iron Curtain 's fall in 1989. National leaders of this period as well as later historians saw the failure of the uprising in Hungary as a firm evidence that the Cold War in Europe had become a stalemate. Moreover, in January 1957, United Nations General Assembly resolutions requested investigation and observation of the events in Soviet-occupied Hungary. UN Secretary General subsequently established the Special Committee addressing the problem of Hungary. For over five months the Committee interviewed more than 100 refugees, both Communist and non-Communist. However, the new Hungarian government utterly refused the UN officials entry and independent investigation, and the government of the Soviet Union did not respond to requests for information. The Committee Report was presented to the General Assembly in June 1957, concluding “the Kadar government and Soviet occupation and intervention were in violation of the human rights of the Hungarian people”. The General Assembly resolution was approved, confirming “the repression of the Hungarian people and the Soviet occupation” with no other action effectively taken.

Nevertheless, the Hungarian Revolution clearly indicated the weaknesses of the enforced Soviet system 's weaknesses and the Hungarian people 's free will for reforms and a better life. It did further paved the way for the oncoming Eastern European revolts and challenges spreading across the remaining Soviet satellite countries against the common Oppressor – mostly Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia with its emblematic Prague Spring of 1968 requiring over 650 000 Soviet troops to enforce further enforce an end of the country’s call for more liberal reforms. ====References====<references/>