preview

The Effects Of The 1956 Hungarian Revolution

Better Essays

Although the 1956 Hungarian Revolution only lasted for a short period, there are many who believe that this revolution was the first step in decreasing the Soviet Union’s control over the Hungarian government. Despite the lack of an immediate change, the 1956 Hungarian Revolution had a major long-term effect by mobilizing the Hungarian civil society for future conflicts that took place between the Hungarians and the Soviet government. Towards the end of the Second World War the Soviet army came and occupied Hungary, and remained there until 1991. From the end of World War Two until the Cold War ended in 1991 the relationship between Hungary and the Soviet Union was characterized by the Soviet intervention in the domestic politics of Hungary. …show more content…

Although the Soviets imposed a Stalin type of regime in Hungary during the beginning of the Soviet occupation, things continued to get worse after the failed election of the communist party in Hungary (Rainer, 2010). For example Vyachslev Molatav, a diplomat for the Soviet Union, commanded Matyas Rakosi, the leader of the Communist Party in Hungary, to use tougher actions against the Hungarian citizens in order to make a more pronounced class struggle (Wettig, 2008). The electoral loss of the Communist Party in the 1945 Hungarian elections illustrated the reality that the Central European Communists parties were weak; thus the Soviet Union felt that it was necessary to apply harsh measures onto the Hungarian people in order to ensure the survival of a communist government (Naimark, 1995). Although the Soviets believed that these measures would enforce communism as a way of life over the Hungarian population, this ended up driving the Hungarians to revolt in …show more content…

I believe that one of the main motivations for the 1956 Hungarian revolution came as a result of the lack of a legitimate government in Hungary. Since the war ended and the Soviets began their occupation of Hungary, the Hungarian citizens were being ruled by a government, which they did not choose. Although the Soviet Union understood that in it was necessary for the Hungarian citizens to accept the government, the Soviets also wanted to ensure the existence of a communist government in Hungary; thus they tried to ensure the victory of the Communist Party. By creating the coalition and silencing the political opponents to the Communist Party, the Soviets alienated the Hungarian citizens and built the basis for the tensions, which later erupted into the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Another political aspect that served as an additional motivation for the 1956 Hungarian Revolution was the tough Soviet intervention in the domestic politics of Hungary (Staar, 1971). The Soviet intervention into the internal politics of Hungary, strengthened the feelings of frustration that the Hungarian people had towards a government whom they felt was not legitimate; partially because this

Get Access