The Hungarian Revolution 1956

Osprey Elite #148

by Erwin A. Schmidl, Laszlo Ritter, Peter Dennis (Illustrator)

The Hungarian Revolution of October 1956 was the most important armed rising against the USSR during the Cold War (1946-1991). Inspired by riots in East Germany (1953), and the example of Soviet troop withdrawal leading to Austrian neutrality (1955), there were spontaneous demonstrations by students and workers, mainly in Budapest. When the Hungarian police tried to crush them, Hungarian soldiers joined the insurgents and fought back so effectively that the first Soviet troops sent in were forced to withdraw. After only three years of uneasy power after Stalin's death, the Moscow leadership, including Nikita Kruschev, could not let this pass. After a brief hopeful pause, stronger Soviet forces invaded again in November, including NKVD units, tanks, paratroopers, and troops from non-European republics, who were particularly brutal.

Despite tragic radio appeals for NATO troops to intervene, the Suez crisis paralysed the West, though it was persistently rumored that US Special Forces were in place on the Austrian border tasked with capturing a T-55, the latest Soviet tank, if an opportunity arose. The rebels were crushed, and their leaders executed, including Prime Minister Imre Nagy and Defence Minister General Pal Maleter (who had driven his tank into the gates of security police HQ in the first rising). Nearly 200,000 refugees crossed the Austrian border, sparking at least one skirmish between Red Army troops and Austrian border police; but Hungary sank back into the Soviets' icy embrace, until the collapse of the USSR in 1989.

New sources and freedoms now allow an interesting re-assessment of 1956 in collaboration with Hungarian academics for this 50th anniversary.

Genres: History, Hungary, Nonfiction, Military History

64 pages, Paperback

First published November 28, 2006

Reviews

[Ian Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book on the Hungarian uprising of 1956. It is short, but to the point, and with lots of interesting photographs taken at the time. Two things that struck me about the uprising that I had never realized before. Firstly, it was a spontaneous uprising. It was not planned. There were no leaders. There was no point-by-point manifesto. After years of oppressive occupation by the Soviet Union and the exploitation and mismanagement of the Hungarian economy, everyone had just had enough and wanted the Soviets out. A student’s demonstration through Budapest against changes in the curriculum, of all things, was joined by workers and became a demonstration against communism. Secondly, it was mostly working class people that took part in the subsequent street fighting. In other words, workers fighting against a party that ostensibly ruled in their interest. That says everything you need to know about communism. If you want to know what the Hungarian revolution was all about and what happened, then I recommend this book.

[Blake Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read on the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Lots of photos and color plates. Not something I'd game or do. Interesting for history's sake. Why the Cold War was worth fighting...

Blake

[Marie-aimée · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super clear explanation, it's the first time I read a book like this. I liked the fact it's got precision of civilization, and a lot of pictures, and maps. I don't understand only the later chapter, as I don't know anything about weapons and guns.