The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was a nationwide uprising against communist rule and Soviet domination that began on 23 October 1956 with a student march in B…
Khrushchev's February speech, Poznan's June revolt and Rakosi's fall in July made reform seem possible across the Soviet bloc.
Students at the Technical University demanded Soviet troops out, a government under Imre Nagy, free elections and freedom of the press.
Gunfire at the Radio building and a hardline broadcast by the party chief turned a march into an armed uprising overnight.
Soviet tanks entered Budapest, Nagy became prime minister and more than 100 people were killed at Kossuth Square, by one count.
A ceasefire, the dissolution of the state security police and, on 30 October, the end of one-party rule.
Hours after promising respect for sovereignty, Soviet leaders chose force, fearing loss of communist rule and a spreading revolt.
Nagy declared neutrality, announced Warsaw Pact withdrawal and appealed to the UN. No Western government sent help.
Five Soviet divisions attacked Budapest before dawn. Nagy broadcast that the government was in its place, then sought refuge at the Yugoslav Embassy.
Reprisals, summary justice and more than 230 death sentences followed, while about 200,000 Hungarians left the country.
Seized on 22 November 1956, Nagy was tried in secret and executed with Pal Maleter and Miklos Gimes on 16 June 1958.
Nagy was reburied before tens of thousands on 16 June 1989 and acquitted on 6 July. The last Soviet soldier left in June 1991.
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