Impact of risings in Poland & Hungary

Question 1

When was Polish Uprising?

Answer 1

June-October 1956

Question 2

How did the Polish Uprising start?

Answer 2

28th June 1956 - workers were on strike in protest at wage cuts and poor working conditions
-Specific economic grievances led to anti-communist armed uprising

Question 3

What were three impacts of the Polish Uprising?

Answer 3

-Gomulka heavily support by Poles
-USSR would protect Poland from West Germany
-Showed that Moscow would allow its satellite states a measure of national independence if led by trustworthy men

Question 4

When was Hungarian Uprising?

Answer 4

October-November 1956

Question 5

What were 5/16 of Hungarian’s demands to the USSR on 22nd October 1956?

Answer 5

-Appointment of Nagy
-Freedom of speech
-Withdrawal of Soviet troops
-Free press
-Multi-party elections

Question 6

What subsequently followed from the Hungarian’s demands on 22nd October?

Answer 6

24th October Nagy appointed PM
-Convinced USSR military intervention not necessary

Question 7

What was the USSR’s initial response in Hungary?

Answer 7

-Khrushchev agreed to withdraw troops
-Assumed a conciliatory stance
-Withdrew from Budapest and declared entire withdrawal from Hungary

Question 8

How did USSR change their position in Hungary?

Answer 8

Feared collapse of communism in Hungary
-3rd November - 15 divisions of Red Army and 4000 tanks surrounded Budapest
-Within a few days rising was crushed

Question 9

What were the outcomes of the Hungarian Uprising?

Answer 9

-Nagy replaced by Kadar (hard-line communist)
-4000 Hungarian citizens killed
-200,000 Hungarians went into self-imposed exile

Question 10

What was the Western response to tensions in Hungary?

Answer 10

Lack of intervention from West confirmed that post-war status quo had been accepted