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Hungary had just 5 days of freedom before Khrushchev sent in tanks to destroy the new government. See the revolution unfold in this video.

The Hungarian Revolution

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Key points

  • July 1956 the 'Stalinist' leader of Hungary, fell from power.
  • 24th October - Imre Nagy took over as prime minister. He asked Khrushchev to move the Soviet army out of Budapest. He agreed.
  • 3rd November - Nagy announced that Hungary was leaving the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance of communist countries. Khrushchev could not allow this.
  • 4th November - 1000 Soviet tanks enter Budapest. 4,000 Hungarians were killed, thousands imprisoned and 200,000 refugees fled to Austria.

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