Changes

In October 1956 a small student demonstration exploded into a major uprising against the Communist Party which rapidly gained hold of the whole country. The new party leader, [[Imre Nagy]] (1896-1958) agreed to a number of popular demands, including the disbanding of the hated secret police, the AVH, and he further announced that Hungary would withdraw from the [[Warsaw Pact]]. This prompted a massive Soviet invasion on 4 Novemnber 1956 which, despite fierce resistance, had crushed the rebellion by 10 December. Many thousands were executed including (in 1958) Nagy himself.

In October 1956 a small student demonstration exploded into a major uprising against the Communist Party which rapidly gained hold of the whole country. The new party leader, [[Imre Nagy]] (1896-1958) agreed to a number of popular demands, including the disbanding of the hated secret police, the AVH, and he further announced that Hungary would withdraw from the [[Warsaw Pact]]. This prompted a massive Soviet invasion on 4 Novemnber 1956 which, despite fierce resistance, had crushed the rebellion by 10 December. Many thousands were executed including (in 1958) Nagy himself.

Nagy was replaced as leader by Janos Kadar (1912-1989) who instituted 'Goulash Communism': strict political control coupled with more liberal economic and cultural policies. In the short term this led to improved living standards for the Hungarian people: in material terms they, and the East Germans, were the most prosperous nations in the eastern bloc. It also created a readiness to take advantage of the relaxations of [[''glasnost'']] and [[''perestroika'']] being advocated in the 1980s Soviet Union. In 1989 the Hungarian government opened its border with Austria. This led to a flood of refugees from [[East Germany]] and thus ultimately to the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]], the reunification of [[Germany]], and the domino-like collapse of Communist regimes across the Soviet bloc. Democratic elections were held in 1990 and Hungary joined the [[European Union]] on May 1, 2004.  

Nagy was replaced as leader by Janos Kadar (1912-1989) who instituted 'Goulash Communism': strict political control coupled with more liberal economic and cultural policies. In the short term this led to improved living standards for the Hungarian people: in material terms they, and the East Germans, were the most prosperous nations in the eastern bloc. It also created a readiness to take advantage of the relaxations of [[''glasnost'']] and [[''perestroika'']] being advocated in the 1980s Soviet Union. In 1989 the Hungarian government opened its border with Austria. This led to a flood of refugees from [[East Germany]] and thus ultimately to the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]], the reunification of [[Germany]], and the domino-like collapse of Communist regimes across the Soviet bloc. Democratic elections were first held in 1990; Hungary joined [[NATO]] in 1999 and the [[European Union]] on May 1, 2004.  

[[Category:European Countries]]

[[Category:European Countries]]

[[Category:Warsaw Pact members]]

[[Category:Warsaw Pact members]]

[[Category:EU Members]]

[[Category:EU Members]]