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[[Image:Mock&Horn.jpg|left|thumb|240px|The fall of the [[Iron Curtain]], [[1989]]: the [[foreign minister]]s of [[Austria]] and Hungary, [[Alois Mock]] and [[Gyula Horn]], ceremoniously cut through the border defences separating their countries.]]
[[Image:Mock&Horn.jpg|left|thumb|240px|The fall of the [[Iron Curtain]], [[1989]]: the [[foreign minister]]s of [[Austria]] and Hungary, [[Alois Mock]] and [[Gyula Horn]], ceremoniously cut through the border defences separating their countries.]]
Following the fall of Nazi Germany, Hungary became a communist satellite state of the Soviet Union. This followed a brief interval of democracy from 1946 to 1947 when the Hungarians proclaimed their second republic. After 1948, Communist leader [[Mátyás Rákosi]] established Stalinist rule in the country. The rule of the Rákosi government was nearly unbearable for Hungary's war-torn citizens. This led to the [[1956 Hungarian Revolution]] and Hungary's temporary withdrawal from the [[Warsaw Pact]]. The Soviets retaliated massively with military force, sending in over 150,000 troops and 2,500 tanks<ref>Findley, Carter V., and John Rothney. Twentieth Century World. sixth ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. 278.</ref>. Nearly a quarter of a million people left the country during the brief time that the borders were open in 1956. From the 1960s through the late 1980s, Hungary was often satirically referred to as "[[the happiest barrack]]" within the [[Eastern bloc]]. This was under the autocratic rule of its controversial communist leader, [[János Kádár]].
Following the fall of Nazi Germany, Hungary became a communist satellite state of the Soviet Union. This followed a brief interval of democracy from 1946 to 1947 when the Hungarians proclaimed their second republic. After 1948, Communist leader [[Mátyás Rákosi]] established Stalinist rule in the country. The rule of the Rákosi government was nearly unbearable for Hungary's war-torn citizens. This led to the [[1956 Hungarian Revolution]] and Hungary's temporary withdrawal from the [[Warsaw Pact]]. The Soviets retaliated massively with military force, sending in over 150,000 troops and 2,500 tanks<ref>Findley, Carter V., and John Rothney. Twentieth Century World. sixth ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. 278.</ref>. Nearly a quarter of a million people left the country during the brief time that the borders were open in 1956. From the 1960s through the late 1980s, Hungary was often satirically referred to as "[[the happiest barrack]]" within the [[Eastern bloc]]. This was under the autocratic rule of its controversial communist leader, [[János Kádár]].
===Third Hungarian Republic===
In the late [[1980s]], Hungary led the movement to dissolve the Warsaw Pact and shifted toward multi-candidate democracy. This means that even though there were several candiates, the communist party, [[MSZMP]], was not out for dispute. However, independent candidates were elected as protest against the party. At this time, there were increasing presures for reform within the party. They also moved towards a [[Market economy|market-oriented economy]]. On [[October 23]] [[1989]], [[Mátyás Szűrös]] declared the [[Third Hungarian Republic]] and became interim President. Hungary's first [[free election]]s were held in 1990. Following the [[History of the Soviet Union (1985-1991)|collapse of the Soviet Union]] in [[1991]], Hungary developed closer ties with [[Western Europe]] as well as with other Central European countries. It became a member of the [[Visegrad Group]] in [[1991]], joined [[NATO]] in 1999, and became a member of the [[European Union]] on [[May 1]], [[2004]].