The Hungarian Uprising 1956 LO – to describe how the Hungarian people felt - To explain the events of the Hungarian Uprising

Starter Write down 2 things that you think define you. Miss Harris 1.I am Vegetarian 2.I love pugs

Values Now: – Imagine that an alien race has landed in the UK and taken over – They are saying how the country should be run – They are not allowing you to hold your own values You have to follow their values and rules How would you feel about this?

Hungary 1956 Before 1949 Hungary had been part of the Austro- Hungarian Empire. This was something that they were very proud of. Soviet Take-Over 1949 – Soviet Union established a Soviet Government in Hungary. They were now ruled by Communists.

Hungary 1956 Matyas Rakosi Hard-line Communist leader of Hungary Do you think he was popular in Hungary? Why? What do you think the Hungarians did not like about him? What do you think life was like for Hungarians? Why?

Hints Rakosi had secret police that he used to get rid of his opponents Rakosi controlled all of the media, theatre, art, music They did not teach Hungarian history in Hungarian schools Hungarian people had to pay to have Soviet troops in their country Street signs, shop signs and schools were all in Russian

Hungarian Uprising Draw what you think is in the other half of this picture.

Hungarian Uprising You are going to work in groups of 3/4 to produce a mini-drama showing the events of the Hungarian Uprising.

1 June 1956 – A group within the Communist Party in Hungary opposed Rakosi. Rakosi appealed to Moscow for help (he wanted to arrest 400 opponents) Moscow would not back him.

2 A new leader was elected who the Hungarian people still did not like. 23 October 1956 a huge student demonstration was held. A giant statue of Stalin was pulled down in Budapest (the capital)

3 USSR allowed a new government to be formed under Imre Nagy. He was well respected in Hungary. Soviet troops and tanks began to withdraw from Hungary.

4 Nagy’s government in Hungary started making plans for free elections and fair courts in Hungary. They also planned to leave the Warsaw Pact (an agreement between Communist states) and declare Hungary as neutral in the Cold War.

5 Khrushchev (the Soviet leader) did want to accept some of the reforms Hungary had suggested BUT he would not allow Hungary to leave the Warsaw Pact (an agreement between Communist countries) November 1956 he moved thousands of troops and tanks into Budapest (the capital)

6 The Hungarians did not accept that the Soviet Union had moved tanks and troops into Budapest (the capital) and rebelled against them. The Soviets and the Hungarians fought for 2 weeks. Around 3000 Hungarians and Russians were killed.

7 The people in Hungary who fought the Soviets were crushed within 2 weeks. The Western powers protested to the Soviet Union but did not send anyone to help the Hungarians. Around 35,000 anti-Communist supporters were arrested and 300 were executed.

Extension Read sources 1 and 2. How do they differ in their impression of the Hungarian Uprising? Why do you think they differ?

Source 1 In Hungary thousands of people have obtained arms by disarming soldiers and military men…Soldiers have been making friends with the embittered and dissatisfied masses…The authorities are paralysed, unable to stop the bloody events. From a report in a Yugoslav newspaper. Yugoslavia, although Communist, did not approve of Soviet policies. Obtained = got Arms = weapons Embittered = to feel bitter/annoyed

Source 2 We have almost no weapons, no heavy guns of any kind. People are running up to the tanks, throwing in hand grenades and closing the drivers’ windows. The Hungarian people are not afraid of death. It is only a pity we cannot last longer. Now the firing is starting again. The tanks are coming nearer and nearer. You can’t let people attack tanks with their bare hands. What is the United Nations doing? A message sent by the Hungarian rebels fighting the Communists.

Plenary Match the flag to the date Rakosi’s Government Rebel flag 1956 Hungarian Flag after 1956