1. Relations between the U.S. and Soviet Union

2. Who’s this? Joseph Stalin Cruel, Soviet dictator from 1924 to 1953 Increased Cold War tension with U.S. Crushed an uprising in East Berlin in 1953 Died mysteriously in 1953

3. Nikita Khrushchev Emerged as leader of Soviet Union in 1953 Denounced the political and social terror associated with Stalin  ”de- Stalinization” Promoted the policy of “peaceful coexistence” with the U.S.

4. 1956--In a gesture of goodwill, Khrushchev withdrew Soviet troops from Austria Eisenhower had a fresh hope for a new spirit of peaceful coexistence with the Soviets

5. Khrushchev’s Test in Hungary The CIA obtained a copy of Khrushchev’s speech denouncing Stalin – It was broadcasted throughout Eastern Europe June 1956—a full-scale riot engulfed Hungary in hopes of gaining independence from the Soviet Union

6. The Communist Party was very unpopular Gov’t party terrorized the people – Thousands of Hungarians were executed and 100,000 imprisoned, including the head of the Catholic Church Russians looted and destroyed Hungary’s economy They lowered the living standard There were food shortages

7. How the Revolt Began In 1956, the Hungarian people revolted against communism Demonstrations began outside the main radio station. They demanded free elections and withdrawal of Soviet troops The police and demonstrators came into direct conflict when the police shot and killed 80 people

8. Flag of Hungary, with the communist coat of arms cut out. The flag with a hole became the symbol of the revolution

9. Strikes and Streetfighting Workers held a general strike throughout the country Demonstrators stormed the army headquarters and armed themselves They stormed the prison and freed political prisoners The communist dictator fled and a new gov’t was formed Demonstrators took on the Soviet tanks with “molotov” cocktails. Budapest was shelled continuously by the Soviets

10. Over 150,000 people demonstrated in the streets of Budapest They pulled down a 50-foot statue of Stalin

11. Moscow Restores Domination in Hungary After two weeks of fighting, the people finally had to give up Thousands were imprisoned and tortured. Twenty thousand were executed Moscow showed the rest of Eastern Europe that it would crush any result About 200,000 Hungarians fled. Many moved to the U.S.

12. VP Nixon welcomes Hungarian refugees into the U.S.

13. Lack of U.S. and U.N. Involvement Many Hungarians listed to the radio: Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, waiting for a signal of U.S. or U.N. intervention The U.S. and U.N. never get involved Why? – Only lasted two weeks – Ike did not want to risk nuclear war with Russia – The Suez Crisis had all of Eisenhower’s attention

14. Time magazine’s Man of the Year was the Hungarian Freedom Fighter