Hungary

After the war, Hungary, who had fought with Germany on the Eastern Front, was occupied by the Soviets. A provisional government was set up, but three years later was replaced with a one-party dictatorship lwd by Matyas Rakosi. The Russian supported Communists implemented a program of forced collectivization and industrialization.

The death of Stalin in 1953 marked a period of liberalization in which Rakosi was replaced by Imre Nagy. However, Nagy was ousted in 1955 and replaced by Andra's Hegedu:s. Growing discontent and demands lwd to the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.

The anti-Soviet uprising began on October 23, when police fired on a group of students who were peacefully demonstrating in support of a Polish revolt in June and protesting against Soviet troops being in Hungary. Fighting soon broke out all over the country. Soviet troops started to withdraw and Nagy was reinstated as Prime Minister on October 24. He announced an end to one party rule and declared Hungary a neutral nation.

With the Suez Crisis distracting the Western powers, the Soviets decided to regain control. On November 4, the USSR invaded and attacked and within a few weeks crushed the Revolution. Nagy was executed. The Soviets killed and imprisoned tens of thousands of Hungarians. Over 200,000 left the country. Janos Kadar was placed as head of the Communist dictatorship that was set up by the Soviets. Several years of oppression followed.

A period of liberalization began in the 1960's. In 1962, Kadar granted political prisoners general amnesty. In 1968 he introduced economic reforms which contained some aspects of a free-market economy. Kadar's economic reforms made Hungary one of the most prosperous countries in the Sovit Bloc. In 1972 Hungary and the United States signed a consular convention. In 1973 Hungary began negotiations with West Germany. Its relations with the Church also improved.

By the 1980's the economy began to falter. Austerity measures were imposed in the mid-1980's. The weakening economy and austerity caused demands for civil reforms and freedom of speech. In May 1988, Kadar was replaced as General Secretary by Károly Grósz. The government continued to relaz its control. Censorship declined, independent political groups were permitted, and the right to strike and demonstrate was guaranteed. In 1989 the government gave Imre Nagy a hero's burial and changed the country's name from the People's Republic of Hungary to the Republic of Hungary. In March and April 1990 Hungary held its first free legislative elections in 45 years. A coalition of center-right parties won a majority in Parliament. The National Assembly chose Árpád Göncz as Head of State. In 1990 Hungary was the first Eastern European country to join the Council of Europe. In 1991 and 1992 Hungary signed a declaration of cooperation with Poland, Czechoslovakia, Russia and Ukraine. In the May 1994 Parliamentaty elections the Hungarian Socialists won a majority and named Gyula Horn Prime Minister.