1/ THE HUNGARIAN REVOLUTION, DAY 10
69 years ago today, Hungary faced a momentous choice as a result of its revolution: would it remain part of the Soviet bloc, or become a neutral socialist state in the style of Yugoslavia? And would the Soviet Union accept such a choice?
69 years ago today, Hungary faced a momentous choice as a result of its revolution: would it remain part of the Soviet bloc, or become a neutral socialist state in the style of Yugoslavia? And would the Soviet Union accept such a choice?
2/ The government of Imre Nagy had not initially contemplated Hungarian withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact, but faces strong pressure from revolutionary activists who want to restore Hungarian sovereignty and remove all Soviet troops from the country.
3/ Unknown to Nagy, the Soviets had already made the decision the previous day in Moscow to prepare for a massive invasion of Hungary to crush the revolution. Operation Vichr (Whirlwind) had already been put into action, with a four-day countdown to begin the invasion.
4/ Although Soviet troops have withdrawn from Budapest, they have not left their large garrisons elsewhere in Hungary. Five Soviet divisions are already in Hungary, with another 12 divisions moving towards the country's borders to be ready in time for the invasion.
5/ The Communist Parties in Hungary's neighbours also support the planned invasion. When the Soviet leader Khrushchev briefs Yugoslavia's Tito, the latter agrees that events in Hungary have gone too far and the dangerous "counterrevolution" needs to be stopped.
6/ Nagy's government is aware that something was going on, but can do little other than try negotiating with the Soviets. The Soviet Ambassador to Hungary – and later Soviet leader – Yuri Andropov assures the Hungarians that the Soviet troops movements are innocuous.
7/ Nagy is sceptical and demands that the Soviets should withdraw from Hungary. He tells Andropov that the country will leave the Warsaw Pact and declare neutrality, for which he will appeal to the United Nations for support.
8/ In the afternoon, János Kádár (then Minister of State under Nagy) leaves the Parliament building. He and Interior Minister Ferenc Münnich are secretly flown to Moscow on a Soviet plane. Both men have been invited by the Soviets to participate in a post-invasion government.
9/ Kádár announces the dissolution of the Hungarian Workers' Party (MDP) and the formation of a new party, the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party (MSZMP), to replace the earlier party that had been tainted by the "criminal policy and rule of the Rákosi clique".
10/ Nagy makes a radio address in the evening to the people of Hungary: "The Hungarian national government, imbued with a deep sense of responsibility towards the Hungarian people and history, expressing the undivided will of millions of the Hungarian people, declares…
11/ …the neutrality of the Hungarian People's Republic. The Hungarian people, on the basis of independence and equality, in accordance with the spirit of the UN Charter, wish to live in true friendship with their neighbours, the Soviet Union and all the peoples of the world."
12/ However, despite this declaration of "true friendship", the preparations for the invasion continue.
(To be continued tomorrow.)
Day 1:
(To be continued tomorrow.)
Day 1:
https://x.com/ChrisO_wiki/status/1981499282021810477
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