October 1956 Quiz

[Vrylakas]

Greetings,

We are entering this week the 46th anniversary of some amazing events that took place in Soviet-occupied Eastern Europe, most notably Poland and Hungary. To commemorate the events, I've thrown a quiz together that I hope you enjoy. Yes, this is probably the toughest quiz I've made for those not familiar with Eastern European history, but I try to make the answers easily guessed based on my question.

In any event, give it a try and have fun!

1. What did Stalin taking a Georgian sauna on the evening of 5. March, 1953, have to do with the events of October 1956?

2. What was the difference between a "native" and a "Moscow" communist in 1950s Soviet Eastern Europe?

3. Wladyslaw Gomulka, the "native" communist leader of Poland from 1944-1949, was a long-time communist who was very lucky to be sitting in a Polish prison in 1938. Why?

4. In the spring of 1956, Poles were reading about Khrushchov's speech to the 20th Congress of the CPSU (Communist Party of the Soviet Union) of 24. February. Through what means (route) were they reading this speech?

5. 1956 was a bad year for Poland's commies. After Khrushchov's speech, tens of thousands of Polish political prisoners were suddenly released from the Soviet gulag system and returned to Poland with tales of Siberian horrors, while workers in Poznan rioted against living conditions and required the military to suppress them. The economy was almost as bad as it had been in 1944, and reformists were plotting a takeover. In the midst of all this, the Polish communist leader, (who was also leader of the pro-Stalinist faction) Boleslaw Bierut, failed to return from a trip to Moscow. Why?

6. On 21. October the Stalinist-Reformist feud came to a head at the 8th Plenum of the Polish communist party Central Committee. Reformists carried the day and elected the disgraced postwar leader, Gomulka, to lead the country again. Some special visitors from out of town suddenly arrived unannounced and tried to seize control of the meeting. Who were they?

7. Throughout the night of the 21st into the 22nd, the heavily-armed KBW and UB (Polish communist security forces) began occupying Warsaw and its approaches in full force. Who were they preparing for?

8. During that night the Polish army general staff let the defense minister, Konstantin Rokossovsky, know that the Polish Army would not obey his orders. What was unusual about the Polish defense minister?

9. Over the next two days Gomulka and Khrushchov hammered out an agreement that left the reformists in power. Problem over for Moscow, right?

10. On 23. October, the day after Gomulka and Khrushchov had reached their agreement in Warsaw, a youth organization in Hungary led a processional march to the statue of József Bem in Budapest, a Polish general who had led a Hungarian army against the Russians n the 1848-49 Hungarian War for Independence. After some speeches in support of the Poles and Gomulka, the by-now large crowd split up. Half went and tore down the huge statue of Stalin while the other half went to Parliament Square to demand the pro-Stalinists' resignations and the enstatement of the moderate communist Imre Nagy. Nagy came out on the balcony of the Parliament building trying to calm the crowd, but he was only able to utter one word when the crowd erupted into boos and demands for retraction. What one word did Nagy say that provoked the crowd's anger?

11. That first night of the revolution in Hungary, the Stalinist puppet leader Ernö Gerö broadcast a speech condemning the "counter-revolution". In response, crowds gathered at the radio station and demanded Gerö's speech be retracted, when AVH (Hungarian communist KGB) men inside opened fire on the crowd and a battle ensued that ended with the crowd doing some particularly gruesome things to the AVH men. As soon as word spread that the revolutionaries had seized control of the radio station, the Budapest police and the Hungarian Army reacted swiftly. What did they do?

12. From 23.-.28 October battles raged around Budapest but by the 28th the Soviets withdrew. A revolutionary government ruled almost all of Hungary by 30. October. Gerö fled to the USSR, and the hated AVH were dissolved. Over a couple days’ time the revolutionary government formulated a basic policy aim, that Hungary would become a neutral state along the lines of what recently (1955) “liberated” country?

13. The Soviets withdrew their forces on 28. October but invaded Hungary with a new force on the night of 1. November. What was different about this 2nd invasion force from the first?

14. What events unfolding outside Europe, beginning on 30. October, provided an international distraction that allowed the Soviets to re-invade Hungary?

15. Fighting continued throughout Hungary until 14. November, and one of the revolutionary leaders (János Kádár) switched sides to lead the post-revolution government on 4. November. Nagy and some of his government sought refuge in the Yugoslav Embassy . What happened to Nagy after he negotiated with the Soviets a safe exit from the embassy and exile abroad?

16. József Mindszenty, Roman Catholic Cardinal of Hungary, was freed from AVH house arrest by the revolutionaries on 30. October but by 4. November he had to flee to the American Embassy for protection when the Soviets returned. (At one point near the embassy he actually had to walk by a column of Soviet tanks.) How long did Mindszenty have to stay in the American Embassy before Washington could get Budapest to agree to let him move to exile in Vienna?

17. How many Hungarians fled the country after the collapse of the revolution, but before the Soviets could seal off the Hungarian-Austrian border?

A. 6000 C. 85,000
B. 30,000 D. 200,000

18. Did Warsaw Treaty/Pact forces join the Soviets in crushing the Hungarian Revolution?

19. True or false: Both communist leaders installed in 1956 – Gomulka by the success of the Polish rebels and Kádár by the failure of the Hungarian rebels – enjoyed long reigns in power that ended with both dying peacefully in office.

20. What happened to poor old Imre Nagy in June, 1989?

21. What eventually became of the Soviet ambassador to Hungary in 1956, before his death in 1984?

Good luck folks!

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Very difficult one...... I'll try.

1. What did Stalin taking a Georgian sauna on the evening of 5. March, 1953, have to do with the events of October 1956?

He died, setting off the chain of events?

2. What was the difference between a "native" and a "Moscow" communist in 1950s Soviet Eastern Europe?

'Moscow' communists were installed/trained/controlled by Moscow; 'native' communists were already there locally and sometimes not under Soviet control like Tito in Yugoslavia and the pre-WW2 Communists in Germany.

3. Wladyslaw Gomulka, the "native" communist leader of Poland from 1944-1949, was a long-time communist who was very lucky to be sitting in a Polish prison in 1938. Why?

Didn't get killed in WW2? Released by Soviets and became their figurehead in Poland?

4. In the spring of 1956, Poles were reading about Khrushchov's speech to the 20th Congress of the CPSU (Communist Party of the Soviet Union) of 24. February. Through what means (route) were they reading this speech?

Undeground means... most I can say.

5. 1956 was a bad year for Poland's commies. After Khrushchov's speech, tens of thousands of Polish political prisoners were suddenly released from the Soviet gulag system and returned to Poland with tales of Siberian horrors, while workers in Poznan rioted against living conditions and required the military to suppress them. The economy was almost as bad as it had been in 1944, and reformists were plotting a takeover. In the midst of all this, the Polish communist leader, (who was also leader of the pro-Stalinist faction) Boleslaw Bierut, failed to return from a trip to Moscow. Why?

The Soviets had suspicions about him and prevented his returning?

6. On 21. October the Stalinist-Reformist feud came to a head at the 8th Plenum of the Polish communist party Central Committee. Reformists carried the day and elected the disgraced postwar leader, Gomulka, to lead the country again. Some special visitors from out of town suddenly arrived unannounced and tried to seize control of the meeting. Who were they?

Soviets?

7. Throughout the night of the 21st into the 22nd, the heavily-armed KBW and UB (Polish communist security forces) began occupying Warsaw and its approaches in full force. Who were they preparing for?

Rioters/protesters?

8. During that night the Polish army general staff let the defense minister, Konstantin Rokossovsky, know that the Polish Army would not obey his orders. What was unusual about the Polish defense minister?

Russian?

9. Over the next two days Gomulka and Khrushchov hammered out an agreement that left the reformists in power. Problem over for Moscow, right?

Obviously not....

10. On 23. October, the day after Gomulka and Khrushchov had reached their agreement in Warsaw, a youth organization in Hungary led a processional march to the statue of József Bem in Budapest, a Polish general who had led a Hungarian army against the Russians n the 1848-49 Hungarian War for Independence. After some speeches in support of the Poles and Gomulka, the by-now large crowd split up. Half went and tore down the huge statue of Stalin while the other half went to Parliament Square to demand the pro-Stalinists' resignations and the enstatement of the moderate communist Imre Nagy. Nagy came out on the balcony of the Parliament building trying to calm the crowd, but he was only able to utter one word when the crowd erupted into boos and demands for retraction. What one word did Nagy say that provoked the crowd's anger?

Russia....

11. That first night of the revolution in Hungary, the Stalinist puppet leader Ernö Gerö broadcast a speech condemning the "counter-revolution". In response, crowds gathered at the radio station and demanded Gerö's speech be retracted, when AVH (Hungarian communist KGB) men inside opened fire on the crowd and a battle ensued that ended with the crowd doing some particularly gruesome things to the AVH men. As soon as word spread that the revolutionaries had seized control of the radio station, the Budapest police and the Hungarian Army reacted swiftly. What did they do?

Mobilized to meet the expected arrival of the Soviet army?

12. From 23.-.28 October battles raged around Budapest but by the 28th the Soviets withdrew. A revolutionary government ruled almost all of Hungary by 30. October. Gerö fled to the USSR, and the hated AVH were dissolved. Over a couple days’ time the revolutionary government formulated a basic policy aim, that Hungary would become a neutral state along the lines of what recently (1955) “liberated” country?

Yugoslavia.

13. The Soviets withdrew their forces on 28. October but invaded Hungary with a new force on the night of 1. November. What was different about this 2nd invasion force from the first?

Incl Warsaw Pact forces.

14. What events unfolding outside Europe, beginning on 30. October, provided an international distraction that allowed the Soviets to re-invade Hungary?

US elections?

15. Fighting continued throughout Hungary until 14. November, and one of the revolutionary leaders (János Kádár) switched sides to lead the post-revolution government on 4. November. Nagy and some of his government sought refuge in the Yugoslav Embassy . What happened to Nagy after he negotiated with the Soviets a safe exit from the embassy and exile abroad?

No idea.

16. József Mindszenty, Roman Catholic Cardinal of Hungary, was freed from AVH house arrest by the revolutionaries on 30. October but by 4. November he had to flee to the American Embassy for protection when the Soviets returned. (At one point near the embassy he actually had to walk by a column of Soviet tanks.) How long did Mindszenty have to stay in the American Embassy before Washington could get Budapest to agree to let him move to exile in Vienna?

A few years?

17. How many Hungarians fled the country after the collapse of the revolution, but before the Soviets could seal off the Hungarian-Austrian border?

A. 6000 C. 85,000
B. 30,000 D. 200,000

D?

18. Did Warsaw Treaty/Pact forces join the Soviets in crushing the Hungarian Revolution?

Yes....

19. True or false: Both communist leaders installed in 1956 – Gomulka by the success of the Polish rebels and Kádár by the failure of the Hungarian rebels – enjoyed long reigns in power that ended with both dying peacefully in office.

False?

20. What happened to poor old Imre Nagy in June, 1989?

He died?

21. What eventually became of the Soviet ambassador to Hungary in 1956, before his death in 1984?

No idea.

 

[Propaganda]

Originally posted by Vrylakas
Greetings,

We are entering this week the 46th anniversary of some amazing events that took place in Soviet-occupied Eastern Europe, most notably Poland and Hungary. To commemorate the events, I've thrown a quiz together that I hope you enjoy. Yes, this is probably the toughest quiz I've made for those not familiar with Eastern European history, but I try to make the answers easily guessed based on my question.

In any event, give it a try and have fun!

1. What did Stalin taking a Georgian sauna on the evening of 5. March, 1953, have to do with the events of October 1956?

Died. Chain reaction.

2. What was the difference between a "native" and a "Moscow" communist in 1950s Soviet Eastern Europe?

Moscow being Stalinist, "native" meaning anti-Stalinist/reformist.

3. Wladyslaw Gomulka, the "native" communist leader of Poland from 1944-1949, was a long-time communist who was very lucky to be sitting in a Polish prison in 1938. Why?

With his release, he became the head of the Polish Communist Party, and ruled Poland.

4. In the spring of 1956, Poles were reading about Khrushchov's speech to the 20th Congress of the CPSU (Communist Party of the Soviet Union) of 24. February. Through what means (route) were they reading this speech?

Radio Free Europe(American-funded)?

5. 1956 was a bad year for Poland's commies. After Khrushchov's speech, tens of thousands of Polish political prisoners were suddenly released from the Soviet gulag system and returned to Poland with tales of Siberian horrors, while workers in Poznan rioted against living conditions and required the military to suppress them. The economy was almost as bad as it had been in 1944, and reformists were plotting a takeover. In the midst of all this, the Polish communist leader, (who was also leader of the pro-Stalinist faction) Boleslaw Bierut, failed to return from a trip to Moscow. Why?

He was announced as "ill" and a replacement was in hand.

6. On 21. October the Stalinist-Reformist feud came to a head at the 8th Plenum of the Polish communist party Central Committee. Reformists carried the day and elected the disgraced postwar leader, Gomulka, to lead the country again. Some special visitors from out of town suddenly arrived unannounced and tried to seize control of the meeting. Who were they?

Polish United Worker's Party.

7. Throughout the night of the 21st into the 22nd, the heavily-armed KBW and UB (Polish communist security forces) began occupying Warsaw and its approaches in full force. Who were they preparing for?

American aid.

8. During that night the Polish army general staff let the defense minister, Konstantin Rokossovsky, know that the Polish Army would not obey his orders. What was unusual about the Polish defense minister?

?

9. Over the next two days Gomulka and Khrushchov hammered out an agreement that left the reformists in power. Problem over for Moscow, right?

Yes.

10. On 23. October, the day after Gomulka and Khrushchov had reached their agreement in Warsaw, a youth organization in Hungary led a processional march to the statue of József Bem in Budapest, a Polish general who had led a Hungarian army against the Russians n the 1848-49 Hungarian War for Independence. After some speeches in support of the Poles and Gomulka, the by-now large crowd split up. Half went and tore down the huge statue of Stalin while the other half went to Parliament Square to demand the pro-Stalinists' resignations and the enstatement of the moderate communist Imre Nagy. Nagy came out on the balcony of the Parliament building trying to calm the crowd, but he was only able to utter one word when the crowd erupted into boos and demands for retraction. What one word did Nagy say that provoked the crowd's anger?

"Tovarishi/Comrades.."

11. That first night of the revolution in Hungary, the Stalinist puppet leader Ernö Gerö broadcast a speech condemning the "counter-revolution". In response, crowds gathered at the radio station and demanded Gerö's speech be retracted, when AVH (Hungarian communist KGB) men inside opened fire on the crowd and a battle ensued that ended with the crowd doing some particularly gruesome things to the AVH men. As soon as word spread that the revolutionaries had seized control of the radio station, the Budapest police and the Hungarian Army reacted swiftly. What did they do?

Took them into their possession, and quelled the demonstrators.

12. From 23.-.28 October battles raged around Budapest but by the 28th the Soviets withdrew. A revolutionary government ruled almost all of Hungary by 30. October. Gerö fled to the USSR, and the hated AVH were dissolved. Over a couple days’ time the revolutionary government formulated a basic policy aim, that Hungary would become a neutral state along the lines of what recently (1955) “liberated” country?

Austria.

13. The Soviets withdrew their forces on 28. October but invaded Hungary with a new force on the night of 1. November. What was different about this 2nd invasion force from the first?

The first invasion forced wasn't armed to the teeth. They carried weapons, but only were equipped to provoke the people. The people, however, fought with weapons.

14. What events unfolding outside Europe, beginning on 30. October, provided an international distraction that allowed the Soviets to re-invade Hungary?

Britain, France, and Israel(?) invaded Egypt.


15. Fighting continued throughout Hungary until 14. November, and one of the revolutionary leaders (János Kádár) switched sides to lead the post-revolution government on 4. November. Nagy and some of his government sought refuge in the Yugoslav Embassy . What happened to Nagy after he negotiated with the Soviets a safe exit from the embassy and exile abroad?

He was executed.

16. József Mindszenty, Roman Catholic Cardinal of Hungary, was freed from AVH house arrest by the revolutionaries on 30. October but by 4. November he had to flee to the American Embassy for protection when the Soviets returned. (At one point near the embassy he actually had to walk by a column of Soviet tanks.) How long did Mindszenty have to stay in the American Embassy before Washington could get Budapest to agree to let him move to exile in Vienna?

17. How many Hungarians fled the country after the collapse of the revolution, but before the Soviets could seal off the Hungarian-Austrian border?

A. 6000 C. 85,000
B. 30,000 D. 200,000

D.

18. Did Warsaw Treaty/Pact forces join the Soviets in crushing the Hungarian Revolution? Yes.

19. True or false: Both communist leaders installed in 1956 – Gomulka by the success of the Polish rebels and Kádár by the failure of the Hungarian rebels – enjoyed long reigns in power that ended with both dying peacefully in office.

False.

20. What happened to poor old Imre Nagy in June, 1989?

Executed.

21. What eventually became of the Soviet ambassador to Hungary in 1956, before his death in 1984?

Andropov.

Good luck folks!

 

[A_Bashkuev]

1. What did Stalin taking a Georgian sauna on the evening of 5. March, 1953, have to do with the events of October 1956?

5 March of 1953 - Death of Stalin. It brought very hard & bitter struggle in Soviet high places & international "Soviet Dread" became slipping away really fast. Any East European "allies" of Soviet Union saw their chances to get away from "fraternal kisses" of menacing "big brother", because Soviet Union have got used to free many of them - China (in Port-Arthur), Finland (in Hanko), Austria...
Stopping of this process was "events in Hungary". They mean that Khruschow completed his "successful succession" in Kremlin. "Soft Autumn" in Europe came to bitter end.

2. What was the difference between a "native" and a "Moscow" communist in 1950s Soviet Eastern Europe?

"Native" communists were war-leaders of pro-Soviet "Army Ludova", that fought against Germans from 1939 "inside" of Poland. "Moscow" communists were brought in Poland in Soviet war band-wagon" & hadn't guerilla experience against Germans. Then common Poles liked "native" & disliked "Moscow" communists - considering first as "patriots of some sort", but second as "Russian' satraps". I'm afraid - they had reasons enough

3. Wladyslaw Gomulka, the "native" communist leader of Poland from 1944-1949, was a long-time communist who was very lucky to be sitting in a Polish prison in 1938. Why?

Any other Polish communists in Soviet Union were executed by direct order of Stalin. After that there were total executions of Polish POW officers - who WEREN't Communists. Stalin just disliked any Poles - Communist or not. Oh, History of Russian-Polish relationships were very bloody & cruel...

4. In the spring of 1956, Poles were reading about Khrushchov's speech to the 20th Congress of the CPSU (Communist Party of the Soviet Union) of 24. February. Through what means (route) were they reading this speech?

"Free Europe" radio.

5. 1956 was a bad year for Poland's commies. After Khrushchov's speech, tens of thousands of Polish political prisoners were suddenly released from the Soviet gulag system and returned to Poland with tales of Siberian horrors, while workers in Poznan rioted against living conditions and required the military to suppress them. The economy was almost as bad as it had been in 1944, and reformists were plotting a takeover. In the midst of all this, the Polish communist leader, (who was also leader of the pro-Stalinist faction) Boleslaw Bierut, failed to return from a trip to Moscow. Why?

He was proclaimed as "ill" & taken in custody due to his backing of "Malenkov-Molotov" group in Central Comitee of Soviet Union. Khruschov fought with all possible opposition in that days. By the way - it seems that he provoked "crisis in Poland" due to common "bad" attitude to Poland from Soviet Military. It seems that Soviewt Military "asked for trouble" in Poland, because it was a good reason for "young generation" of our officers "to show themselves". Poland was most "unloved girl" in "Soviet Union Family" then our military wanted to spill Polish blood as fast as possible. (There was a big wonder & surprise for them - when we've got Hungarian problem - we didn't wait problems with Hungary!)

6. On 21. October the Stalinist-Reformist feud came to a head at the 8th Plenum of the Polish communist party Central Committee. Reformists carried the day and elected the disgraced postwar leader, Gomulka, to lead the country again. Some special visitors from out of town suddenly arrived unannounced and tried to seize control of the meeting. Who were they?

Don't know.

7. Throughout the night of the 21st into the 22nd, the heavily-armed KBW and UB (Polish communist security forces) began occupying Warsaw and its approaches in full force. Who were they preparing for?

They feared of NATO invasion in first place. By the way - they most bitter fear was that Soviets took any fool9ish move from NATO side as excuse for full-scale intervention & tried to show off that they are agains "Americans". By the way - Soviet & East German troops were ready around Polish borders for immediate invasion (I heard that East German leaders were promised of changing Polish-East German borderline in Silesia & Pomerania - it was the reason for eagerness for entering Poland as fast as possible. It is a reason - why East Germans didn't help Soviet Union in Hungary events - they weren't promised about Hungary territory!) I'm sure - Polish special forces was most appropriate reaction due to danger of losing part of Polish territory to East Germany.

By the way - Polish events became part of reasons for lame execution of Soviet performance in "first phase" of situation in Hungary. Soviet "crack troops" were on Polish border & it took considerable time to relocate them to Hungary "theatre".

8. During that night the Polish army general staff let the defense minister, Konstantin Rokossovsky, know that the Polish Army would not obey his orders. What was unusual about the Polish defense minister?

He was Pole of Russian origin, then he was considered as "enemy" by Polish Officer Corps. (By the way he was intentionally placed in this weird position by Stalin - Rokossovsky was most popular General for Soviet Society. He never was on the same military success leveol as Zhukov, but he was considered as "most benevolent military commander" in Soviet Army. Then Stalin push him out into Poland where population just hated any Russians - Poles or not, benevolent or not - no difference.

9. Over the next two days Gomulka and Khrushchov hammered out an agreement that left the reformists in power. Problem over for Moscow, right?

Yep. They drove out Gomulka from office later when Khrischev could "tidy up" his "succession problems" in Moscow .

10. On 23. October, the day after Gomulka and Khrushchov had reached their agreement in Warsaw, a youth organization in Hungary led a processional march to the statue of József Bem in Budapest, a Polish general who had led a Hungarian army against the Russians n the 1848-49 Hungarian War for Independence. After some speeches in support of the Poles and Gomulka, the by-now large crowd split up. Half went and tore down the huge statue of Stalin while the other half went to Parliament Square to demand the pro-Stalinists' resignations and the enstatement of the moderate communist Imre Nagy. Nagy came out on the balcony of the Parliament building trying to calm the crowd, but he was only able to utter one word when the crowd erupted into boos and demands for retraction. What one word did Nagy say that provoked the crowd's anger?

Elevters (Comrades!).

11. That first night of the revolution in Hungary, the Stalinist puppet leader Ernö Gerö broadcast a speech condemning the "counter-revolution". In response, crowds gathered at the radio station and demanded Gerö's speech be retracted, when AVH (Hungarian communist KGB) men inside opened fire on the crowd and a battle ensued that ended with the crowd doing some particularly gruesome things to the AVH men. As soon as word spread that the revolutionaries had seized control of the radio station, the Budapest police and the Hungarian Army reacted swiftly. What did they do?

"SWIFTLY"??? They did nothing. They barricaded in their places & began long discussion about all & else. Somebody tried to disperse people on streets, other hepled to peoples. They differs by special bands on their sleeves - somebody weared Red bands, other - Hungarian tri-color. In any case crowd hunted down them by colour of their shoes - "communists" weared shoes with good "Austrian" soles of yellow colour, but usual militia-men weared very cheap shoes. (Only Communists was provided by this yellow-soled shoes in special shops.) Then crowd tried to hit only "yellow-soled" guys - no matter what bands were on their sleeves .

After Soviet invasion all of them (except executed bearers of "yellow-soled" shoes, of course!) were on Hungarian's side later.

12. From 23.-.28 October battles raged around Budapest but by the 28th the Soviets withdrew. A revolutionary government ruled almost all of Hungary by 30. October. Gerö fled to the USSR, and the hated AVH were dissolved. Over a couple days’ time the revolutionary government formulated a basic policy aim, that Hungary would become a neutral state along the lines of what recently (1955) “liberated” country?

In 1955 Soviet forces abandoned Austria.
13. The Soviets withdrew their forces on 28. October but invaded Hungary with a new force on the night of 1. November. What was different about this 2nd invasion force from the first?

We didn't realize that Hungary Army was against us. Then there were many losses in first invasion wave & Kchruschev get a reason for crushing his rivals in Central Comitee for "utter incompetency". Later Soviet historians wondered if "first invasion" was intentionally "rigged" for give him this reasoning.

14. What events unfolding outside Europe, beginning on 30. October, provided an international distraction that allowed the Soviets to re-invade Hungary?

British-France-Israel invasion into Suez canal zone.

15. Fighting continued throughout Hungary until 14. November, and one of the revolutionary leaders (János Kádár) switched sides to lead the post-revolution government on 4. November. Nagy and some of his government sought refuge in the Yugoslav Embassy . What happened to Nagy after he negotiated with the Soviets a safe exit from the embassy and exile abroad?

He was executed.

16. József Mindszenty, Roman Catholic Cardinal of Hungary, was freed from AVH house arrest by the revolutionaries on 30. October but by 4. November he had to flee to the American Embassy for protection when the Soviets returned. (At one point near the embassy he actually had to walk by a column of Soviet tanks.) How long did Mindszenty have to stay in the American Embassy before Washington could get Budapest to agree to let him move to exile in Vienna?

I don't know. I think - very long while there was political struggle in Russia (between Khruschev & Malenkov-Molotov fractions).

17. How many Hungarians fled the country after the collapse of the revolution, but before the Soviets could seal off the Hungarian-Austrian border?

A. 6000 C. 85,000
B. 30,000 D. 200,000

Number differs from A (from Soviet papers) to D (from anti-Soviet sources).

18. Did Warsaw Treaty/Pact forces join the Soviets in crushing the Hungarian Revolution?
No. They did officially, but "dirty job" was done by Soviet troops exclusively. (By the way, husband of my maternal grand-ma who raised my mother was killed "in car acccident" (his commander' UAZ was chushed down by Hungary Armor) in 2 October of 1956. He was buried in special Military cemetary in Moscow with all possible military respect, but his death was never acknowledged as "military loss" - he died by "internal bleeding" by official paper. Yep, it was a lot of internal bleeding under tracks of Hungary Armor!)

19. True or false: Both communist leaders installed in 1956 – Gomulka by the success of the Polish rebels and Kádár by the failure of the Hungarian rebels – enjoyed long reigns in power that ended with both dying peacefully in office.

False. Gomulka was driven by Soviet pupeteers immediately, Kadar reigned pretty long but was driven out by people unrest.

20. What happened to poor old Imre Nagy in June, 1989?
He was pardoned & proclaimed as National Hero of Hungary.

21. What eventually became of the Soviet ambassador to Hungary in 1956, before his death in 1984?

Juri Andropov - Chief of KGB later, General Secretary of Communist Party of Soviet Union in 1982-1984.

 

[Vrylakas]

Knight-Dragon wrote:

Very difficult one...... I'll try.

Yes, a difficult one in an obscure subject - but I knew you'd try.

quote:
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1. What did Stalin taking a Georgian sauna on the evening of 5. March, 1953, have to do with the events of October 1956?
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He died, setting off the chain of events?

Yes, good ol' Uncle Joe had a stroke after his sauna and died - allowing a more confused leadership to take over setting events in motion.

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2. What was the difference between a "native" and a "Moscow" communist in 1950s Soviet Eastern Europe?
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'Moscow' communists were installed/trained/controlled by Moscow; 'native' communists were already there locally and sometimes not under Soviet control like Tito in Yugoslavia and the pre-WW2 Communists in Germany.

Close enough. "Moscow" communists in 1950s Eastern Europe were those who spent the war (World War II) safely in the Soviet Union, while "Native" communists were those who stayed and fought in their own country. Stalin distrusted the "Natives" and after a couple years purged them all so he could have absolute control in the region. Tito was the one that wouldn't go away...

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3. Wladyslaw Gomulka, the "native" communist leader of Poland from 1944-1949, was a long-time communist who was very lucky to be sitting in a Polish prison in 1938. Why?
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Didn't get killed in WW2? Released by Soviets and became their figurehead in Poland?

No, he ended up fighting in WW II. Stalin had a particular hatred of Poles, even Polish communists, and he did something in 1938...

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4. In the spring of 1956, Poles were reading about Khrushchov's speech to the 20th Congress of the CPSU (Communist Party of the Soviet Union) of 24. February. Through what means (route) were they reading this speech?
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Undeground means... most I can say.

That's all you need to say, because you're right. Khrushchov's speech to the 20th Congress was secret, but it was "leaked" out and widely read in the West very shortly afterwards - and was broadcast to Eastern Europe via Radio Free Europe and distributed in "samizdat" form. Within a month of Khrushchov's speech most adult Poles had read its text in full, although their own government wouldn't alow it to be published legally until it fell in 1989.

quote:
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5. 1956 was a bad year for Poland's commies. After Khrushchov's speech, tens of thousands of Polish political prisoners were suddenly released from the Soviet gulag system and returned to Poland with tales of Siberian horrors, while workers in Poznan rioted against living conditions and required the military to suppress them. The economy was almost as bad as it had been in 1944, and reformists were plotting a takeover. In the midst of all this, the Polish communist leader, (who was also leader of the pro-Stalinist faction) Boleslaw Bierut, failed to return from a trip to Moscow. Why?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Soviets had suspicions about him and prevented his returning?

No - although there are some conspiracy theories to that effect floating around. No, after February 1956 Comrade Bierut wasn't going ANYWHERE.

quote:
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6. On 21. October the Stalinist-Reformist feud came to a head at the 8th Plenum of the Polish communist party Central Committee. Reformists carried the day and elected the disgraced postwar leader, Gomulka, to lead the country again. Some special visitors from out of town suddenly arrived unannounced and tried to seize control of the meeting. Who were they?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Soviets?

Yup. And not just any Soviets - Khrushchov and a delegation from the Soviet Politburo itself showed up, in a very cranky mood. The Poles simply were told in the middle of their deliberations that an unexpected Soviet delegation was circling Warsaw and about to land. When they rushed to the airport and were met by a screaming Khrushchov, and it went that way for two more days.

quote:
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7. Throughout the night of the 21st into the 22nd, the heavily-armed KBW and UB (Polish communist security forces) began occupying Warsaw and its approaches in full force. Who were they preparing for?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rioters/protesters?

Nope. Here's a hint: Civilian Poles also began lining the streets in support of the otherwise-hated communist forces, and there are reports that the UB began arming civilians.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. During that night the Polish army general staff let the defense minister, Konstantin Rokossovsky, know that the Polish Army would not obey his orders. What was unusual about the Polish defense minister?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Russian?

Yes. Rokossovsky was Polish-born but raised in Russia and for all intents a Russian - certainly a Soviet citizen. When Stalin imposed him (and other Soviet "advisors") on the Polish Army the Polish government had to grant him citizenship first... He is said to have been able to speak some Polish, but not much and he used Russian while in office.

quote:
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9. Over the next two days Gomulka and Khrushchov hammered out an agreement that left the reformists in power. Problem over for Moscow, right?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obviously not....

Right. The very next day the same troubles began in Hungary. Put out one fire just to have anothr spring up...

quote:
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10. On 23. October, the day after Gomulka and Khrushchov had reached their agreement in Warsaw, a youth organization in Hungary led a processional march to the statue of József Bem in Budapest, a Polish general who had led a Hungarian army against the Russians n the 1848-49 Hungarian War for Independence. After some speeches in support of the Poles and Gomulka, the by-now large crowd split up. Half went and tore down the huge statue of Stalin while the other half went to Parliament Square to demand the pro-Stalinists' resignations and the enstatement of the moderate communist Imre Nagy. Nagy came out on the balcony of the Parliament building trying to calm the crowd, but he was only able to utter one word when the crowd erupted into boos and demands for retraction. What one word did Nagy say that provoked the crowd's anger?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Russia....

No - something more basic than that. Think - what would a communist start any sentence with?

quote:
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11. That first night of the revolution in Hungary, the Stalinist puppet leader Ernö Gerö broadcast a speech condemning the "counter-revolution". In response, crowds gathered at the radio station and demanded Gerö's speech be retracted, when AVH (Hungarian communist KGB) men inside opened fire on the crowd and a battle ensued that ended with the crowd doing some particularly gruesome things to the AVH men. As soon as word spread that the revolutionaries had seized control of the radio station, the Budapest police and the Hungarian Army reacted swiftly. What did they do?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mobilized to meet the expected arrival of the Soviet army?

Close enough - yes. The Budapest police and Hungarian Army rapidly switched sides that night to the rebels - although a few Army units held out for a couple days yet, waiting in their barracks for events. It was because of this that all communist states after 1956 established smaller secondary armies that were trained for loyalty to the communist party, not the country or the government - because 1956 taught them that the regular army was politically unreliable.

quote:
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12. From 23.-.28 October battles raged around Budapest but by the 28th the Soviets withdrew. A revolutionary government ruled almost all of Hungary by 30. October. Gerö fled to the USSR, and the hated AVH were dissolved. Over a couple days’ time the revolutionary government formulated a basic policy aim, that Hungary would become a neutral state along the lines of what recently (1955) “liberated” country?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yugoslavia.

No - westward.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. The Soviets withdrew their forces on 28. October but invaded Hungary with a new force on the night of 1. November. What was different about this 2nd invasion force from the first?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Incl Warsaw Pact forces.

No.

quote:
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14. What events unfolding outside Europe, beginning on 30. October, provided an international distraction that allowed the Soviets to re-invade Hungary?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

US elections?

No - closer to Europe, and involving two European states, but outside Europe itself.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. Fighting continued throughout Hungary until 14. November, and one of the revolutionary leaders (János Kádár) switched sides to lead the post-revolution government on 4. November. Nagy and some of his government sought refuge in the Yugoslav Embassy . What happened to Nagy after he negotiated with the Soviets a safe exit from the embassy and exile abroad?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No idea.

[Vrylakas humming Chopin's Funeral March as a hint.]

quote:
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16. József Mindszenty, Roman Catholic Cardinal of Hungary, was freed from AVH house arrest by the revolutionaries on 30. October but by 4. November he had to flee to the American Embassy for protection when the Soviets returned. (At one point near the embassy he actually had to walk by a column of Soviet tanks.) How long did Mindszenty have to stay in the American Embassy before Washington could get Budapest to agree to let him move to exile in Vienna?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few years?

Close - 15 years. Washington and Budapest finally reached agreement in 1971.

quote:
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17. How many Hungarians fled the country after the collapse of the revolution, but before the Soviets could seal off the Hungarian-Austrian border?

A. 6000 C. 85,000
B. 30,000 D. 200,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

D?

Yes - although some estimates are almost twice even that number. In a country with a population of 10 million, 200,000 is a lot of people. There were reception camps set up here in New Jersey to receive many of these, and a few NJ towns like New Brunswick still have some lingering pockets of "56'er" Hungarians, though most have moved inland by now.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18. Did Warsaw Treaty/Pact forces join the Soviets in crushing the Hungarian Revolution?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes...

No. Moscow did not yet trust its satellite countries enough. The USSR would use them to crush Dubcek's "Prague Spring" in Czechoslovakia 12 years later in 1968 though.

quote:
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19. True or false: Both communist leaders installed in 1956 – Gomulka by the success of the Polish rebels and Kádár by the failure of the Hungarian rebels – enjoyed long reigns in power that ended with both dying peacefully in office.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

False?

False indeed. Gomulka was ousted from office when he ordered the army to fire on peaceful workers protesting price rises in December 1970, killing several. Kádár would be ousted peacefully as an almost senile old man in 1988 by reformists in the Hungarian communist party (MSzMP), the same reformists who would boot themselves out of power a year later.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20. What happened to poor old Imre Nagy in June, 1989?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He died?

No - death wasn't the issue; he was "moved". (That was a hint.)

quote:
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21. What eventually became of the Soviet ambassador to Hungary in 1956, before his death in 1984?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No idea.

Hint: 1982-1984.

Great run K-D, for a such an obscure subject!

I'll get to the other ones shortly!

 

[Vrylakas]

Propaganda wrote:

1. What did Stalin taking a Georgian sauna on the evening of 5. March, 1953, have to do with the events of October 1956?

Died. Chain reaction.

Yes!

2. What was the difference between a "native" and a "Moscow" communist in 1950s Soviet Eastern Europe?

Moscow being Stalinist, "native" meaning anti-Stalinist/reformist.

Hmmm, very close. This is certainly how Stalin saw them. "Moscow" communists spent the war in Moscow, safely under Stalin's direct control while "Natives" spent the war fighting in their own countries - and were thus (according to Stalin) less trustable because they were less dependent on Moscow.

3. Wladyslaw Gomulka, the "native" communist leader of Poland from 1944-1949, was a long-time communist who was very lucky to be sitting in a Polish prison in 1938. Why?

With his release, he became the head of the Polish Communist Party, and ruled Poland.

This is true, but why was he able to take over the party after his release? When he went to prison he was just a mid-level functionary in the party. What happened to the party leadership?

4. In the spring of 1956, Poles were reading about Khrushchov's speech to the 20th Congress of the CPSU (Communist Party of the Soviet Union) of 24. February. Through what means (route) were they reading this speech?

Radio Free Europe(American-funded)?

Yes! Poles read/heard Khrushchov's "secret" speech via the Western press, especially RFE.

5. 1956 was a bad year for Poland's commies. After Khrushchov's speech, tens of thousands of Polish political prisoners were suddenly released from the Soviet gulag system and returned to Poland with tales of Siberian horrors, while workers in Poznan rioted against living conditions and required the military to suppress them. The economy was almost as bad as it had been in 1944, and reformists were plotting a takeover. In the midst of all this, the Polish communist leader, (who was also leader of the pro-Stalinist faction) Boleslaw Bierut, failed to return from a trip to Moscow. Why?

He was announced as "ill" and a replacement was in hand.

REALLY ill - he died while in Moscow. There is some speculation that Khrushchov had him murdered so more moderate communists could take over, but we'll probably never know that. The half-joke that circulated around Poland was that he died of a heart attack because his heart broke to hear the "cruel" things Khrushchov was saying about Bierut's beloved Stalin in his secret speech...

6. On 21. October the Stalinist-Reformist feud came to a head at the 8th Plenum of the Polish communist party Central Committee. Reformists carried the day and elected the disgraced postwar leader, Gomulka, to lead the country again. Some special visitors from out of town suddenly arrived unannounced and tried to seize control of the meeting. Who were they?

Polish United Worker's Party.

I'm impressed you knew the name. No, the PUWP (or "PZPR" in Polish) was a post-1956 creation, an attempt to get the word "communist" out of its name. The visitors were from FAR out of town.

7. Throughout the night of the 21st into the 22nd, the heavily-armed KBW and UB (Polish communist security forces) began occupying Warsaw and its approaches in full force. Who were they preparing for?

American aid.

No, no one ever seriously thought the Americans would help the Poles. There was a certain threat from inside Poland itself they were preparing for, and it had to do with the visitors in question # 6.

8. During that night the Polish army general staff let the defense minister, Konstantin Rokossovsky, know that the Polish Army would not obey his orders. What was unusual about the Polish defense minister?

?

Here's a hint: On nje ponjimajet khrosho po-polskij...

9. Over the next two days Gomulka and Khrushchov hammered out an agreement that left the reformists in power. Problem over for Moscow, right?

Yes.

Wrong. The next question was a hint for this one.

10. On 23. October, the day after Gomulka and Khrushchov had reached their agreement in Warsaw, a youth organization in Hungary led a processional march to the statue of József Bem in Budapest, a Polish general who had led a Hungarian army against the Russians n the 1848-49 Hungarian War for Independence. After some speeches in support of the Poles and Gomulka, the by-now large crowd split up. Half went and tore down the huge statue of Stalin while the other half went to Parliament Square to demand the pro-Stalinists' resignations and the enstatement of the moderate communist Imre Nagy. Nagy came out on the balcony of the Parliament building trying to calm the crowd, but he was only able to utter one word when the crowd erupted into boos and demands for retraction. What one word did Nagy say that provoked the crowd's anger?

"Tovarishi/Comrades.."

Right - except that he said it in Hungarian; Elvtársok!. The crowd immediately shouted him down, even though he was very popular.

11. That first night of the revolution in Hungary, the Stalinist puppet leader Ernö Gerö broadcast a speech condemning the "counter-revolution". In response, crowds gathered at the radio station and demanded Gerö's speech be retracted, when AVH (Hungarian communist KGB) men inside opened fire on the crowd and a battle ensued that ended with the crowd doing some particularly gruesome things to the AVH men. As soon as word spread that the revolutionaries had seized control of the radio station, the Budapest police and the Hungarian Army reacted swiftly. What did they do?

Took them into their possession, and quelled the demonstrators.

No. Exact opposite, much to everyone's surprise.

12. From 23.-.28 October battles raged around Budapest but by the 28th the Soviets withdrew. A revolutionary government ruled almost all of Hungary by 30. October. Gerö fled to the USSR, and the hated AVH were dissolved. Over a couple days’ time the revolutionary government formulated a basic policy aim, that Hungary would become a neutral state along the lines of what recently (1955) “liberated” country?

Austria.

Yes! Nagy hoped the 1955 Western-Soviet treaty that allowed Austria to remain independent but neutral would be applied to Hungary. No such luck, unfortunately...

13. The Soviets withdrew their forces on 28. October but invaded Hungary with a new force on the night of 1. November. What was different about this 2nd invasion force from the first?

The first invasion forced wasn't armed to the teeth. They carried weapons, but only were equipped to provoke the people. The people, however, fought with weapons.

No, not true. The first force had plenty of tanks, including some of the new T-55s. Hint: After several years of forced education, Hungarians were able to talk to the first invasion force, but not the second...

14. What events unfolding outside Europe, beginning on 30. October, provided an international distraction that allowed the Soviets to re-invade Hungary?

Britain, France, and Israel(?) invaded Egypt.

Yes - spot on.

15. Fighting continued throughout Hungary until 14. November, and one of the revolutionary leaders (János Kádár) switched sides to lead the post-revolution government on 4. November. Nagy and some of his government sought refuge in the Yugoslav Embassy . What happened to Nagy after he negotiated with the Soviets a safe exit from the embassy and exile abroad?

He was executed.

Yes. He was promised safe passage to exile in a neutral country but was arrested the moment he left the embassy, sent to Romania under arrest for two years, then executed after a secret trial. (This answer is a hint for another question in this quiz.)

16. József Mindszenty, Roman Catholic Cardinal of Hungary, was freed from AVH house arrest by the revolutionaries on 30. October but by 4. November he had to flee to the American Embassy for protection when the Soviets returned. (At one point near the embassy he actually had to walk by a column of Soviet tanks.) How long did Mindszenty have to stay in the American Embassy before Washington could get Budapest to agree to let him move to exile in Vienna?

??

17. How many Hungarians fled the country after the collapse of the revolution, but before the Soviets could seal off the Hungarian-Austrian border?

A. 6000 C. 85,000
B. 30,000 D. 200,000

D.

Yes!

18. Did Warsaw Treaty/Pact forces join the Soviets in crushing the Hungarian Revolution?

Yes.

No. Czechoslovakia in 1968, but not Hungary in 1956.

19. True or false: Both communist leaders installed in 1956 – Gomulka by the success of the Polish rebels and Kádár by the failure of the Hungarian rebels – enjoyed long reigns in power that ended with both dying peacefully in office.

False.

Right! Gomulka was ousted from office when he ordered the army to fire on peaceful workers protesting price rises in December 1970, killing several. Kádár would be ousted peacefully as an almost senile old man in 1988 by reformists in the Hungarian communist party (MSzMP), the same reformists who would boot themselves out of power a year later.

20. What happened to poor old Imre Nagy in June, 1989?

Executed.

No.

21. What eventually became of the Soviet ambassador to Hungary in 1956, before his death in 1984?

Andropov.

Yes! He spent his last miserable year alive as head of the USSR.

Good run Propaganda!

 

[Vrylakas]

Alex Bashkujev wrote:

1. What did Stalin taking a Georgian sauna on the evening of 5. March, 1953, have to do with the events of October 1956?

5 March of 1953 - Death of Stalin.

Exactly, spot-on!

2. What was the difference between a "native" and a "Moscow" communist in 1950s Soviet Eastern Europe?

"Native" communists were war-leaders of pro-Soviet "Army Ludova", that fought against Germans from 1939 "inside" of Poland. "Moscow" communists were brought in Poland in Soviet war band-wagon" & hadn't guerilla experience against Germans. Then common Poles liked "native" & disliked "Moscow" communists - considering first as "patriots of some sort", but second as "Russian' satraps". I'm afraid - they had reasons enough.

Yes - but this definition was used throughout Eastern Europe as well. Imre Nagy in Hungary, Ana Pauker in Romania and of course most infamously Josip Broz Tito in Yugoslavia were all known as "Native" communists.

3. Wladyslaw Gomulka, the "native" communist leader of Poland from 1944-1949, was a long-time communist who was very lucky to be sitting in a Polish prison in 1938. Why?

Any other Polish communists in Soviet Union were executed by direct order of Stalin. After that there were total executions of Polish POW officers - who WEREN't Communists. Stalin just disliked any Poles - Communist or not.

Yes, right on again. Stalin liquidated the entire Polish communist party in 1938 by summoning them to Moscow. Gomulka, in a Polish prison, was unable to go...

Oh, History of Russian-Polish relationships were very bloody & cruel...[/b

We hope that will slowly be changing, just as German-Polish relations are changing nowadays.

4. In the spring of 1956, Poles were reading about Khrushchov's speech to the 20th Congress of the CPSU (Communist Party of the Soviet Union) of 24. February. Through what means (route) were they reading this speech?

"Free Europe" radio.

Yes - Poles read or heard the speech via Western media because it was a secret speech.

5. 1956 was a bad year for Poland's commies. In the midst of all this, the Polish communist leader, (who was also leader of the pro-Stalinist faction) Boleslaw Bierut, failed to return from a trip to Moscow. Why?

He was proclaimed as "ill" & taken in custody due to his backing of "Malenkov-Molotov" group in Central Comitee of Soviet Union. Khruschov fought with all possible opposition in that days.

We'll never know exactly what befell Towarzysze Bierut - Warsaw was simply informed that he had died suddenly while attending the 20th Congress of the CPSU in Moscow. Was he murdered...? Did he genuinely have a heart-attack because he realized his political days were numbered after hearing Khrushchov? Who knows?

By the way - it seems that he provoked "crisis in Poland" due to common "bad" attitude to Poland from Soviet Military. It seems that Soviewt Military "asked for trouble" in Poland, because it was a good reason for "young generation" of our officers "to show themselves". Poland was most "unloved girl" in "Soviet Union Family" then our military wanted to spill Polish blood as fast as possible. (There was a big wonder & surprise for them - when we've got Hungarian problem - we didn't wait problems with Hungary!)

Siblings always fight the hardest....

6. On 21. October the Stalinist-Reformist feud came to a head at the 8th Plenum of the Polish communist party Central Committee. Reformists carried the day and elected the disgraced postwar leader, Gomulka, to lead the country again. Some special visitors from out of town suddenly arrived unannounced and tried to seize control of the meeting. Who were they?

Don't know.

Hint: The "visitors" had ordered the situation that the KBW and UB were reacting to in question # 7 below.

7. Throughout the night of the 21st into the 22nd, the heavily-armed KBW and UB (Polish communist security forces) began occupying Warsaw and its approaches in full force. Who were they preparing for?

They feared of NATO invasion in first place.

This part is wrong...

By the way - they most bitter fear was that Soviets took any fool9ish move from NATO side as excuse for full-scale intervention & tried to show off that they are agains "Americans". By the way - Soviet & East German troops were ready around Polish borders for immediate invasion[...].

But this part is correct. The "visitors" in question # 6 ordered the Soviet units in Poland to begin converging on Warsaw and the main cities - and the Polish communists in turn ordered their own security forces to cut the Soviet forces off by seizing main roads and bridges. Of course the Soviets would have eventually overpowered the Polish forces, but only afer some very public and embarrassing bloody street battles in which the world would see the leading communist state having to fight and re-conquer one of its supposed "allies". The KBW and UB were preparing to fight the Soviet Army.

By the way - Polish events became part of reasons for lame execution of Soviet performance in "first phase" of situation in Hungary. Soviet "crack troops" were on Polish border & it took considerable time to relocate them to Hungary "theatre".

Very possible indeed. Reports have also surfaced that claim that Khrushchov was genuinely trying to find a political solution for Hungary, including even allowing the Nagy government to remain (like Gomulka in Poland), until Nagy panicked and declared Hungary was withdrawing from the Warsaw Treaty/Pact on 1. November. Then Khrushchov - pushed by Mao - felt he had to suppress the Hungarians.

In the Polish crisis Gomulka was always in charge,but in Hungary Nagy was being pushed by events he had little control over, and he was constantly struggling with rebels even more radical than he was. It proved his doom.

8. During that night the Polish army general staff let the defense minister, Konstantin Rokossovsky, know that the Polish Army would not obey his orders. What was unusual about the Polish defense minister?

He was Pole of Russian origin[...].

Right on - exactly. That was Mao's advice to Khrushchov (according to his memoirs), that Gomulka should be allowed to stay because the Poles were just anti-Russian, but the Hungarians were genuinely anti-communist, which demanded action...

9. Over the next two days Gomulka and Khrushchov hammered out an agreement that left the reformists in power. Problem over for Moscow, right?

Yep. They drove out Gomulka from office later when Khrischev could "tidy up" his "succession problems" in Moscow.

Problems with Poland wee indeed over, but Hungary erupted the very next day...

10. On 23. October, the day after Gomulka and Khrushchov had reached their agreement in Warsaw[...] Nagy came out on the balcony of the Parliament building trying to calm the crowd, but he was only able to utter one word when the crowd erupted into boos and demands for retraction. What one word did Nagy say that provoked the crowd's anger?

Elevters (Comrades!).

Elvtársok! (Comrades!) - yes!

11. That first night of the revolution in Hungary, the Stalinist puppet leader Ernö Gerö broadcast a speech condemning the "counter-revolution". In response, crowds gathered at the radio station and demanded Gerö's speech be retracted, when AVH (Hungarian communist KGB) men inside opened fire on the crowd and a battle ensued that ended with the crowd doing some particularly gruesome things to the AVH men. As soon as word spread that the revolutionaries had seized control of the radio station, the Budapest police and the Hungarian Army reacted swiftly. What did they do?

"SWIFTLY"??? They did nothing. [...].

The police that night wsitched sides and acted immediately; the Army also switched sides though many units as you say remained in barracks for some days to see how events would turn.

After Soviet invasion all of them (except executed bearers of "yellow-soled" shoes, of course!) were on Hungarian's side later.

Yes - by 30. October they were all actively fighting on the rebels' side.

12. From 23.-.28 October battles raged around Budapest but by the 28th the Soviets withdrew. A revolutionary government ruled almost all of Hungary by 30. October. Gerö fled to the USSR, and the hated AVH were dissolved. Over a couple days’ time the revolutionary government formulated a basic policy aim, that Hungary would become a neutral state along the lines of what recently (1955) “liberated” country?

In 1955 Soviet forces abandoned Austria.

Yes! Hungary hoped for similar treatment, but no dice...

13. The Soviets withdrew their forces on 28. October but invaded Hungary with a new force on the night of 1. November. What was different about this 2nd invasion force from the first?

We didn't realize that Hungary Army was against us. Then there were many losses in first invasion wave & Kchruschev get a reason for crushing his rivals in Central Comitee for "utter incompetency". Later Soviet historians wondered if "first invasion" was intentionally "rigged" for give him this reasoning.

No, something else that has to do with education in Hungary between 1948-1956. Every Hungarian could do something because of that education with the first invasion force, but it was useless with the 2nd.

14. What events unfolding outside Europe, beginning on 30. October, provided an international distraction that allowed the Soviets to re-invade Hungary?

British-France-Israel invasion into Suez canal zone.

Yes!

15. Fighting continued throughout Hungary until 14. November, and one of the revolutionary leaders (János Kádár) switched sides to lead the post-revolution government on 4. November. Nagy and some of his government sought refuge in the Yugoslav Embassy . What happened to Nagy after he negotiated with the Soviets a safe exit from the embassy and exile abroad?

He was executed.

Yes! He was promised safe passage to exile in a neutral country but was arrested the moment he left the embassy, sent to Romania under arrest for two years, then executed after a secret trial. (This answer is a hint for another question in this quiz.)

16. József Mindszenty, Roman Catholic Cardinal of Hungary, was freed from AVH house arrest by the revolutionaries on 30. October but by 4. November he had to flee to the American Embassy for protection when the Soviets returned. (At one point near the embassy he actually had to walk by a column of Soviet tanks.) How long did Mindszenty have to stay in the American Embassy before Washington could get Budapest to agree to let him move to exile in Vienna?

I don't know. I think - very long while there was political struggle in Russia (between Khruschev & Malenkov-Molotov fractions).

Very long indeed - 15 years, until 1971.

17. How many Hungarians fled the country after the collapse of the revolution, but before the Soviets could seal off the Hungarian-Austrian border?

A. 6000 C. 85,000
B. 30,000 D. 200,000

Number differs from A (from Soviet papers) to D (from anti-Soviet sources).

Yes indeed. Some sources claim almost twice D. I think at least D is correct because of the very large camps set up in Austria to receive the refugees, and the large camps that still stand today here in New Jersey to receive those who came to the U.S. Large parts of New Jersey were rapidly overrun by Hungarians in post-1956, and yet I know many Hungarians settled in Britain and West Germany.

18. Did Warsaw Treaty/Pact forces join the Soviets in crushing the Hungarian Revolution?

No. They did officially, but "dirty job" was done by Soviet troops exclusively. (By the way, husband of my maternal grand-ma who raised my mother was killed "in car acccident" (his commander' UAZ was chushed down by Hungary Armor) in 2 October of 1956. He was buried in special Military cemetary in Moscow with all possible military respect, but his death was never acknowledged as "military loss" - he died by "internal bleeding" by official paper. Yep, it was a lot of internal bleeding under tracks of Hungary Armor!)

Right! And BTW, though he was a part of an imperial army, I do send my condolences about your relative. Old enemies should be able to shake hands to spare future generations bloodshed.

19. True or false: Both communist leaders installed in 1956 – Gomulka by the success of the Polish rebels and Kádár by the failure of the Hungarian rebels – enjoyed long reigns in power that ended with both dying peacefully in office.

False. Gomulka was driven by Soviet pupeteers immediately, Kadar reigned pretty long but was driven out by people unrest.

Yes!

20. What happened to poor old Imre Nagy in June, 1989?
He was pardoned & proclaimed as National Hero of Hungary.

Post-humously, yes! Nagy was exhumed from the unmarked grave he had secretly been buried in and re-buried with great honors in Buda's main cemetary, Kerepesi. Nagy's reburial is the beginning of the reformist communists' movement in 1988 in Hungary.

21. What eventually became of the Soviet ambassador to Hungary in 1956, before his death in 1984?

Juri Andropov - Chief of KGB later, General Secretary of Communist Party of Soviet Union in 1982-1984.

Yes!

An excellent run, Alex - as usual!

 

[Vrylakas]

# 13 is the only question that hasn't really been resolved; anyone want to take a stab?

13. The Soviets withdrew their forces on 28. October but invaded Hungary with a new force on the night of 1. November. What was different about this 2nd invasion force from the first?

 

[klazlo]

Hey Vrylakas,
I just noticed this thread (I was away for a while). To tell you the truth I don't know the answer to number 13, maybe the leadership of the new force was more reliable...
Anyway it is interesting to read a thread about 1956, unfortunately in Hungary it is a completely corrupted issue. We have several "freedom fighter" organizations with such a large number of people who could have won easily the revolution if they would have been really there... Just like the partisans after WWII... (I guess some of them are the same exact people. )

 

[A_Bashkuev]

Dear Vrylakas!

I don’t know answer onto your question, but I think you miss some point in this issue. You used only Polish/Hungary sources of these events, but each side had her story about them.
I can’t be sure that my story is relevant from “big story” point of view, because it is some sort of subjective opinions of some participants from “Imperial side” (by your definition), but that is that.
I’ve already told you, that this part of my family had a strong binding with Russian/Soviet/Russian again military. I heard the same thing with variations of some sort from very many peoples, but my most important source was my own granny who was senior officer of military medicine then. (She died in 1988 if you wonder).
First of all, I’m afraid you don’t realize (you never mentioned about it) condition of Soviet troops in 1956. I very often heard very grim joke about that year from our oldsters – I give you Russian transcription for getting rhythmical ground with English translation:
“Tri raza po dvesti –
Sud Chesti –
Million dvesti”.
It means:
“Three times of 200 g glass of vodka for drinking (usual starting norm in our Military for “warming up”) –
Tribunal of Officer Honor Judgement (it was usual method for disbanding unwanted officers for “heavy drinking”) –
One million two hundred thousands of Soviet OFFICERS disbanded from Soviet military in 1956!) “.

Yep, I know – unwisely great numbers of Soviet military after WWII was crippling for our Economy & every Head of state of USSR had to deal with this problem early or later, but… Khruschev still is most hateful state leader of Soviet Union from our Military point of view. I don’t know – do you aware about it or not, but… military pensions in former Soviet Union as well in modern Russia are laughingly low, then they are some form of slow-killing poverty. Then – my grandpa & all consecutive husbands of my grandma used to repeat her old Russian military wisdom from Czar times – “Death of soldier come to him in a boots”. It means – proper death of Soviet/Russian officer is on battlefield (with heavy pensions for his family from state & state-based high education for his children). It is preferable to peaceful death in own bed… Well, in 1956 many of former Soviet officers were “robbed” from this form of “honorable death” in spring/summer & all others were afraid of imminent disbanding. Then there were Polish/Hungarian events there….

My grandma told me that all guys (her field hospital was attached to the same regiment from 20s till 60s of last century) were high strung & had very big expectations for imminent fighting. There were great disbanding of common soldiers in spring/summer of 1956 as well then this regiment consisted from Officers/Unterofficers exclusively – all had his share of fighting in WWII as “NKVD pioneer/crack troops”. I can’t clear this statement, but I can explain that their regiment hadn’t any problem in Beria fall (when many other “special troops” of NKVD/MGB was dissolved/disbanded for their atrocity doings in 30s). They hadn’t any disbanding of officer corps in spring/summer of 1956 (when main blow came into “common military” way) as well. In any case they were afraid that they “got their gulp from the same cup” & wait a chance for “proving their worth for Motherland”.
Except any other issues, they knew about some weird task for them. I don’t know if you aware about it, but Soviet troops allocated outside of Soviet Union were consisted very big numbers of children of high placed Soviet officials & were considered as “corrupted” by some superiors. (They had a good point here – I can assure you). Then this regiment had a task to fighting “possible local/national rebel troops of local/national armies” & “fighting down any corrupted/defected former Soviet troops in case of their fighting for enemy’ cause”.
I’m not sure, but I’m afraid that named by you - “first wave” of Soviet troops were – Soviet troops allocated inside Hungary (as part of so-named “Group South” of Warsaw Pact troops). I can assure you – many of officers of these troops were taken in custody immediately after returning of their troops in Soviet Union. Some of them were arrested in Hungary immediately. There were big “witch hunting” led by Khruschev gang after that with children on his political opponents arrested as “rebel supporters” when they were officers in Group South. (It is one of the main reasons – why Khruschev’ son hid himself in United States – far from Soviet Union). All Group South officer corps went through harsh “cleansing” & they were proofs about their cooperation with “local/nationalistic rebels in Hungary”. I’m afraid – it was a reason for so named “second wave” of Soviet troops in November.
For example, regiment in question was dislocated in Lvov region (on Polish border) with order cross Polish border after first notice, but this order was never received. Instead of it they were placed on railway platforms & send to Uzhgorod (Ungvar) to Chop crossing point to Hungary border. While their Armors were taken down from platforms (this regiment had attached Armors – by the way), infantry part have already come to Hungary border & cross it. I was told that we didn’t met any resistance in first day, because Hungary soldiers were greatly impressed by sighting of Soviet soldiers & officers from Group South running with raised hands to couple of armored vehicle with megaphone & fell down in the dirt after ordering. These (first imprisoned) Magyars explained that local Soviet officers (from Group South) just cried them – “Don’t argue! Just toss any weapon aside, raise your hands & execute all of their orders & pray!” They told to us (officers from our regiment) that they couldn’t believe in it, but when they saw this “strange” behavior of Group South officers by their own eyes they understood all seriousness of their former Soviet friends…
Then our guys thought that coming into Hungary would be complete “cakewalk” & lost their sense. My “granddad” (?) – (my mother had his second name, because he wanted to be her father completely) went with two light vehicles into night “to see around” for checking bridges if they could carry weight of our Armors… There was a cold, gloomy night (somebody told there was a rain, but other stated there was just a big dampness – in any case windshields of our vehicles were in water drops & our guys didn’t see in time Hungary Armors after road bent. Car of my granddad was a first – enemy’ Armors crushed her immediately…
Well, everybody after that explained me that Magyars didn’t realize what they were asking for. Their Armors were relatively old modification & weren’t used to fight in nighttime to full extent, but our Armors were equipped enough… Nobody explained me – what was result of this fighting for surviving Magyars, but it was said that Magyars hadn’t WWII fighting experience & made couple of very grave mistakes. It was a reason for we lost only one light vehicle (with my granddad), when Magyars of this region realized that any resistance would be futile & it is advisable – simply “toss any weapon aside, raise your hands & execute all of their orders & pray!”

I’m not sure, that is answer on 13th question, but I’m sure that it is close enough.

Sincerely yours, Alex.

 

[Vrylakas]

Alex,

You did sort of answer question # 13, though in a very circuitous way.

The straight answer is that the first force fighting in Budapest until the 28th were ethnic Russians - and many quite young, as you point out. The 2nd wave that came on 01. November was inistially composed of Central Asian divisions, most of whom couldn't even speak Russian.

Reason: On the first night of the Hungarian events in Parliament Square, the Soviets surrounded the square with tanks. Initially the crowd of course was rather nervous about this but after some time the crowd (who had been forced for some 6 years by now to learn Russian in school) began fraternizing with the tank crews and they discovered the yopung 18 year old Russian soldiers were in even worse shape than the average Hungarian. The crowd even began to pass bread to them, and fraternization grew intensely. When the Hungarian AVH hiding among the spires of the Parliament building began shooting into the crowd, several Soviet tanks actually opened fire on the AVH. However, all the shooting sent the crowd into a panic, and the revolution truly began.

So you see, Khrushchov had good reasons for distrusting the Soviet forces returning from Budapest on the 28th.

When Soviet forces returned on the 1st, they were ethnic Central Asians (Kazakhs, Kirghiz, Tadzhiks, etc.) who only understood a few critical commands in Russian - i.e., couldn't talk with the local population. Hungarian sources claim these Central Asians weren't even aware they were outside the USSR and had absolutely no idea about whom they were fighting or why, but I'm not sure about that.

So that's a wrap folks - thanks to all who tried!