Soviet Forces Invade Budapest to Crush Hungarian Rebellion
Soviet armored forces invaded Budapest on November 4, 1956, overthrowing Prime Minister Imre Nagy and establishing a new pro-Soviet government.
The Soviet Union launched a military invasion of Budapest and other Hungarian cities on November 4, 1956, to crush a rebellion and overthrow the democratic government of Imre Nagy. After issuing an ultimatum for surrender by noon, Soviet tanks seized key bridges and strategic points, resulting in the arrest of Prime Minister Nagy and his administration.
Following the collapse of the rebellion, the Soviet High Command installed János Kádár to lead a new Revolutionary Workers’ and Peasants’ Government. The violence extended to the westernmost town of Sopron, where the revolution ended under Soviet machine-gun fire.
International reactions were swift but divided. The United Nations General Assembly passed an American resolution demanding the immediate withdrawal of Soviet forces, though Russia used its veto to block Security Council discussions. President Dwight D. Eisenhower urged Soviet Premier Nikolai Bulganin to withdraw troops and allow Hungary to determine its own government. The Soviet Union dismissed these Western protests as a smokescreen for Anglo-French aggression in the Suez Canal zone, while Yugoslavia opposed the use of foreign troops in internal affairs despite concerns over reactionary elements in Budapest.
