October–November 1956Reputable sourceWell documented
The Hungarian Revolution
On the timeline · around October–November 1956 ·
What happened
A popular uprising in Hungary toppled the Stalinist government, and reformist premier Imre Nagy announced Hungary's withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact. In early November, Soviet tanks crushed the revolt; Nagy was later executed, and tens of thousands of Hungarians fled abroad.
Why it matters
The brutal suppression showed the limits of 'de-Stalinization' and the West's unwillingness to intervene behind the Iron Curtain, cementing Soviet control of Eastern Europe.