8.3 Uprisings and resistance movements (e.g., East Germany 1953, Hungary 1956)
3 min read•august 9, 2024
The 1950s saw major uprisings against Soviet control in Eastern Europe. East Germany and Hungary erupted in revolt, with protesters demanding better living conditions and political freedoms. Soviet forces brutally crushed these rebellions, killing thousands and forcing many to flee.
Poland's resistance took a different path. Workers' protests in Poznań led to political reforms under Gomułka. This period of liberalization allowed Poland greater autonomy within the , though Moscow's influence remained strong.
Uprisings Against Soviet Control
East German and Hungarian Revolts
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Remembering East Germany 1953 | Leftcom View original
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Introduction: The 1956 Hungarian uprising | Heinrich Böll Foundation View original
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The 1956 Hungarian uprising | An Introduction to the online dossier View original
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Remembering East Germany 1953 | Leftcom View original
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Introduction: The 1956 Hungarian uprising | Heinrich Böll Foundation View original
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Top images from around the web for East German and Hungarian Revolts
Remembering East Germany 1953 | Leftcom View original
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Introduction: The 1956 Hungarian uprising | Heinrich Böll Foundation View original
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The 1956 Hungarian uprising | An Introduction to the online dossier View original
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Remembering East Germany 1953 | Leftcom View original
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Introduction: The 1956 Hungarian uprising | Heinrich Böll Foundation View original
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East German Uprising (1953) erupted due to increased work quotas and economic hardships
Protests began in East Berlin and spread to over 400 towns
Soviet tanks crushed the rebellion, resulting in numerous casualties and arrests
Hungarian Revolution (1956) started as student demonstrations and escalated into nationwide revolt
Rebels toppled Stalin's statue in Budapest, symbolizing rejection of Soviet control
Initially successful in ousting Soviet-backed government
Soviet forces eventually invaded, killing thousands and forcing 200,000 Hungarians to flee
Polish Resistance Movements
Poznań protests (1956) began as workers' demonstrations against poor living conditions
Quickly evolved into widespread anti-Soviet and
Polish army suppressed the uprising, resulting in dozens of deaths
marked a period of political liberalization in Poland
, a reform-minded leader, came to power
Negotiated with Soviet leadership to prevent military intervention
Resulted in greater autonomy for Poland within the Soviet bloc
Soviet Response to Uprisings
became the primary method to quell rebellions
Deployed tanks and troops to crush East German and Hungarian revolts
Threatened intervention in Poland, but ultimately allowed reforms
justified interventions to protect socialist states
Claimed right to intervene in any country to preserve
Set precedent for future interventions (Czechoslovakia 1968)
Key Figures and Influences
Leadership and Policy Changes
led Hungary during the 1956 revolution
Initially supported by Moscow as a reformist
Declared Hungary's neutrality and withdrawal from Warsaw Pact
Executed in 1958 for his role in the uprising
's leadership marked a shift in Soviet policies
Succeeded Stalin as Soviet leader in 1953
Initiated process, denouncing Stalin's cult of personality
Pursued more flexible approach to satellite states, but maintained firm control
Information and Propaganda
De-Stalinization process impacted Eastern Bloc countries
Encouraged limited reforms and relaxation of repressive policies
Created expectations for greater freedoms, contributing to uprisings
played crucial role in spreading information
Broadcast uncensored news and Western perspectives to Eastern Europe
Provided moral support to dissidents and resistance movements
Criticized by Soviets as tool of American propaganda
Revolutionary Organizations
Grassroots Movements and Labor Activism
Workers' councils emerged as key organizational structures during uprisings
Formed spontaneously in factories and workplaces
Demanded better working conditions, economic reforms, and political freedoms
Played central role in coordinating strikes and protests
Student groups organized demonstrations and intellectual
Circulated banned literature and organized discussion groups
Often sparked initial protests that led to larger uprisings
Underground Resistance Networks
Dissident intellectuals formed clandestine groups to challenge Soviet control
Produced and distributed (self-published) literature
Maintained contacts with Western supporters and media
Church organizations, especially Catholic Church in Poland, provided support
Offered sanctuary to dissidents
Served as moral authority opposing communist regimes