Factors That Contributed to the Success of the Revolutionary Forces in the Early Phase of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956

The aim of this thesis is to provide insight and analysis of the factors that contributed to the military success of the revolutionary forces against the Hungarian and Soviet armed and security forces during the early phase of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution 1956. The thesis in the beginning substantiates an overall comprehension of the Hungarian political, economical, and social conditions from 1953 till 1956. The presentation of this time period facilitates the understanding of the circumstances leading to the revolution break out. Furthermore, thesis examines the legal and legitimacy questions of the Soviet military intervention in the framework of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, commonly known as the Warsaw Pact. In the main part the thesis examines the diplomatic, informational, military, and economic aspect of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 from 23 October till 3 November 1956. The thesis, applying these aspects highlights the strengths of the revolutionary movement and forces and the weaknesses of the opponent side. The thesis in the third main part analyses what effects the suppressed revolution had on the Hungarian armed and security forces, the Hungarian-Soviet political and military relationship, and generally on the Hungarian society until the early 1960s. In summary, the reader can gain an insight into this troubled time period of the Hungarian history, which proved to be a determinative event for the future of Hungary, and made its influence felt after the years of the regime change started in the of 1989.