In the context of the Cold War, the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was a watershed moment. The unrest in Hungary against the Soviet Union’s communist regime began as a peaceful student protest in Budapest but soon spread across the country. People in Hungary wanted the Soviet Union to leave and for their government to become more independent.

Imre Nagy, a communist with an eye toward reform, was named Prime Minister as the revolution gained steam. He pledged to open up the parliamentary system. Nikita Khrushchev and the Soviet leadership saw this as a threat to the entire Eastern Bloc, and they responded with a violent military incursion. The insurrection was put down by Soviet troops and tanks, leading to the lives and injuries of thousands.

In the face of Soviet persecution, the Hungarian Revolution made a lasting impression by expressing the thirst for liberty and autonomy. Although it was put down, the event posed a serious threat to the legitimacy of Soviet power in Eastern Europe and served as an inspiration for subsequent dissident groups. As a symbol of defiance against dictatorship, the 1956 revolution is still highly vital to the Hungarian national character.