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Hungarian Revolution Timeline

January 18, 1945: Budapest, Hungary, which had been controlled by Nazi Germany, falls to the Soviets.

1945-1955: Hungary is ruled by communist leaders installed by the Soviet government. Communist policies and a secret police force lead to great suffering for the Hungarian people.

October 23, 1956: A student-led peaceful protest of more than 200,000 demonstrators becomes violent after secret police fire on protesters.

October 24, 1956: Soviets appoint Imre Nagy as the Hungarian prime minister. He initiates reform and frees political prisoners.

October 25, 1956: Thousands of protesters assemble outside Parliament. The secret police fire into the crowd, and armed protesters fire back.

November 1, 1956: Nagy announces that Hungary has withdrawn from the Warsaw Pact, its political and military agreement with the Soviet Union.

November 4, 1956: Soviet forces attack Budapest. They quickly overwhelm the Hungarian freedom fighters. An estimated 250,000 Hungarians flee to other countries as refugees.

What conclusion can be drawn from the timeline of the Hungarian Revolution?

  • A. Hungary was occupied by both Germans and the Soviets.
  • B. The students' protest initiated the revolution.
  • C. The revolution started in 1945.
  • D. November 4 was the commencement of the Iron Curtain battle.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because the timeline clearly shows that Hungary was under the control of Nazi Germany until January 18, 1945, when it fell to the Soviets. This indicates that Hungary was occupied by both Germans and Soviets. While the student-led protest on October 23, 1956, marked a significant event in the revolution, it did not initiate the occupation by the Germans and Soviets. The revolution did not begin in 1945; instead, it started with the student-led protest in 1956. November 4, 1956, marked the Soviet forces' attack on Budapest, not the battle for the Iron Curtain, which refers to the ideological divide between Eastern and Western Europe during the Cold War period.