Publication Date

Spring 5-3-2024

School

College of Arts and Sciences

Major

Government: Politics and Policy; History

Keywords

Hungary, Budapest, Soviet Union, Propaganda

Disciplines

European History | Political History

Abstract

In the aftermath of Nazi Occupation during World War II, Hungarians were unable to escape the clutches of dictatorial government. The Soviet Union ousted the Nazis only to assert its own control in the years following the war. To sustain its subjugation of Hungary, the USSR needed Hungarians to accept communism. The Hungarian Revolt of 1956, however, revealed Hungary’s deep resentment for Soviet rule. To sway public opinion in favor of Soviet ideology, the USSR relied on propaganda, including statues, that sought to display the USSR in a positive light during the years 1945 to 1960. However, these attempts to sway public opinion were ultimately unsuccessful, with Hungarians refusing to accept the ideology of communism most clearly displayed in the Revolution of 1956.

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