HUNGARY, 1956: THE YUGOSLAV CONNECTION

In: The Pacific review, Volume 50, Issue 4, p. 493-517

Abstract

ONE CANNOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE ORIGINS OF THE 1956 HUNGARIAN REVOLUTION WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE YUGOSLAV CONNECTION. THIS ARTICLE ILLUMINATES THE BEHAVIOR OF TITO AND HIS SUBORDINATES IN THE 1956 EVENTS, DRAWING ON NEWLY RELEASED DOCUMENTS FROM FOUR OF MOSCOW'S MAJOR ARCHIVES, INCLUDING THE SECRET NOTES OF KEY CPSU PRESIDIUM MEETINGS. IT ALSO EXPLAINS THE HITHERTO MURKY CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING TITO'S DECISION TO GRANT IMRE NAGY POLITICAL REFUGE IN HIS BUDAPEST EMBASSY ON THE DAY ON THE INVASION. IT IS ARGUED THAT HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE SINO-SOVIET DISPUTE OF THE EARLY 1960S, THE EVENTS OF 1956 MIGHT HAVE LED TO ANOTHER COMPLETE BREAK BETWEEN YUGOSLAVIA AND THE BLOC COUNTRIES CLOSEST TO THE USSR.