Who was Imre Nagy and what happened to him and the Hungarian government?

Answer 1

During Imre Nagy's leadership in 1953, he tried to implement his "New course". this new course included the abolishment of collectivization and allowing more individual rights. This gave Hungarians a sense of freedom, one they have imagined for so long. However, he was undermined and soon quickly replaced by hardliner Stalinist Rakosi once again.

As the Hungarian revolution occurred, the crowd demanded Nagy to be their leader, remembering the reformations that he implemented earlier. Throughout the revolution, Nagy once again made reformations such as creating a multi-party political system in Hungary and abolished the secret police force known as the AVH. In these fourteen days, Nagy brought hope and a sense of unity.

However, such "radical" reforms would not be allowed within the soviet bloc. As a result, soviet troops entered Hungary and quickly toppled Nagy's pro visionary government. He seeked refuge in the Yugoslavian embassy until he was tricked to come out by his former friend Kadar, who governed Hungary after Nagy.

Imre Nagy brought a sense of freedom from the soviets, something the Hungarians all desired. In his short term as Prime Minister, his jovial attitude and mellifluous voice won the hearts and minds of Hungarians. What he did for Hungary would be remembered for decades.

He was seen as a hero to the Hungarians. Nagy held his party faith until his death. In his last statement to the court, Nagy said "If my life is needed to prove that not all communist are enemies of the people, I gladly make the sacrifice. I know there will one day be a Nagy trial, which will rehabilitate me. I also know i will have a reburial." His reburial would come thirty one years later, the same year a democratic Hungary was born.