Similarities and differences between the Hungarian uprising and the Prague spring?
The main similarities and difference between this two conflict
is that both two crises in the Soviet Union as regards the way
communism rule their countries or the signs of rejection of the
existing regime were the Hungarian uprising (1956) and the Prague
spring (1968). In both cases there was military intervention and
both were stopped by Soviet power, through the thread of spreading
the reform ideas throughout Eastern Europe.
As it may be obvious, the causes were in both cases almost the
same: the hostility to Russian control (due to the fact that the
orders were taken in Moscow), repression, poor economic development
and Russian refusal to change the old regime.
With reference to the aims of the people wanting change, it can
be found that the Hungarians wanted to end with the Soviet System;
it means that they wanted to operate as an independent country
(regarding Yugoslavia where Tito successfully defied Stalin) and
leave the Warsaw Pact. Czechoslovakia thought differently. They
wanted greater democracy and free speech. That is why Alexander
Dubcek tried to introduce a number of reforms to fulfill his people
expectations.
However, as it was expected, the Soviet Union (in this case
Khrushchev, the new leader at that time) found these changes
unacceptable. Some changes could be accepted in Hungary but not
Hungarian neutrality. If Hungary left the Warsaw Pact, other
countries might follow, and the Soviet Union was not prepared for
that. Regarding Czechoslovakia, the Soviet Union (in this case
Brezhnev was the Soviet leader) did not accept the reforms proposed
by Dubcek (although he insisted on the idea of remaining loyal to
the Warsaw Pact) because Brezhnev was afraid that once the
communist system allowed free speech the country would become
chaotic and that people in all other Eastern bloc countries would
demand the same rights and this would weaken the power of the
communist parties throughout eastern Europe.
As it was pointed out before, in both cases the Soviet Union
decided to invade. Nevertheless it was not done in the same way.
When the Soviet forces reached Budapest, the Hungarians fought
against the invaders (the red army forces comprised 200000 soldiers
and 2500 tanks) and as a result at least 3000 Hungarians were
killed. However, when soviet forces crossed the Czechoslovak
frontier a large-scale loss of life was avoided because the
Czechoslovak government decided not to resist the invading army. It
is true that people took to the streets to protest but there was
none of the bloody street fighting that had taken place in Budapest
in 1956.
As regards the treatment of the leadership after the invasion,
it can be found a huge difference between the two crises.
Considering the Hungarian Uprising, not only around 3000
Hungarians died but also opposition group leaders as well as Imre
Nagy (the first Prime Minister) who was executed. As a result,
communist around the world were dismayed by the Soviet Union used
force against the Hungarian people.
Considering the Prague Spring (the invasion of Czechoslovakia),
the way the Soviet Union dealt with Czechoslovakia was less bloody
than the treatment of Hungary. Alexander Dubcek, the new communist
leader that was determined to improve communism, was thrown out of
the communist party but he kept his life and his freedom.