The Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956 with a thousand tanks. The Hungarians called for political reform, but the Soviets suppressed the "counter-revolution." The executions and the tragic end of Imre Nagy

The Soviet military offensive came in response to Hungarian leader Imre Nagy, who had promised the people political freedom and independence from the oppressive policies of the Soviet Union. The uprising began with a student demonstration that ended with the overthrow of the Stalinist regime. 

The invasion of the Hungarian capital by Soviet troops is still one of the most controversial events in the history of the socialist movements of the 20th century.

The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 lasted from October 23 to November 10, 1956. It started as a student demonstration against the Stalinist Hungarian government. On the way to Parliament, the demonstration turned into an uprising, as crowds took part. 

Police responded by arresting students. The news spread quickly and was followed by incidents between citizens and police throughout Budapest. 

In a few days, the whole country was in turmoil, students, farmers and workers were part of the revolution, causing the government to fall.

The new leadership under Imre Nagy disbanded the police who were watching everyone and had fought the dissidents. Nagy's anti-Soviet policies, which included calling elections and withdrawing from the Warsaw Pact, worried the countries of the Eastern bloc, and Moscow decided to overthrow it. 

On November 4, Soviet troops invaded Budapest and other parts of the country to quell the revolution. 

The battles were fierce. 

According to the Times of the time, Soviet artillery shelled Hungarian positions from the outskirts, while Russian MIGs bombed the city. 

In a special radio message, Moscow broadcast that it "crushed the forces of conspiracy and reaction against the Hungarian people".

The fighting continued for another five days. Two and a half thousand Hungarians lost their lives and 700 Soviet soldiers were killed by rebel fire. 

At the same time, resistance pockets were struggling to maintain control of key installations, such as railway stations and Danube bridges. 

The Soviet Union described the 1956 uprising as a counter-revolution. The Pravda newspaper wrote that the Hungarian Socialists rightly took to the streets to protest against the previous governments.

However, the uprising benefited fascists and counter-revolutionaries, who, with the help of Western imperialist powers, aimed to drive Hungary away from socialism. 

Moscow has expressed support for a new government led by Janos Kadar, which has said its goal is to destroy Imre Nagy's "counter-revolution". 

The Qadir government, with the help of the Soviets, finally succeeded. About 450 Hungarians were executed in the ensuing trials.

Nagy took refuge in the Yugoslav embassy, ​​but eventually surrendered to his political opponents. He was hanged in June 1958 and buried in the city's municipal cemetery