Why did the Soviet Union invade Hungary in 1956?

Answer 1

Forty-six years ago, at 4:15 a.m. on November 4, 1956, Soviet forces launched a major attack on Hungary aimed at crushing, once and for all, the spontaneous national uprising that had begun 12 days earlier. At 5:20 a.m., Hungarian Prime Minister Imre Nagy announced the invasion to the nation in a grim, 35-second broadcast, declaring: "Our troops are fighting. The Government is in its place." However, within hours Nagy himself would seek asylum at the Yugoslav Embassy in Budapest while his former colleague and imminent replacement, János Kádár, who had been flown secretly from Moscow to the city of Szolnok, 60 miles southeast of the capital, prepared to take power with Moscow's backing. On November 22, after receiving assurances of safe passage from Kádár and the Soviets, Nagy finally agreed to leave the Yugoslav Embassy. But he was immediately arrested by Soviet security officers and flown to a secret location in Romania. By then, the fighting had mostly ended, the Hungarian resistance had essentially been destroyed, and Kádár was entering the next phase of his strategy to neutralize dissent for the long term.

From declassified documents, it is now clear that several factors influenced their decision, including: the belief that the rebellion directly threatened Communist rule in Hungary (unlike the challenge posed by Wladyslaw Gomulka and the Polish Communists just days before, which had targeted Kremlin rule but not the Communist system); that the West would see a lack of response by Moscow as a sign of weakness, especially after the British, French and Israeli strike against Suez that had begun on October 29; that the spread of anti-Communist feelings in Hungary threatened the rule of neighboring satellite leaders; and that members of the Soviet party would not understand a failure to respond with force in Hungary.

Answer 2

Hungary was part of the Soviet Axis. The Soviet Union controlled Hungary and had a Communist government in place there. A revolt took place and the Hungarians overthrew the communist dictatorship in Hungary and attempted to install a democratic government that was not communist. The Soviets invaded Hungary to put down the change in government and to install a puppet regime. I know for a fact that 15 years later the Soviet Union still had troops garrisoned all over Hungary. They were ready to put down any rebellion at a moments notice. The Soviet Union occuppied Hungary until the demise of the Soviet Union.

Answer 3

They were already there. Hungary was a satellite soviet state following WWII. They just sent in more troops to put down a rebellion.

Answer 4

Hungary had tried to break free of Societ domination and reestablish a democratic government.

Answer 5

Because the Hungarian people were trying to overthrow their government which was a puppet government which took its orders from Moscow

Answer 6

Because they could! Let's be honest here the only reason Germany went on the rampage they did is because the russians didn't have the capability to do it first!

Answer 7

Maybe, but I'm not fully convinced

Answer 8

go here;
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/hungary_1956.htm