However, the CIA did not abandon the OeWSGV and maintained similar entities in other NATO countries. They were designed to combat internal communist currents, and to function as "stay-behind" organizations to protect the countries in the event of Soviet attack. Although Austria was neutral and not a NATO member, the OeWSGV was loosely integrated into NATO as part of the Gladio network. In November 1956, Soviet troops entered Hungary. More than 200,000 refugees fled to Austria. NATO assumed some of them might be communist agents and so organisations like the OeWSGV were still required.