1945 - Soviet forces drive the Germans out of Hungary by early April. Large parts of Budapest are reduced to rubble by the fighting. New Hungarian government introduces land reform bill, redistributing land from large estate owners to peasants. Hungary aligns itself more and more with the Soviet Union. A new constitution makes Hungary a workers' and peasants' state.
Industry is nationalised, agriculture collectivised and a wave of police terror launched.
1956 uprising 1956 - National uprising. Protesters demand the withdrawal of Soviet troops. Imre Nagy becomes prime minister. Nagy announces plans for Hungary to withdraw from the Warsaw Pact and become a neutral power. Soviet forces crush the rebels, thousands are killed.