November 2

Soviet Tanks Crush Hungarian Revolution

Soviet tanks entered Budapest to crush the Hungarian uprising that had briefly overthrown communist rule. Hungarians fought with small arms against tanks in the streets; the West watched but did not intervene as it had pledged to 'roll back' communism.

Hungary's betrayal — promised Western support that never came — exposed the emptiness of Cold War liberation rhetoric and consigned Eastern Europe to communist rule for 33 more years.