THE HUNGARIAN SITUATION (INFORMATION AS OF 2330)

Created: 10/28/1956

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

HE HUNGARIAN SITUATION (information as

complete failure of Soviet troops and Hungarian forces still loyal to the [government to prevent the spread of |the Hungarian rebellion has apparently forced the central regime of Imre Nagy to revise drastically its over-alland to abandon attempts to force the insurgents to surrender. Instead Nagy, callingease-fire on the basis of the status quo, has ordered both Soviet and Hungarian forces not to fire unless fired upon by the rebels, and has been increasingly concessionary toward insurgent demands. The Nagy regime has alsothe Insurgents that it ls already negotiating with the LSSR for the withdrawal of all Soviet troops from theBy so doing, Nagy has, In effect, shifted the basis for whatever authority he now possesses from reliance on Soviet support to hoped-for insurgent support.

Soviet attitude toward this shiftcompletely unclear. The USSR may now have only two choices: full-scale warungarian rebellion which would be supported by virtually all Hungarians, including Nagy, or withdrawal within the near future of all Soviet military forces In the country. The first alternative would necessitate massive reinforcement of the Soviet troops which are now ln Hungary.

ffffg three Soviet armies totalingivisions arc converging on Hungary from Rumania, Czechoslovakia, and the Ukraine. There Is no confirmation of this or similar reports of Soviet and Czech forces moving toward the Czech-Hungarian border. Major elements of at least four Soviet divisions are now within the borders of Hungary. In addition to the two mechanized divisions normally stationed in Hungary, major elements of the

ctIntelligence3

Soviet division at Timisoara, Rumania, arrived in the Budapest vicinity by mid-day onctober. Early onctober an element of theh Army normally stationed Ln the Carpathian Military District, USSR,being near Miskolc in northeastern Hungary. This element reported onh that the insurgents hadtanks and grenades andreakthrough wouldImmediate reinforcement.

The rebel forces, acting independently with no central leadership, appear to be in control of most of Hungary outside of Budapest. The independentcommittee of Miskolc on the evening ofh callednification of the activities of the numerous provisional committees which have been established throughout Hungary. Attacking the Nagy government appointedctober as one "relyingoreignhe Miskolc committee lsthe immediate formationew provisional coalition government under Nagy which would exclude all ministers who served under Rakosi. This government would be pledged to establishruly democratic free and socialistnd to hold general elections within two months in which several parties would participate. The Miskolc committee stated the provisional government's first act must be the immediate removal of Soviet troops from Hungary.

A few hours earlier Premier Nagy,esperate effort to meet rebel demands, announced that Soviet forces were nowease-fire in Budapest and thatungarian militia was formed to maintain public order, the Soviet units would move out of the Budapest area. Nagy also acceded to basic economic demands of the workers' councils, but he made no reference to freedom of religion or elections.ubsequent Budapest radioresultsabinet meeting were announced ln which the government body calledevision of collectivizationevision in the status of small craftsmen, changes in the system of produce collection, and basic changes in educational processes.

Oct 56

Intelligence Bulletin

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Original document.

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