After four days of fighting, Nagy, who was quickly installed as Hungarian Prime Minister, arranged a ceasefire, assuring Moscow of Hungary's loyalty. Soviet forces withdrew from the city on October 28.

Losses on both sides had been heavy, but Hungarians believed they had won their revolution. Open elections were held in villages and towns. New councils were formed to challenge the state. Carried along by events he could not control, Nagy on November 1 announced Hungary's neutrality and withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact.

Three days later, the Soviet army re-entered Budapest, smashing all opposition. Despite appeals from Nagy for Western support, no help was forthcoming. Western attention was diverted by a crisis at the Suez Canal . What's more, U.S leaders were reluctant to intervene in the affairs of a Soviet satellite.

Thousands were killed in the crackdown. Nagy was arrested and eventually executed. Two hundred thousand Hungarians fled the country. Khrushchev had re-enforced the Iron Curtain.