Hungary, 101: Seven ways to avoid a revolution and Soviet invasion of Romania

Abstract

Drawing on Romanian archival documents, memoirs and recent scholarship, this article argues that the Hungarian crisis functioned as a godsend for the Romanian leaders by justifying a closing of the ranks, as a course on how to prevent a revolution and Soviet invasion, and as a stimulus for coaxing Soviet troops out of Romania. The Dej regime extracted seven lessons from the crisis, namely: avoid isolation from the masses, do not rehabilitate political prisoners, maintain tight control over the press, take military precautions, be tactful to avoid needless alienation of the people, and eschew being perceived as a Soviet puppet.