Hello!

I did research on the economic background of the 1956 revolution which included which elements of the populace were more against the system, I hope I can shed some light.

So to start off yes indeed after 1956 the socialist regime offically took the stance that the "counter"-revolution was made by fascist agitators, that is both remnants from the WW2 nazi rule and US-injected agents. For one this kind of rhetoric was fairly typical of the 50s, anyone accused in purges, show trials etc were usually said to be imperialist spies or something along the lines. Kádár needed to explain away the revolution that would both legitimize his rule and not totally jeopardize Rákosi's system, so saying that Nagy and others were merely seeking reforms would not cut it. No, they caused it because they were imperalists who wanted to destroy the works of socialism. They were also pressured by the Soviets to do so - although fights ended by november 10, in reality the country was in standstill for weeks due to strikes by worker-councils and various examples of obstruction and passive resistance (like postal offices refusing to forward or hand outletters, orders and newspapers). And so to cut the cord such activies were deemed counter-revolutionary which meant the promise of very heavy punishment.

Now how much basis does the claim of fascist agitation have? Basically none. After communist takeover Hungary public life was thoroughly purged. Having any connection to Horthy's rule however small became a huge liability and a ground for attack, displacement, punishment. The secret police and the system of snitches prevented any such organization and the threat of accusation and denunciation were a massive, daily Damocles sword. Stuff as simple as pure petty jealousy could cause you to lose your job or worse. Foreign operations were similarly very minimal and CIA itself was suprised at the revolution.

The revolution's background is long tale that I won't touch on fully, but in short the economy was in a very bad state due to mis-management, huge military spending, investment into heavy industry drawing away more funds, war reprations and costs of reconstruction. Shortages of even basic goods were daily, agricultural reforms were a total failure. Purchasing power was further burdened by to mandatory state bond purchases. The idea I touched on in my research however goes further from here. Its argued that mere shortages, seen in other countries too alone weren't necessary enough of a push. After Stalin's death Nagy replaced Rákosi who started moderate reforms and liberization. Things started to go better until 1955 when Rákosi had deposed him and rolled back his reforms. The situation sharply declined again, and this, coupled with international (Austrian State Treaty, polish workers strike) and some internal ones (like Rajk's reburial) events now seen as the immediate background, that is people "tasted" what its like to have it better and it got taken away, plus they saw that change is possible in the world around them. This might as well be a hindsight but various personal testimonies I read claimed there was definately a change in the air during summer 1956 and that social unrest started to grow.

As for the people themselves, the majority of revolters were 15-50 year old boys and men from lower-class background. While the initial push was made by university students and (leftist) intellectuals, the 'core' of the revolutionaries in cities were workers from factories and in the countryside peasents. As WW2 ended just over a decade ago, naturally many fought in the war or served in administration. Practically all high profile figures either exiled, or were tried and incarcerated/executed. The political leaders of the revolution were hardly new blood: Nagy's governement all served positions in Rákosi's rule, and the intellectual elite were largely leftist writers. Of the prisoners freed many indeed were affiliated with the Horthy-era, but the situation isn't so black and white. Hungary only came under full nazi rule late 1944 when the Arrow-Cross took over, party which Horthy's governement very much opposed. Many politicans and military leaders in fact served in some ways even after 1949, the end of the republic, like general Béla Király. Besides the freed religious leaders, as far as leadership goes you could hardly find anyone a even just moderately leftist let alone right-leaning.

I'll follow up discussing violence and anti-semitism in 1956.