Hungary was the last ally of Nazi Germany, and as such suffered dreadful destruction in the course of the fighting during the last year of the war. Although the war discredited the political and social elite and gave opportunity for a new beginning. early optimism in democratic circles quickly dissipated. The communists, who had negligible indigenous support, with the help of the Soviet Army, in a short time managed to destroy any organized opposition to their taking power. Based on archival and other primary sources, this concise book describes the methods of communist conquest of power in one country in Eastern Europe to make the origin of the Cold War more understandable. Contents: 1. Introduction; 2. The revolution, 1917#1921; 3. New economic policies, 1921#1929; 4. The first five-year plan; 5. High Stalinism; 6. A great and patriotic war; 7. The Nadir: 1945#1953; 8. The age of Khrushchev; 9. Real, existing socialism; 10. Failed reforms; 11. Leap into the unknown; 12. Afterthoughts; Chronology.