Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946)

Kingdom of Hungary Magyar Királyság
1920–1946
Flag
Capital and largest city	Budapest
Official languages	Hungarian
Recognized regional languages	Rusyn
Government	Monarchic Fascist State
History
• Established	1920
• Dissolution	1946
Population
• 1941 estimate	14,669,100

The Kingdom of Hungary was a country in Central Europe ruled by Miklós Horthy. It was later liberated by the Red Army and replaced by a socialist democracy.

History

Hungary, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was defeated in the First World War and lost 70% of its land as a result. In 1920, Regent Miklós Horthy crushed left-wing parties in the White Terror.

Second World War

Hungary invaded the Soviet Union along with Germany during the Second World War in an attempt to recreate its empire. Prime Minister Döme Sztojáy approved a plan to send 100,000 Jews to Auschwitz. In May 1944, an anti-fascist resistance was formed and the Red Army began to liberate Hungary on 6 October. Horthy announced a ceasefire on 15 October and was overthrown and replaced by Hungarian fascist Ferenc Szálasi, who was a member of the Arrow Cross Party.

The Nazi invaders stole 214,000 tons of goods, including machinery and food, from Hungary and murdered over half a million Jews. They destroyed 70,000 homes and left a quarter of Hungarians homeless. The number of livestock dropped from 8.6 million to 3.2 million, causing major food shortages. The Soviet Union sent 1,500 wagons of cereal, 300 of meat, and 200 of sugar to relieve the starving population.

Provisional government

Towards the end of the war, a provisional anti-fascist government was established in Debrecen. The new government was a coalition of the communists, social democrats, peasants, and trade unionists. In December 1944, they established a national council, which confiscated land from war criminals. In March 1945, the provisional government redistributed 4.5 million acres among 660,000 peasants. By 4 April 1945, all of Hungary had been liberated.

In November 1945, Hungary held the first free elections since the Hungarian Soviet Republic of 1919. The Smallholders' Party received 57% of the vote and the communists and social democrats received 17%.

Economy

Hungary had a feudal economy with an aristocracy and nobility and most wealth was owned by the Catholic Church. The richest 1%, mostly clergy and nobility, owned half the land in the country. The economy was mainly agricultural and Hungary's industry was mostly foreign-owned and developed very slowly. 40% of all capital invested in 1937 belonged to foreign companies. 84% of farms, with less than 142 acres, only controlled 20% of the country's farmland, but the biggest 0.9% of farms controlled almost half the land.

Politics

The Kingdom of Hungary had a parliament but under 30% of the population was allowed to vote. The Social Democratic Party was allowed to participate in elections but could not organize strikes.