Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946): Difference between revisions

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=== Second World War ===
=== Second World War ===
Hungary invaded the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922–1991)|Soviet Union]] along with [[German Reich (1933–1945)|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 concentration camp|Auschwitz]]. In May 1944, an [[Anti-fascism|anti-fascist]] resistance was formed and the [[Workers' and Peasants' Red Army|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]].<ref name=":0" />
Hungary invaded the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922–1991)|Soviet Union]] along with [[German Reich (1933–1945)|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 concentration camp|Auschwitz]]. In May 1944, an [[Anti-fascism|anti-fascist]] resistance was formed and the [[Workers' and Peasants' Red Army|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]].<ref name=":0" />
The [[German Reich (1933–1945)|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 [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922–1991)|Soviet Union]] sent 1,500 wagons of cereal, 300 of meat, and 200 of sugar to relieve the starving population.<ref name=":1">{{News citation|author=TheFinnishBolshevik|newspaper=ML-Theory|title=History of the Hungarian People’s Republic (PART 2: Democratic Coalition Government)|date=2021-10-31|url=https://mltheory.wordpress.com/2021/10/31/history-of-the-hungarian-peoples-republic-part-2-democratic-coalition-government/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231100917/https://mltheory.wordpress.com/2021/10/31/history-of-the-hungarian-peoples-republic-part-2-democratic-coalition-government/|archive-date=2021-12-31|retrieved=2022-07-19}}</ref>
=== Provisional government ===
Towards the end of the war, a provisional [[Anti-fascism|anti-fascist]] government was established in Debrecen. The new government was a coalition of the [[Communism|communists]], [[Social democracy|social democrats]], [[Peasantry|peasants]], and  [[Trade union|trade unionists]]. In December 1944, they established a national council, which confiscated land from war criminals.<ref name=":1" /> In March 1945, the provisional government redistributed 4.5 million acres among 660,000 peasants.<ref>{{Citation|author=David Pryce-Jones|year=1970|title=The Hungarian Revolution|page=19|publisher=Horizon Press|isbn=9780510181109}}</ref> By 4 April 1945, all of Hungary had been liberated.<ref>{{Citation|author=Ignotus Pál|year=1972|title=Hungary|page=152|city=London}}</ref>
In November 1945, Hungary held the first free elections since the [[Hungarian Soviet Republic (1919)|Hungarian Soviet Republic]] of 1919. The [[Independent Smallholders, Agrarian Workers and Civic Party|Smallholders' Party]] received 57% of the vote and the communists and social democrats received 17%.<ref name=":1" />


== Economy ==
== Economy ==
Hungary had a feudal economy with an aristocracy and nobility and most wealth was owned by the [[Catholic Church]]. The economy was mainly agricultural and its industry was mostly foreign-owned and developed very slowly.<ref name=":0" />
Hungary had a feudal economy with an aristocracy and nobility and most wealth was owned by the [[Catholic Church]].<ref name=":0" /> The richest 1%, mostly clergy and nobility, owned half the land in the country.<ref name=":1" /> The economy was mainly agricultural and Hungary's industry was mostly foreign-owned and developed very slowly.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=":02">{{Citation|year=1954|title=Political Economy|chapter=The Economic System of the People's Democracies in Europe|chapter-url=https://www.marxists.org/subject/economy/authors/pe/pe-ch41.htm|section=The Prerequisites of the People's Democratic Revolution|mia=https://www.marxists.org/subject/economy/authors/pe/index.htm}}</ref>


== Politics ==
== Politics ==
The Kingdom of Hungary had a parliament but but under 30% of the population was allowed to vote.<ref>{{Citation|author=Wilfred G. Burchett|year=1951|title=People's Democracies|title-url=https://www.revolutionarydemocracy.org/archive/burch0.htm|publisher=World Unity Publications}}</ref> The [[Social Democratic Party of Hungary|Social Democratic Party]] was allowed to participate in elections but could not organize [[Strike action|strikes]].<ref name=":0" />
The Kingdom of Hungary had a parliament but under 30% of the population was allowed to vote.<ref>{{Citation|author=Wilfred G. Burchett|year=1951|title=People's Democracies|title-url=https://www.revolutionarydemocracy.org/archive/burch0.htm|publisher=World Unity Publications}}</ref> The [[Social Democratic Party of Hungary|Social Democratic Party]] was allowed to participate in elections but could not organize [[Strike action|strikes]].<ref name=":0" />


== References ==
== References ==
[[Category:Countries]]

Latest revision as of 11:51, 23 April 2023

Kingdom of Hungary
Magyar Királyság
1920–1946
Flag of Kingdom of Hungary
Flag
Capital
and largest city
Budapest
Official languagesHungarian
Recognized regional languagesRusyn
GovernmentMonarchic 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.[1]

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.[1]

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.[2]

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.[2] In March 1945, the provisional government redistributed 4.5 million acres among 660,000 peasants.[3] By 4 April 1945, all of Hungary had been liberated.[4]

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%.[2]

Economy

Hungary had a feudal economy with an aristocracy and nobility and most wealth was owned by the Catholic Church.[1] The richest 1%, mostly clergy and nobility, owned half the land in the country.[2] The economy was mainly agricultural and Hungary's industry was mostly foreign-owned and developed very slowly.[1] 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.[5]

Politics

The Kingdom of Hungary had a parliament but under 30% of the population was allowed to vote.[6] The Social Democratic Party was allowed to participate in elections but could not organize strikes.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 TheFinnishBolshevik (2021-09-05). "History of the Hungarian People’s Republic PART 1: Horthy’s Hungary" ML-Theory. Archived from the original on 2021-09-12. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 TheFinnishBolshevik (2021-10-31). "History of the Hungarian People’s Republic (PART 2: Democratic Coalition Government)" ML-Theory. Archived from the original on 2021-12-31. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  3. David Pryce-Jones (1970). The Hungarian Revolution (p. 19). Horizon Press. ISBN 9780510181109
  4. Ignotus Pál (1972). Hungary (p. 152). London.
  5. Political Economy: 'The Economic System of the People's Democracies in Europe; The Prerequisites of the People's Democratic Revolution' (1954). [MIA]
  6. Wilfred G. Burchett (1951). People's Democracies. World Unity Publications.