Figure 1.--This photograph shows some Hungarian soldiers in the rapidly deteriorting Austro-Hungarian Army with some unidentified children in 1917.

Hungary at the inception of World War was part of the Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy. The creation of the constitutional arrangements of the dual monarchy had reduced, but not eliminated desires for an independent Hungary. We do not yet have details specifically on Hungary during the War, but thiswould have been included in the Austro-Hungarian section. The Austro-Hungaian Empire had been held together by the Empire's army. As the War progressed conditions gradually worsened. Food sortages became an increasing problem. the Empire begn to desinigate. With the collapse of the Army at the end of the War, there was nothing to hold the Empire together. this was no longer possible. The long-term weakenesses of the Empire such as ethnic dissent coupled with the privations resulting from the War resulted in nationalit groups seizing power and demanding independence. This occurrred in Hungary as well. The monarchy collapsed and a republic proclaimed in Austria itself (November 1918). The Allies had planned to maintain Austria-Hungary as a political state, in part to offset Germany's influence in central and Eastern Europe. The Allies thought that Wilson's 14 points, especially national self-determination, could be accomodated within a federalized and democratized Austria-Hungary. Developments in the region, however, spun out of control. Several countries declared independence (September and October 1918). The Allies had neither the men or inclination to try to control developments in the region. Emperor Karl I appointed Karl Karolyi Prime Minister in an effort to maintain the monarchy (October 31, 1918). He managed to replaced Alexander Wekerle who had declared independence (October 19). The Emperor engineered Wekerle's replacement. Karolyi was known for advocating land reform, universal suffrage and full civil status Hungary's non-Magyar subjects which put him on the fringe of Hungarian politics. His efforts were a last desperate attempt to save the monarchy. Karolyi realized that the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Army and the strength of the nationalist forces meant that independence was inevitable. Karolyi proclaimed an independent republic (November 11). A factor here was that a Hungary without attachments to the former Hapsburg monarchy might expect better treatment at the post-War peace settlement. The Allies nonetheless insisted on a much reduced Hungary than what nationlists had invisioned. This affected Karolyi's popularity. Bela Kun, the pre-War founder of the Communist Party, launched a Communist coup (March 1919). His popularity rapidly fell when he used force to persue a series of radical reforms seizing private popularity, both agricultural lands and industry. Czechs and Romanian military forces intervened as well as a French-supported counter-revolutionary force headed Admiral Miklos Horthy de Nagybanya. The Kun regime fell (August 1, 1919). Admiral Horthy served as regent until replaced by the NAZIs during World War II (1944). The Treaty of Trianon ending the war between the Allies and Hungary (a successor state of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) was signed June 4, 1920. Hungarian nationalists were horrified. Not only did they find the new Hingarian state a fraction of what they had forseen, but large numbers of ethnic Hungarians were left within the borders of neighboring states. This would result in constant difficulties and threats of War during the 1920s and 30s. The ousted Emperor Karl I made two unsuccessfil efforts to regain his throne (1921).

Austria Hunary: World War I

Hungary at the inception of World War was part of the Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy. The creation of the constitutional arrangements of the dual monarchy had reduced, but not eliminated desires for an independent Hungary. We do not yet have details specifically on Hungarian military operations during the War, but this would have been included in the Austro-Hungarian section. The Austro-Hungarian Empire had few ethnic units. The Austro-Hungaian Empire had been held together by the Empire's army. As the War progressed conditions gradually worsened. Food sortages became an increasing problem. the Empire began to desinigate. With the collapse of the Army at the end of the War, there was nothing to hold the Empire together. This was no longer possible. The long-term weakenesses of the Empire such as ethnic dissent coupled with the privations resulting from the War resulted in nationalit groups seizing power and demanding independence.

Collapse of the Hapsburg Monarchy in Austria

This moove toward independence occurrred in Hungary as well. The monarchy collapsed and a republic proclaimed in Austria itself (November 1918). Food shortages were a driving force. The Allies had planned to maintain Austria-Hungary as a political state, in part to offset Germany's influence in central and Eastern Europe. The Allies thought that Wilson's 14 points, especially national self-determination, could be accomodated within a federalized and democratized Austria-Hungary. Developments in the region, however, spun out of control. Several countries declared independence (September and October 1918). The Allies had neither the men or inclination to deploy the forces that would have been needed to control developments in the region.

Efforts to Preserve the Monarchy

Emperor Karl I appointed Karl Karolyi Prime Minister in an effort to maintain the monarchy (October 31, 1918). He managed to replaced Alexander Wekerle who had declared independence (October 19). The Emperor engineered Wekerle's replacement. Karolyi was known for advocating land reform, universal suffrage and full civil status for Hungary's non-Magyar subjects which put him on the fringe of Hungarian politics. His efforts were a last desperate attempt to save the monarchy.

Independence and Republic (November 1918)

Karolyi realized that the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Army and the strength of the nationalist forces meant that independence was inevitable. Karolyi proclaimed an independent republic (November 11). A factor here was that a Hungary without attachments to the former Hapsburg monarchy might expect better treatment at the post-War peace settlement. The Allies nonetheless insisted on a much reduced Hungary than what nationlists had invisioned. This affected Karolyi's popularity.

Communist Coup (March-August 1919)

Bela Kun, the pre-War founder of the Communist Party, launched a Communist coup (March 1919). His popularity rapidly fell when he used force to persue a series of radical reforms seizing private popularity, both agricultural lands and industry. Czechs and Romanian military forces intervened as well as a French-supported counter-revolutionary force headed Admiral Miklos Horthy de Nagybanya. The Kun regime fell (August 1, 1919). Kun himself slipped away to the Soviet Union. He worked in the Communist International bureaucracy as the head of the Crimean Revolutionary Committee. He helped organize and was an active participant of the Red Terror in Crimea (1920–21). During Stalin's Great Purge (late-1930s, The NKVD arrested, interrogated, tried, and executed Kun in quick succession.

Horthy Regency

Admiral Horthy served as regent until replaced by the NAZIs during World War II (1944).

Treaty of Trianon (June 1920)

The Treaty of Trianon ending the war between the Allies and Hungary (a successor state of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) was signed June 4, 1920. Hungarian nationalists were horrified. Not only did they find the new Hungarian state a fraction of what they had forseen, but large numbers of ethnic Hungarians were left within the borders of neighboring states. This would result in constant difficulties and threats of War during the 1920s and 30s.

American Food Aid

Hungary as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was one of the Central Powers. Like Austria the country did not have a substantial industrial sector. It had a largely agricultural economy. Despite the substantial agricultural sector, there were serious food shortages as a result of the war. Imperial policies had worsened the food situation. Very little thought seems to have been given to maintaining agricultural production. Drafting farm workers was a major cause of declining production. The resulting food scarcity was a major cause in the collapse of the Haspsburg monarchy. Independent Hungary after the war faced a serious food crisis. ARA Director Hoover wanted to aid the Hungarians, but Britain and France were reluctant to support aid efforts to its former enemies, especially until a peace treaty was signed. The ARA focus was on Central Europe, but could not reach Hungary for nearly a year after the War. The Allied embargo remained in force during the Armistice Period, meaning from the signing of the Armistice (November 1918) until the signing of the Peace Treaty with Germany (June 1919). Relief was further delayed by Béla Kun's Communist coup and creation of the Hungarian Soviet Republic. Only with the fall of Kun was the blockade lifted and American relief activities began (August 1919).

Emperor Karl

The ousted Emperor Karl I made two unsuccessfil efforts to regain his throne (1921).

Created: 11:56 PM 9/6/2014
Last updated: 5:45 PM 3/20/2018