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Contents

INTRODUCTION

PART I. A PEACE WITHOUT TRUCE

1. THE SHAMBLES OF WORLD WAR I
2. THE NATIONAL ARMY
3. THE SHACKLES OF TRIANON
4. THE SHACKLES FALL OFF
5. THE PERILS OF WAR MOVE CLOSER
6. KASSA. THE "PEARL HARBOR" OF HUNGARY
7. FALLING INTO THE ABYSS

PART II. THE WAR OUTSIDE OF HUNGARY

1. ADVANCE TO THE DONETZ

2. THE ARMY OF HONOR
2.1. Prelude
2.2. The organization of the 2nd Army
2.3. The German-Hungarian Summer Offensive
2.4. The Russian winter, the invincible enemy
2.5. The battle of Stalingrad and its consequences
2.6. The red army exploits the victory
2.7. The soviet attack at Uryw
2.8. The soviet offensive at Shtshutshje
2.9. Valiant attempt
2.10. Islands of defense
2.11. The rear guard action of the 1st Hungarian Armored Division
2.12. The tragic struggle of the III Corps
2.13. Conclusion

3. THE GERMAN OCCUPATION OF HUNGARY

4. THE HUSSARS
4.1. The tradition of the Hungarian hussars
4.3. In the Partisan country
4.4. The battle of Timkowicze and Kleck
4.5. The evasive defense action
4.6. The Jörgen "supervision"
4.7. Under the command of the XXIII. German Corps
4.8. In the battle of Warsaw

5. ABOVE THE CLOUDS FLIES THE EAGLE

PART III. THE WAR ON HUNGARIAN SOIL

1. THE DEFENSE OF THE CARPATHIANS
1.1. The mobilization and order of battle of the 1st Army
1.2. The advance of the First Hungarian Army
1.3. The partisan activity
1.4. The Soviet "pocket" at Horod
1.5. The summer Soviet offensive

2. THE DEFENSE OF EASTERN HUNGARY
2.1. The Romanian defection
2.2. The battle for Székely-land
2.3. The organization of the second "Transylvanian" and 3rd Hungarian Armies
2.4. The battle of Torda
2.5. The recapture of the old Hungarian city of Arad
2.6. The Soviet Breakthrough

3. THE BATTLE FOR BUDAPEST
3.1. The Soviet thrust toward Budapest
3.2. The red pincers close
3.3. The relief attempts to free Budapest
3.4. Gloria Victis

4. BLOOD FOR EVERY INCH OF LAND
4.1 Brief story of the Szent László Division
4.2. Operation "Spring Awakening"
4.3. The status of the Hungarian forces in the spring of 1945
4.4. The soviet thrust into western Hungary
4.5. "Between two pagans for one country does he shed his blood" (or the infamous "Balck Order")

EPILOG

APPENDIX I - THE GENERALS AND COMMANDERS
Hungarian generals/commanders
German generals/commanders
Russian generals

APPENDIX II. HONOR ROLL
APPENDIX III - HUNGARIAN ARMOR
APPENDIX IV - HUNGARIAN AIR FORCE
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX

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Introduction

Although much has been written about the Second World War - and these are usually from the point of view of the Allied Powers - very few have appeared in English from the point of view of the smaller nations. This book is to fill that void, and present the events from the Hungarian perspective. Specifically, in this book the author intends to present the role and actions of the Royal Hungarian "Honvéd" Army during the Second World War.

Even though this book is in no way intended as a political treatise, in discussing this topic it is often necessary to highlight the political circumstances of an event. The politics are presented only to shed light on the historical setting of Hungary in the mid century.

* * * * *

To understand the history leading up to World War II, it is necessary to examine the events arising from World War I.

Prior to World War I, the Austro-Hungarian Empire consisted of Germanic, Hungarian, (Magyar), Romanian and Slavic peoples, comprising a strong, prosperous political and economic union, which provided a firm power balance in Europe between Germany and Russia. When the territories of the Austro-Hungarian Empire were partitioned and made into seven separate countries by the 1920 Paris Peace Conference, this power balance was totally destroyed. The ensuing small countries created in the spirit of self determination were unable to decide their own destiny in the shadow of the new emerging powers of Europe: the Third Reich and the Soviet Union.. These small countries were continuously either intimidated by one, victimized by the other, or very often played out against each other, so that the spirit of self determination became only an ideal, but never a reality. Briefly, this was the role of these countries in the Second World War, whether or not they realized it at that time.

Further, in order to appreciate Hungary's role in the Second World War, one must know the intent of her government under the constraints of the different phases of the War.

The war in Eastern Europe broke out as early as 1939. Regent Horthy and his advisors were always of the opinion, that the Third Reich could score only temporary victories and could not defeat the combined industrial and military might of the Western powers. After the invasion of Poland in 1939 it became obvious moreover, that the Western Powers could not offer military help to land locked Hungary either, in a case of open conflict with the Third Reich. On the other hand, Hungary having had a short taste of communist rule in 1919, wanted no part of same, nor wished to contemplate any domination by the Soviet Union. Consequently, the government's intention was to preserve Hungary's neutrality. This was successfully achieved and maintained until 1941.

After the events of 1941, the government tried to keep Hungary from becoming the battleground between the Third Reich and the Soviet Union - the two opposing giants - and at the same time avoid an occupation by either power. It was able to accomplish this objective until 1944.

In the last phase of the war, Hungary's intention was to repulse or at least to retard the oncoming Soviet invasion, in the hope that she would be able to avoid the horrors of Soviet occupation and the perils of Soviet Communism. By this delaying action Hungary hoped to allow time for a victory of the Western Allied Powers, whose hoped for plans to mount an offensive north through the Balkans were viewed as a possible escape from Soviet occupation. Unfortunately, decisions made at the Tehran Conference in 1943 dashed these hopes. Hungary was, at this point inextricably forced onto the path of destruction. Despite her desperate efforts, tiny Hungary could not be the master of her own destiny.

In the following chapters it is the intent of the author to give credit to those men who have suffered and sacrificed their lives in this valiant defense of their homeland. It is a testimonial to their unquestioning patriotism and obedience to the orders of their superiors.

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