This investigation will assess whether the Hungarian Government supported or opposed the Nazi Regime during WWII. Further, it will consider the perspectives held by the current Hungarian Government, and its citizens, regarding their potential status as victims of crimes against humanity committed in WWII. The analysis will show that the Hungarian Government supported the Nazi Regime initially, and aligned itself with the Axis Powers until 1944. Thereafter, it initiated a separation. Finally, the discussion will comment on the tension between the positions of Hungary as victim, versus Hungary as agentic, throughout this period. Post-World War I (WWI), Hungary was in a vulnerable position. Thirty-five percent of its land had been seized by
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Effectively, this implied that Hungary would be redirecting its allegiance in the conflict. For the Nazi Regime, this would have significant consequences, as without Hungary’s engagement as Eastern Border protection, Germany would be vulnerable to invasion by the Soviet Union. Thus, Hungary would leave the War only if it was given sufficient protection against the Nazi Regime by the Allied powers. This demonstrates that Hungary’s position in Europe was key for both the Allied and Axis Powers. Prime Minister, Miklos Kallay, was elected on the basis that he would catalyse Hungary’s exit of the War. He began this process by engaging covertly in a peace treaty with the Allied Powers. In 1944, however, Hungary’s intentions were made more explicit when a radio announcement declared that it would be exiting the War that year. Sensing its vulnerability, the Nazi Regime overthrew Kallay on the same day as this announcement, installing the Hungarian Arrow Cross Party (a German-controlled Government). Hungary had failed its attempt to escape Nazi control – from this point, the Regime reigned over the …show more content…
The current Hungarian Government considers Hungary as having been victimised by the Nazi Regime, showing remorse to Hungarian Jews. In 2014, a public apology was issued to Hungarian Jewish victims of the Holocaust, for their mistreatment and murder. This view is contested by the public through protest, claiming that Hungary participated with agency alongside Germany in WWII. Thus, frustration is expressed by the public, who suggests that the position of the current Government constitutes the falsification of history . One source of tension in present-day Hungary is the issue of monuments and Memorials. In 2014, Prime Minister, Victor Orbán, erected the German Occupation Memorial, which implies that Hungary was not in control of its annexure by German forces, and was attacked . In 2005, another Memorial was created in memory of those shot into the Danube by Arrow Cross militiamen between 1944-1945. The presence of protest around these monuments in Hungary, highlights the tension between its position as victim of German invasion, juxtaposed with its position as a perpetrator of crimes against humanity.
This investigation has demonstrated that Hungary’s position in relation to Germany was not dichotomous, but that relations shifted throughout WWII. Considering the evidence analysed, it can be confirmed that
Effectively, this implied that Hungary would be redirecting its allegiance in the conflict. For the Nazi Regime, this would have significant consequences, as without Hungary’s engagement as Eastern Border protection, Germany would be vulnerable to invasion by the Soviet Union. Thus, Hungary would leave the War only if it was given sufficient protection against the Nazi Regime by the Allied powers. This demonstrates that Hungary’s position in Europe was key for both the Allied and Axis Powers. Prime Minister, Miklos Kallay, was elected on the basis that he would catalyse Hungary’s exit of the War. He began this process by engaging covertly in a peace treaty with the Allied Powers. In 1944, however, Hungary’s intentions were made more explicit when a radio announcement declared that it would be exiting the War that year. Sensing its vulnerability, the Nazi Regime overthrew Kallay on the same day as this announcement, installing the Hungarian Arrow Cross Party (a German-controlled Government). Hungary had failed its attempt to escape Nazi control – from this point, the Regime reigned over the …show more content…
The current Hungarian Government considers Hungary as having been victimised by the Nazi Regime, showing remorse to Hungarian Jews. In 2014, a public apology was issued to Hungarian Jewish victims of the Holocaust, for their mistreatment and murder. This view is contested by the public through protest, claiming that Hungary participated with agency alongside Germany in WWII. Thus, frustration is expressed by the public, who suggests that the position of the current Government constitutes the falsification of history . One source of tension in present-day Hungary is the issue of monuments and Memorials. In 2014, Prime Minister, Victor Orbán, erected the German Occupation Memorial, which implies that Hungary was not in control of its annexure by German forces, and was attacked . In 2005, another Memorial was created in memory of those shot into the Danube by Arrow Cross militiamen between 1944-1945. The presence of protest around these monuments in Hungary, highlights the tension between its position as victim of German invasion, juxtaposed with its position as a perpetrator of crimes against humanity.
This investigation has demonstrated that Hungary’s position in relation to Germany was not dichotomous, but that relations shifted throughout WWII. Considering the evidence analysed, it can be confirmed that