What was Hungary's involvement in World War 2?

Answer 1

They sided with Germany. The story of Hungary in WWII as an Axis partner, like all stories, has its roots in the History preceding it. Hungary found itself demoralized and destroyed after the 1918 break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire with the end of WWI. Following the break-up, Hungary fell into a state of chaos, being led by a number of ineffectual Governments until a Communist named Bela Kun proclaimed a Soviet Hungarian Republic. The period following this takeover was known in Hungary as the "Red Terror". In 1919, Vice-Admiral Miklos Horthy, the last Commander-in-Chief of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, raised an army which overthrew the Communist Republic.

In 1920 Hungary signed the Treaty of Trianon, and in the process, lost a good deal of its territory to the Nations around it. This Treaty, although giving Hungary independance, also gave a good deal of territory to neighboring Romania, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. This treaty also mandated things like the size of the standing army; 35,000 officers and men divided into 7 mixed brigades*, headquarter troops and a Danube Naval Flotilla. Under the provisions of this Treaty, tanks, artillery and an air force were also prohibited.

In attempts to regain stability in the years preceeding WWII, Hungary, under the leadership of Horthy, strived to find alliances that would benefit their attempt at regaining lost territory. After searching in vain to England and France, in 1927 Hungary signed another treaty, this time with its former enemy from WWI, Italy. This opened the door even more** for Hungarian support of the Axis cause.

In the 1930's Hungarian Prime Minister Gyula Gombos pulled Hungary even more towards the Axis camp by signing a trade agreement with Germany. As a result of this agreement, in time, Hungary found itself in better economic and political footing. As Hungary began to re-establish itself politically and economically, it also began to thrive socially, and a seemingly open-minded Horty was not oppresive of emerging left or right wing groups. In this air of acceptance many groups began to form that were sympathetic to or emulated the German National Socialists.

From 1938 to 1941, Hungary began to regain its lost territory, either through political means, or through limited military actions. In 1938 Hungary regained areas previously incorporated into the region of Slovakia. In 1939, an 8th mixed brigade was formed, and then all mixed brigades were expanded to corps. Another corps was then added, a Mobile Corps, as well as a new airforce. In March of 1939 the 8th Corps and the Mobile Corps occupied Czechoslovakian Ruthenia. Also in 1939, Hungary joined the Anti-Comintern Pact along with Germany, Italy and Japan. When Germany invaded Poland in September of 1939, Hungary declared itself neutral, although it had been mobilizing its forces since 1938.

In 1940, Rumania was forced by Germany to give back Northern Transylvania. At this time, a 9th Corp was formed that now borderd on the Rumanian frontier in the Carpithian Mountains region.

The Nine Corps areas of Hungary each raised three Dandar or Light Divisions, each with one front-line infantry regiment and one reserve infantry regiment, each of three battalions; a two battalion artillery regiment of 24 guns; a cavalry troop, anti-aircraft company, and a signals company. The Corps themselves also had one motorized infantry battlion, often mounted on bikes, as well as anti-aircraft, engineer and signals battalions. As well as these units, Hungary also fielded Mountain and Border Guard brigades, labour battalions, so-called "Life Guard", Crown Guard, and Parliament Guard units. Hungary was at the time in theory, if not in practice, considered to be a Monarchy with the associated Royal functions and positions; this is why the Hungarian units usually had "Royal" in their titles).

The full order of battle at this time consisted of the following units:

Also in 1940, Hungary created 3 Army Commands that would then control the various Corp formations located throughout the Nation. At the time of the creation of the new Army Commands, the Hungarian Army consisted of the following units:

Formation Location 1st ArmyKolozsvar 2nd Army Budapest 3rd ArmyPecs I.Army Corps Budapest II.Army Corps Szekesfehervar III.Army CorpsSzombathely IV.Army Corps Pecs V.Army Corps Szeged VI.Army Corps DebrecenVII.Army Corps Miskolc VIII.Army CorpsKassa IX.Army Corps Kolozsvar Mobile Corps Budapest

Finally, in 1941, German and Italy attempted to bring Hungary into a Military alliance. To do this, they offered Hungary the return of more territory that had been taken in the 1920 Treaty of Trianon. In April of 1941, Germany entered into Hungarian territory to prepare for the invasion of Yugoslavia. In so doing, they requested the aid of Hungary, who then mobilized the Hungarian 3rd Army. For the invasion of Yugoslavia, Hungary fielded the following units into the disputed territories that Yugoslavia controlled:

3rd Hungarian Army I.Army Corps

1st Infantry Brigade

13th Infantry Brigade

15th Infantry Brigade

IV.Army Corps

2nd Infantry Brigade

10th Infantry Brigade

12th Infantry Brigade

V.Army Corps

14th Infantry Brigade

19th Infantry Brigade

2nd Cavalry Brigade

Rapid Corps

1st Cavalry Brigade

1st Motorized Brigade

2nd Motorized Brigade

On June 27th, 1941, after Germany had invaded the Soviet Union, Hungary formally declared war against the Soviet Union and became a full Axis partner to German and Italy. The pattern for this declaration had been set many years before, and the final impetus for the move is said to have come when the Hungarian city of kassa was bombed, supposedly by Russian aircraft. According to Andris Kursietis, debate regarding this event is still occuring, and blame can not be placed firmly on any one source, although some have placed the blame on Germany in a scheme to draw Hungary into the war. Whom ever is to blame, the end result was a far reaching one, as it pulled Hungary firmly into the Axis forces.

(*According to Andris Kursietis, an acknowledged authority on the Hungarian armed forces, the term "mixed brigade" was a misnomer. It was in fact, a cover name for an army corps. Each of the 7 so-called mix brigades were actually corps, with the units making up their parts actually being brigades waiting to be formed. It was through this process that Hungary had prepared itself for mobilization in time of need, against the grain of the imposed Allied restrictions of the Treat of Trianon.)

(**So far, the removal of Hungarian territory and the experiances of the "Red Terror" in 1918 had provided the imputus for Hungary to move towards the Axis camp during the years preceeding WWII. With the Alliance with Italy in 1927 and later economic consessions towards Germany, Hungary became a very real potential member of the Axis forces.)

Answer 2

AnswerHi,

Hungary was an ally of Germany, with long standing traditional ties to Germanspeaking Europe, as well as hereditary animosity with her slavic neighbours.

She lost much of her territory as a consequence of WWI, and was determined to regain it.

Thus, it was in her interest to support German aggression against Czechoslovakia (since she wanted Slovakia back), against Poland (she wanted Ruthenia back) and she needed Germanys support against Romania (she wanted, and received, Transsyvania back). She also participated in the aggression against Yugoslavia with Germany, to retake the B�cs-Kiskun area. All of the areas reaten this way had been formerly Hungarian soil, containing large Hungarian minorities (but a majority of slavic or Romanian people).

Domestically, Hungary had a right wing government, replaced during the war (october 44) by a fascist Dictatorship (supported by Germany). Her political ties was stronger with Italy than with Germany, but Germany was the stronger party.

Having obtained her territorial demands, Hungary showed considerably less enthusiasm for being drawn into the global conflict. Only under hesitation did she contribute to the war in the east, initially around 65 000 men but after German pressure she sent about 250 000 men. In the Soviet January offensive in 43 Hungary lost 148 000 of these and her armed forces were pulled out of the line, to serve in rear areas.

The front eventually reached the borders of Hungary, but unlike Romania, Hungary never surrendered but fought until VE day on the German side. Or on her own side, whichever way one wants to see it.

After the war Hungary was turned into a one party state under Soviet supervision, and after the 56 revolt brought under strict Soviet control.

Hope that helps some

SincerelyTommy

AnswerIt should be taken into consideration that Hungarian citizens wanted nothing to do with war, it was entirely political, and that they had no choice .

Answer 3

World War 1

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At the outbreak of World War 1, Hungary was part of the Dualist-monarchy, Austria -Hungary, which was one of the strongest forces in Europe at the time. The Austrian -Hungarian armies size was approximately 9 million. More then 1 million soldiers died during World War 1.

World War 2

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Hungary signed a Pact with Germany in 1940. Over 380,000 Hungarian people died during World War 2, including women, children, men involving soldiers. Hungary also relied on Italy and Germany to help them out of the Great Depression. Also, the capital of Budapest was destroyed along with other major buildings. Major battles started to occur in Hungary in 1944 when the Soviet armies crossed their borders.

Obviously, the results in this matter mean that Hungary was involved in WW1 and WW2.

Answer 4

The battle of Budapest, one of the bloodiest sieges of WW2, occured in Hungary.

Answer 5

Yes. Hungary was a German ally.