Hungary (1944-1945)

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Magyar Állam Hungarian State Puppet state of Nazi Germany ← 1944 – 1945 → Flag Coat of arms Anthem "Himnusz" Capital Budapest Language(s) Hungarian Religion Roman Catholic Government Dictatorship Leader of the Hungarian Nation  - 1944 - 1945 Ferenc Szálasi Historical era World War II  - Established October 16, 1944  - Surrender of Germany May 8, 1945

The Hungarian State was a briefly existing client state of Nazi Germany formed in 1944 after Regent Miklós Horthy was removed from power that year.[1] The Hungarian national socialist Arrow Cross Party leader Ferenc Szálasi became the "Nationleader" (Nemzetvezető) of the Hungary that year. The state had little other intention or ability but to maintain fascism and control in Hungary as the Soviet Union invaded it in order to reduce the threat to Germany. Szálasi's government was a Quisling government which had no choice but to obey the orders of Germany.

[edit] History

Doctors and patients slaughtered by fascist Arrow Cross members at the Maros Street hospital in 1945.

Upon the total fascist takeover, Hungary faced impending occupation by the Soviet Union which resulted in German armed forces destroying Hungarian infrastructure as the Red Army closed in. In December 1944, days after the government's formal creation, the Battle of Budapest began where fascist-loyal forces of the badly damaged remnants of the Hungarian First Army fought alongside German forces against the Red Army to no avail. By February 1945 all of Budapest was under Soviet control.[2]. Fascist Hungarian forces of the Hungarian Third Army fought alongside German forces in the last major offensive in Hungary against the Soviet forces during Operation Frühlingserwachen (Operation Spring Awakening) in March 1945. By April 25, 1945, the Hungarian Third Army was destroyed and Nazi Germany itself was on the verge of collapse. The regime was dissolved in 1945 after Germany's surrender.