Lajos Csatay

Lajos Csatay
Born 1 August 1886
Arad, Kingdom of Hungary (now in Romania)
Died 16 October 1944 (aged 58)
Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary
Allegiance Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary
Hungarian Soviet Republic
Kingdom of Hungary (1920–46) Kingdom of Hungary
Rank Colonel General
Unit Fourth Home Defence Brigade, Fifth Brigade, Hungarian Second Army
Commands held Hungarian Third Army
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
The native form of this personal name is vitéz csataji Csatay Lajos. This article uses the Western name order.

Vitéz Lajos Csatay de Csataj (born as Lajos Tutzentaller in 1 August 1886 – 16 October 1944) was a Hungarian military officer and politician, who served as Minister of Defence between 1943 and 1944. He fought in the First World War then he joined to the Hungarian Red Army to fight against the rebel nationalities. Between 1919 and 1921 he was a teacher of the Military Academy of Budapest. From 1926 he was a commander of miscellaneous brigades. In 1943 he became commander of the Hungarian Third Army.

Miklós Kállay appointed him as Minister of Defence in June 1943. Initially he supported the Nazis and the continuation of the war. Later his opinion changed continuously. After the replacement of the Sztójay administration he kept his position. The new Prime Minister Géza Lakatos' real aim was jumping out of the war. The cabinet wanted to initiate peace negotiations with the Allies. Miklós Horthy moved to reconsolidate his influence and began considering strategies for surrendering to the Western Allies because he deeply distrusted the Red Army. The attempted coup was not successful. Horthy was captured by Edmund Veesenmayer and his staff later on 15 October and taken to the Waffen SS office, where he was held overnight. Lajos Csatay was captured by the Gestapo; as a result he committed suicide along with his wife.

References

Political offices
Preceded by
Vilmos Nagy
Minister of Defence
1943–1944
Succeeded by
Károly Beregfy
Military offices
Preceded by
Lieutenant-General Zoltán Decleva
Commander of the Hungarian Third Army
1 December 1942 – 12 June 1943
Succeeded by
Lieutenant-General Károly Beregfy