Prime Minister László Bárdossy

1 prime minister

1.1 invasion of yugoslavia
1.2 war soviet union
1.3 war great britain , united states
1.4 domestic policies

prime minister
invasion of yugoslavia


bárdossy (left) ambassador germany döme sztójay (centre) , reichsführer-ss heinrich himmler (right) in 1941

when teleki committed suicide, horthy first offered prime ministership keresztes-fischer, when refused it, bárdossy appointed. prime minister, bárdossy (who retained portfolio of foreign minister) pursued strong pro-german foreign policy, reasoning alliance nazis allow hungary retrieve land had been taken result of treaty of trianon. on 6 april, germany invaded yugoslavia. bárdossy , horthy had agreed allow germans launch part of invasion hungarian territory.

on 7 april, yugoslav bombers of british-design launched raids on hungarian airfields , railway stations. 1 of targets airfield near szeged, when yugoslav aircraft found empty, dropped bombs on railway network. formation attacked airfields used hungarian air force around pécs. both bomber formations destroyed german fighter aircraft , hungarian anti-aircraft fire. rumour spread british aircraft had been involved in these raids, false report, generated in hungarian military wanted hungary join in german campaign. bárdossy lodged strong protest british regarding supposed british attack.

the axis puppet independent state of croatia proclaimed on 10 april. later day, horthy issued directive hungarian army ordering intervene in yugoslavia safeguard hungarian minority. hungarian government used pretext yugoslavia had ceased exist, , therefore make claim hungary not invading — , on basis hungarian army crossed frontier on 11 april. on 13 april, 1st , 2nd hungarian motorized brigades occupied novi sad, pushed south across danube syrmia capturing croatian towns of vinkovci , vukovar on 18 april. these brigades drove southeast capture serbian town of valjevo day later. other hungarian forces occupied regions of prekmurje , međimurje. british considered bárdossy s claim ludicrous attempt justify hungarian invasion of yugoslavia, eden stating remain everlasting shame upon reputation of hungary had attacked yugoslavia few months after concluding pact of friendship her. so, churchill did not declare war on hungary months, despite eden , stalin urging him so. hungarian attack on yugoslavia has been described hungarian historians miklós incze , györgy ránki shameful act of wartime hungarian policy .

afterwards, hungarian troops occupied parts of yugoslav territory had formerly belonged hungary prior treaty of trianon, , these lands subsequently annexed hungary.

war soviet union

on 22 june 1941, germany attacked soviet union. 4 days later, hungarian city of kassa (present-day košice in slovakia) bombed 3 unidentified aircraft. 1 bomb failed explode , found of soviet origin. hungarian military concluded soviet union responsible (this denied, , question of responsibility has never been satisfactorily resolved). when bartha , werth became aware of bombing, went horthy ordered retaliatory measures without consulting bárdossy. however, bárdossy believed horthy wanted war soviet union, hurriedly assembled council of ministers. in summing meeting, bárdossy said agreed reprisals necessary, , exception of keresztes-fischer, agreed hungary @ war soviet union. apparently no vote taken. following day, bárdossy stood in parliament , declared attack had been soviet union, , government had decided state of war existed between hungary , soviet union. horthy subsequently claimed bárdossy had presented him fait accompli.

in doing, violated hungary’s constitution, required prime minister receive consent of parliament before declaring war.

war great britain , united states

in late november 1941, britain delivered ultimatum hungary, stating if did not withdraw forces soviet union 5 december, britain declare war. bárdossy took no action comply, state of war came effect @ midnight on 6 december. following day, japanese launched attack on pearl harbor. 4 days later, germany declared war on united states. bárdossy reluctant follow suit, despite german expectations hungary member of tripartite pact. in attempt avoid declaration of war, council of ministers proposed breaking off diplomatic relations , expressing solidarity axis powers. did not satisfy germans or italians, made expectations clear. finally, realising unable approval parliament or horthy declaration of war, bárdossy announced state of war united states @ parliamentary foreign affairs committee on 15 december.

domestic policies

on matters of domestic policy, bárdossy proved advocate of radical right-wing politics. anti-semite, bárdossy enacted third jewish law in august 1941, severely limited jewish economic , employment opportunities , prohibited jews marrying or having sexual intercourse non-jews. bárdossy approved policy of deporting non-hungarians territory seized yugoslavia, , authorized slaughter of thousands of jews in Újvidék.

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