The Hungarian air force attacks the headquarters of the Slovak air force in Spišská Nová Ves, killing 13 people and beginning the Slovak-Hungarian War.

The period in Hungarian history stretching from 1920 to 1946 is often referred to as the Kingdom of Hungary, or more specifically, the Regency or the Horthy era. During these decades, the nation was governed by Regent Miklós Horthy, who, despite nominally representing the Hungarian monarchy, presided over a kingdom without an actual king. Indeed, King Charles IV's attempts to reclaim his throne shortly before his death were notably thwarted by Horthy himself.

The Horthy Era: A Nation Defined by Conservatism and Revisionism

Under Regent Horthy's leadership, Hungary was characterized by a distinct conservative, nationalist, and fiercely anti-communist ideology. Its government functioned as an often-unstable coalition of conservative and right-wing elements. A central pillar of its foreign policy, and indeed much of its interwar identity, was revisionism. This was a fervent desire for the total or partial revision of the Treaty of Trianon, a peace agreement signed after World War I that had been a profound national trauma. This treaty resulted in Hungary losing more than 70% of its historic territory and leaving over three million ethnic Hungarians living outside the new borders, predominantly in the annexed border regions. The deep-seated resentment stemming from these territorial losses utterly dominated Hungarian politics between the wars and continues to resonate in national memory to this day.

Hungary and World War II: Alliance, Occupation, and Shifting Sands

As the 1930s drew to a close, Germany's influence over Hungary grew substantially. This increasing sway has led some historians to categorize the country as an emerging Nazi client state after 1938. The Kingdom of Hungary officially joined the Axis Powers during World War II, driven by its enduring ambition to reclaim Hungarian-majority territories lost under the Treaty of Trianon. This objective saw some success in early 1941 when certain territories were indeed reannexed. However, as the tide of war turned against the Axis by 1944, Horthy's government secretly began negotiating with the Allies and considered withdrawing from the conflict. This move prompted a swift and decisive response from Germany, which occupied Hungary and deposed Horthy. In his place, Ferenc Szálasi, the leader of the extremist Arrow Cross Party, established a new Nazi-backed government, effectively transforming Hungary into a German-occupied puppet state.

The Aftermath: From Soviet Influence to Republics

Following the devastation of World War II, Hungary fell firmly within the Soviet Union's burgeoning sphere of influence. The country underwent a significant transformation, first changing its name to the Hungarian State (Magyar Állam), before the Second Hungarian Republic was formally proclaimed in 1946. This transitional period was short-lived, as it was succeeded by the establishment of the communist Hungarian People's Republic in 1949, marking the beginning of a new political era.

The Slovak Air Force (1939-1945)

Concurrent with these turbulent times, the short-lived World War II Slovak Republic operated its own air force, known as the Slovak Air Force (Slovak: Slovenská vzdušná zbraň, or SVZ). Active between 1939 and 1945, its primary mission was to provide crucial air support on various fronts and to defend key metropolitan areas, particularly the capital Bratislava, from enemy air attacks.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Horthy Era and WWII Hungary

What was the Kingdom of Hungary during the Horthy era?
It was a country that existed from 1920 to 1946, ruled by Regent Miklós Horthy, who nominally represented the Hungarian monarchy even though there was no king on the throne.
What characterized Horthy's Hungary?
It was distinctly conservative, nationalist, and fiercely anti-communist, with its foreign policy largely driven by the desire to revise the territorial losses from the Treaty of Trianon.
How did the Treaty of Trianon impact Hungary?
The treaty, signed after World War I, resulted in Hungary losing over 70% of its historical territory and more than three million ethnic Hungarians being left outside the new borders, creating lasting resentment and a national obsession with revisionism.
What was Hungary's role in World War II?
Hungary joined the Axis Powers, initially seeking to regain lost territories. However, when the war turned, Horthy's government attempted to negotiate with the Allies, leading to German occupation and the establishment of a Nazi-backed puppet government under the Arrow Cross Party.
What happened to Hungary after World War II?
After the war, Hungary fell into the Soviet Union's sphere of influence, was renamed the Hungarian State, and then transitioned through the Second Hungarian Republic before becoming the communist Hungarian People's Republic in 1949.
What was the Slovak Air Force?
Known as the SVZ, it was the air force of the World War II Slovak Republic, operating from 1939 to 1945. Its main roles were air support on fronts and protecting Slovak cities like Bratislava from air attacks.