Preludes – Counter-revolutionary governments – Szeged

Fact of the Hungarian figure „Arrival of Horthy”

Part of the „Creation of the modern states (1918-1920)” topic

Szeged played a pivotal role in the events leading to the arrival of Miklós Horthy in Budapest and the establishment of his regime. Following the chaos and turmoil of post-World War I Hungary, including the fall of the Hungarian Soviet Republic, Szeged became a center for counter-revolutionary activity. It was here, in the summer of 1919, that Horthy and other nationalist and conservative forces began to organize their efforts to overthrow the socialist government and restore order in Hungary.

In Szeged, a counter-revolutionary government was formed, supported by various anti-communist factions, including monarchists, conservatives, and those opposed to the radical changes brought about by the communist regime. Horthy, a former admiral of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, emerged as a key figure in this movement. Backed by French and Romanian forces, who were keen on stabilizing the region and preventing further Bolshevik influence, Horthy’s army began its march towards Budapest.

The significance of Szeged in this context extends beyond Hungary, reflecting the broader Central European struggle against Bolshevism and the desire to restore traditional social orders following the collapse of empires. The counter-revolutionary movement in Hungary was part of a larger pattern of political realignment in Central Europe, where conservative and nationalist forces sought to regain control amidst the chaos of post-war restructuring.

Horthy’s eventual arrival in Budapest in November 1919, leading to his appointment as Regent of Hungary in 1920, marked the culmination of these efforts. His regime would shape Hungary’s interwar period, reflecting both the impact of the counter-revolutionary government formed in Szeged and the broader Central European dynamics of the time. The events in Szeged are thus crucial to understanding the prelude to Horthy’s rule and the political landscape of Central Europe in the early 20th century.