Hungary: Germany's Discontent Ally
Hungary was, arguably, the Axis nation with the most parallels with Germany leading up to WWII. While Hungarians had a tradition of anti-German feeling reaching back to their forced marriage under the Austrian Empire, they somewhat justifiably felt unfairly treated by the treaties ending WWI. Under the Treaty of Trianon, Hungary's Honved (Army) was subjected to similar restrictions as Germany--no armor or aircraft.
As in Germany, liberalism had never taken a strong hold on the population and there was virtually no tradition of democracy. There was, however, a strong trace of nationalism and in the newly fragmented boundaries of east-central Europe this jingoism was allowed to fester and develop into a thriving fascist state.
In 1939, as Germany crushed Czechoslovakia, Hungary sought to take a bite out of Slovakia. In the scuffle, Hitler's newest and most devoted ally, Slovakia, lost at least a few T-35 (PzKw35t) tanks. Hungary ended up with a great deal of Slovakia. Indeed, Germany offered Slovakia to Hungary, but only with a promise to assist in the coming war against the Soviet Union, which Hungary was reluctant to promise...
But Hungary wasn't done yet. In 1940, following the fall of France, Romania reconsidered its position vis-a-vis the west. England had handed Czechoslovakia to Hitler on a silver platter, stood by helpless as Hitler and Stalin annexed Poland, displayed impotence and incompetence as Hitler made his way through Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg and then only mild competence in abandoning its erstwhile ally France via Dunkerque. On July 1st, Romania abrogated its understanding with England. However, it seems even an inept friend is better than no friend at all. The Soviet Union demanded Moldavia and Hungary demanded Transylvania.
OK, yes, there was some Hungarian minorities in Transylvania. And, yes, the annexation had been brokered by Italy and Germany. However, it did not go very smoothly. At Diosig, the Hungarians entered Transylvania a day early and clashes between the Hungarians and Romanians erupted. In Ip and Tresnea there were massacres of Romanian citizens. The Second Vienna Award played a direct role in the end of the primacy of the Romanian monarchy and the Rise of Romanian Fascism.
Hungary even got a little chunk of Yugoslavia in return for no fighting.
What seems most strange is that after such rough treatment Romania provided such enthusiastic support for the Germans while the Hungarian support for Barbarossa was so tepid. Indeed, the Hungarians performed miserably near Stalingrad and opened the floodgates for Operation Uranus. By 1943, there was nothing left of the Hungarian Army in Russia and what was left of the 2nd Armored Division had been returned to Hungary for a refit. By contrast, the Romanians participated all throughout the Russian adventure and only switched sides when the Red Army arrived at Bucharest. The Wehrmacht's scorn for the Honved was well founded and while the Hungarians performed better when the Red Army came to Hungary, Hungarians outside Hungary were, arguably, the alliance's poorest performing military.
In March of 1944, the Hungarians even began negotiating with the British and the US to switch sides, forcing Hitler to threaten Hungary with occupation by the Slovaks and Romanians.
This is all despite the fact that the Hungarians had what was arguably the best indigenous military production program of all the Axis minor countries. Slovakia was not home to the Czech Skoda works, and while in the beginning of the war they benefited from excellent Czech tanks. While the Toldi and the Zrinyi were not good brand names among WWII vehicles, they were at least production that supplanted the need for German exports. Even the Finns never developed that kind of armor production. In fact, it can feasibly be argued that the Toldi and the Zrinyi were better than anything the Italians ever came up with.
Ironically, the Hungarians went down with the Axis ship. Being the most reluctant and least valuable allies Hitler had, they never got the chance to switch sides. In fact, Hitler arguably cast his last dice in an attempt to get Budapest back up and fighting on his side.
One of the lessons not learned is that, as under the Austrians, the Hungarians are not good allies to the Germans. One could argue that their contentment was to grab little patches of border lands and lord it over the inevitable minorities that inhabited those balkanized lands. Or perhaps past experience had taught them a lesson about German ambitions and the path to which that leads. The lack of political enthusiasm for the invasion of Russia found its way down to the troops--who, being ill led and poorly equipped, saw little hope or reason in a crusade they shared little enthusiasm for.
Whatever, Hitler's last ally was arguably his worst.
As in Germany, liberalism had never taken a strong hold on the population and there was virtually no tradition of democracy. There was, however, a strong trace of nationalism and in the newly fragmented boundaries of east-central Europe this jingoism was allowed to fester and develop into a thriving fascist state.
In 1939, as Germany crushed Czechoslovakia, Hungary sought to take a bite out of Slovakia. In the scuffle, Hitler's newest and most devoted ally, Slovakia, lost at least a few T-35 (PzKw35t) tanks. Hungary ended up with a great deal of Slovakia. Indeed, Germany offered Slovakia to Hungary, but only with a promise to assist in the coming war against the Soviet Union, which Hungary was reluctant to promise...
But Hungary wasn't done yet. In 1940, following the fall of France, Romania reconsidered its position vis-a-vis the west. England had handed Czechoslovakia to Hitler on a silver platter, stood by helpless as Hitler and Stalin annexed Poland, displayed impotence and incompetence as Hitler made his way through Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg and then only mild competence in abandoning its erstwhile ally France via Dunkerque. On July 1st, Romania abrogated its understanding with England. However, it seems even an inept friend is better than no friend at all. The Soviet Union demanded Moldavia and Hungary demanded Transylvania.
Hungary even got a little chunk of Yugoslavia in return for no fighting.
What seems most strange is that after such rough treatment Romania provided such enthusiastic support for the Germans while the Hungarian support for Barbarossa was so tepid. Indeed, the Hungarians performed miserably near Stalingrad and opened the floodgates for Operation Uranus. By 1943, there was nothing left of the Hungarian Army in Russia and what was left of the 2nd Armored Division had been returned to Hungary for a refit. By contrast, the Romanians participated all throughout the Russian adventure and only switched sides when the Red Army arrived at Bucharest. The Wehrmacht's scorn for the Honved was well founded and while the Hungarians performed better when the Red Army came to Hungary, Hungarians outside Hungary were, arguably, the alliance's poorest performing military.
In March of 1944, the Hungarians even began negotiating with the British and the US to switch sides, forcing Hitler to threaten Hungary with occupation by the Slovaks and Romanians.
This is all despite the fact that the Hungarians had what was arguably the best indigenous military production program of all the Axis minor countries. Slovakia was not home to the Czech Skoda works, and while in the beginning of the war they benefited from excellent Czech tanks. While the Toldi and the Zrinyi were not good brand names among WWII vehicles, they were at least production that supplanted the need for German exports. Even the Finns never developed that kind of armor production. In fact, it can feasibly be argued that the Toldi and the Zrinyi were better than anything the Italians ever came up with.
Ironically, the Hungarians went down with the Axis ship. Being the most reluctant and least valuable allies Hitler had, they never got the chance to switch sides. In fact, Hitler arguably cast his last dice in an attempt to get Budapest back up and fighting on his side.
One of the lessons not learned is that, as under the Austrians, the Hungarians are not good allies to the Germans. One could argue that their contentment was to grab little patches of border lands and lord it over the inevitable minorities that inhabited those balkanized lands. Or perhaps past experience had taught them a lesson about German ambitions and the path to which that leads. The lack of political enthusiasm for the invasion of Russia found its way down to the troops--who, being ill led and poorly equipped, saw little hope or reason in a crusade they shared little enthusiasm for.
Whatever, Hitler's last ally was arguably his worst.
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