Hungarian Axis Forces in WWII

The story of Hungary in WWII as an Axis partner, like all stories, has its roots in the History preceding it. Hungary found itself demoralized and destroyed after the 1918 break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire with the end of WWI. Following the break-up, Hungary fell into a state of chaos, being led by a number of ineffectual Governments until a Communist named Bela Kun proclaimed a Soviet Hungarian Republic. The period following this takeover was known in Hungary as the "Red Terror". In 1919, Vice-Admiral Miklos Horthy, the last Commander-in-Chief of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, raised an army which overthrew the Communist Republic.

In 1920 Hungary signed the Treaty of Trianon, and in the process, lost a good deal of its territory to the Nations around it. This Treaty, although giving Hungary independance, also gave a good deal of territory to neighboring Romania, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. This treaty also mandated things like the size of the standing army; 35,000 officers and men divided into 7 mixed brigades*, headquarter troops and a Danube Naval Flotilla. Under the provisions of this Treaty, tanks, artillery and an air force were also prohibited.

In attempts to regain stability in the years preceeding WWII, Hungary, under the leadership of Horthy, strived to find alliances that would benefit their attempt at regaining lost territory. After searching in vain to England and France, in 1927 Hungary signed another treaty, this time with its former enemy from WWI, Italy. This opened the door even more** for Hungarian support of the Axis cause.

In the 1930's Hungarian Prime Minister Gyula Gombos pulled Hungary even more towards the Axis camp by signing a trade agreement with Germany. As a result of this agreement, in time, Hungary found itself in better economic and political footing. As Hungary began to re-establish itself politically and economically, it also began to thrive socially, and a seemingly open-minded Horty was not oppresive of emerging left or right wing groups. In this air of acceptance many groups began to form that were sympathetic to or emulated the German National Socialists.

From 1938 to 1941, Hungary began to regain its lost territory, either through political means, or through limited military actions. In 1938 Hungary regained areas previously incorporated into the region of Slovakia. In 1939, an 8th mixed brigade was formed, and then all mixed brigades were expanded to corps. Another corps was then added, a Mobile Corps, as well as a new airforce. In March of 1939 the 8th Corps and the Mobile Corps occupied Czechoslovakian Ruthenia. Also in 1939, Hungary joined the Anti-Comintern Pact along with Germany, Italy and Japan. When Germany invaded Poland in September of 1939, Hungary declared itself neutral, although it had been mobilizing its forces since 1938.

In 1940, Rumania was forced by Germany to give back Northern Transylvania. At this time, a 9th Corp was formed that now borderd on the Rumanian frontier in the Carpithian Mountains region.

The Nine Corps areas of Hungary each raised three Dandar or Light Divisions, each with one front-line infantry regiment and one reserve infantry regiment, each of three battalions; a two battalion artillery regiment of 24 guns; a cavalry troop, anti-aircraft company, and a signals company. The Corps themselves also had one motorized infantry battlion, often mounted on bikes, as well as anti-aircraft, engineer and signals battalions. As well as these units, Hungary also fielded Mountain and Border Guard brigades, labour battalions, so-called "Life Guard", Crown Guard, and Parliament Guard units. Hungary was at the time in theory, if not in practice, considered to be a Monarchy with the associated Royal functions and positions; this is why the Hungarian units usually had "Royal" in their titles).

The full order of battle at this time consisted of the following units:

Also in 1940, Hungary created 3 Army Commands that would then control the various Corp formations located throughout the Nation. At the time of the creation of the new Army Commands, the Hungarian Army consisted of the following units: