Jews in Interwar Hungary

Hungary 1867 – autonomy Trianon Treaty – lost 70% of its territory 60% of its population Nation-state Social revolution – 1) Karolyi – 2) Bela Kun

Historical Context Acculturation, assimilation : „Hungarians of Mosaic faith“ Jews supported by NOBILITY – Medium of – magyrization – - economic modernization Westjuden – esp. Budapest Magyrization of Jewish names

Historical context 1868 – Neology – Orthodoxy – „Status quo“ Jews as a RELIGIOUS GROUP

Historical Context Jews= industrial and business bourgeoisie – their children intellectuals and scientists (orientation towards the left) „Judapest“ conversions

The End of Old Order Jews present in Karolyi´s and Bela Kun´s government counterrevolution – Romanian military intervention Horthy – white terror, – pogroms

Demography, Status, Culture Budapest – 23% of the city population – 45% of Hungarian Jews 65% neologs Middle class: trade, industry, liberal professions

The New Hungary 1932 Gömbös Before Gömbös – Numerus clausus in the universities – JEWS AS NATIONALITY

Jewish Politics Neolog x orthodox Zionism only after Nov Rich neolog leadership from Budapest - politics of Hungarian nationalism

Hungarian- Jewish Relation in the 1930´s Radical right Hungarian Germans Nazi influenced army 1932 – Gyula GÖMBÖS PRIME MINISTER – Alliance with Hitler – hoped in revision of Trianon

1930´s Arrow Cross Party – extreme right 1938 – 1st Viennesa Award (after Munich agreement) – May – 1st Jewish law – Late – 2nd Jewish law  Emigration  New conversions  Zionist youth

The War Years 1944 Horthy to Hitler: „I prefer to solve the Jewish question without having a recourse to brutal and inhumane methods.“ 1942 Horthy appoints Miklos KALLAY as Prime Minister March 1944 – German ocupation – May 5- June 7: Jews sent to death camps – Oct: Arrow Cross Party in control  pogroms, death marches