Hungarian National Socialist Party
Encyclopedia
The Hungarian National Socialist Party was a political epithet adopted by a number of minor Nazi
parties in Hungary
before the Second World War.
A second group, the National Socialist Party of Work, was founded by Zoltán Böszörmény
in 1931. The movement soon became known as the Scythe Cross due to its party emblem. The Scythe Cross was fairly small, but it was the first fascist movement in Hungary to directly call for land and social reform for peasants. Many fascist movements afterward, including the Arrow Cross Party
, followed this example and gained rural support.
The Hungarian National Socialist Agricultural Labourers’ and Workers’ Party (HNSALWP) was formed in 1933 as a splinter group from the Smallholders Party
under Zoltán Meskó
. This party appealed specifically to landless peasants. Before long it subsumed the original HNSP and its followers became known as the Greenshirts for their distinctive uniforms. They also adopted the Arrow Cross
as their symbol.
Around the same time Sándor Graf Festetics
, who had briefly served as Minister of Defence during the government of Mihály Károlyi
, set up his own Hungarian National Socialist People’s Party (HNSPP). A rival group, going by the name of HNSP, also emerged under the leadership of Count Fidél Pálffy
(who was later viewed by the SS
as a candidate to lead the country). This group adopted the swastika
as its emblem and the National Socialist Program
as its policy document and even attempted to organise their own SA
and SS, albeit on a much smaller scale than in Germany. Both of these groups looked directly to Nazi Germany
for their inspiration and copied the Nazi Party
as much as they could. Both were also banned soon after their formation by the government, although they continued underground.
by István Balogh
. Both Balogh and Festetics were elected to parliament for this group in 1935.
The two remaining parties came together as the National Socialist Party of Hungary in 1935 and before long Palffy had seen off Mesko as well to leave him as sole leader. As a consequence Mesko re-established the HNSALWP, although it failed to gain much support.
and anti-communism
and, drawing its support from the working classes, soon came to be seen as a potential danger by the government of Miklós Horthy
. Support was particularly strong amongst the poor seasonal workers who picked up casual labour on the large estates at harvest time, and when over 100 were arrested they all declared themselves willing to die for the 'Idea' espoused by Böszörmény.
Developing a militia structure, the Scythe Cross opted for insurgency
and launched a rebellion of sorts on May Day
1936. However the still fairly small and poorly equipped group was no match for the army and it was quickly put down. As a result the group was banned and suppressed by the government and Böszörmény went into exile in Germany.
had emerged as a strong leader of his own Party of National Will (later the Arrow Cross Party
). This group soon became the focus for unity, absorbing first Balogh's group in 1937 before adopting the HNSP moniker for his own group that same year. Before long Szálasi had brought all the main talent bar Festetics, who was closer to the aristocracy despite his flirtation with Nazism, under his umbrella.
to relaunch the HNSP almost immediately and this group had 15 deputies by 1940 when it once again merged into Szalasi's group. This merger was not to last however as in 1941 they broke away to form Hungarian Renewal - National Socialist Party (HRNSP), which had as many as 44 deputies. Supported by the German
-funded newspaper Magyarság, the party made little headway, although it was one of the few allowed to continue after the German invasion and played a minor role in the government of Szálasi. The HRNSP was officially merged into the Arrow Cross in 1944, although separate organisations largely continued to function until the end of the war.
None of the various claimants to the title of Hungarian National Socialist Party survived the Second World War.
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
parties in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
before the Second World War.
Early National Socialist groups
The initial HNSP was organised in the 1920s, but did not gain any influence. Nevertheless this incarnation of the party carried on into the 1930s.A second group, the National Socialist Party of Work, was founded by Zoltán Böszörmény
Zoltán Böszörmény
Zoltán Böszörmény was a leading exponent of Fascism in Hungary before the Second World War.The son of a bankrupt landowner, he initially worked a series of odd jobs, ranging from a labourer to a porter. He first flirted with politics in 1919 when he became involved in activity against Béla Kun,...
in 1931. The movement soon became known as the Scythe Cross due to its party emblem. The Scythe Cross was fairly small, but it was the first fascist movement in Hungary to directly call for land and social reform for peasants. Many fascist movements afterward, including the Arrow Cross Party
Arrow Cross Party
The Arrow Cross Party was a national socialist party led by Ferenc Szálasi, which led in Hungary a government known as the Government of National Unity from October 15, 1944 to 28 March 1945...
, followed this example and gained rural support.
Independent Smallholders, Agrarian Workers and Civic Party
The Independent Smallholders, Agrarian Workers and Civic Party is a political party in Hungary...
under Zoltán Meskó
Zoltán Meskó
Zoltán Meskó de Széplak was a leading Hungarian Nazi during the 1930s. He led his own Nazi movement during the early 1930s but faded from the political scene when Hungary became a member of the Axis powers....
. This party appealed specifically to landless peasants. Before long it subsumed the original HNSP and its followers became known as the Greenshirts for their distinctive uniforms. They also adopted the Arrow Cross
Arrow Cross
A cross whose arms end in arrowheads is called a "cross barby" or "cross barbee" in the traditional terminology of heraldry. In Christian use, the ends of this cross resemble the barbs of fish hooks, or fish spears...
as their symbol.
Around the same time Sándor Graf Festetics
Sándor Graf Festetics
Count Sándor Ágost Dénes Festetics de Tolna was a Hungarian nobleman and cabinet minister who later became an advocate of Nazism in Hungary.-Background:...
, who had briefly served as Minister of Defence during the government of Mihály Károlyi
Mihály Károlyi
Count Mihály Ádám György Miklós Károlyi de Nagykároly was briefly Hungary's leader in 1918-19 during a short-lived democracy...
, set up his own Hungarian National Socialist People’s Party (HNSPP). A rival group, going by the name of HNSP, also emerged under the leadership of Count Fidél Pálffy
Fidél Pálffy
Count Fidél Pálffy de Erdőd was a Hungarian nobleman who emerged as a leading supporter of Nazism in Hungary.-Early life:...
(who was later viewed by the SS
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
as a candidate to lead the country). This group adopted the swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
as its emblem and the National Socialist Program
National Socialist Program
The National Socialist Programme , was first, the political program of the German National Socialist Party in 1918, and later, in the 1920s, of the National Socialist German Workers' Party headed by Adolf...
as its policy document and even attempted to organise their own SA
Sturmabteilung
The Sturmabteilung functioned as a paramilitary organization of the National Socialist German Workers' Party . It played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s...
and SS, albeit on a much smaller scale than in Germany. Both of these groups looked directly to Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
for their inspiration and copied the Nazi Party
National Socialist German Workers Party
The National Socialist German Workers' Party , commonly known in English as the Nazi Party, was a political party in Germany between 1920 and 1945. Its predecessor, the German Workers' Party , existed from 1919 to 1920...
as much as they could. Both were also banned soon after their formation by the government, although they continued underground.
Attempts at unity
In 1934 the HNSALWP, the HNSPP and Palffy's HNSP concluded a formal alliance, although before long Festetics was expelled for his perceived 'softness' on the issue of Hungary's Jews. He went on to join another HNSP that was organised in DebrecenDebrecen
Debrecen , is the second largest city in Hungary after Budapest. Debrecen is the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain region and the seat of Hajdú-Bihar county.- Name :...
by István Balogh
István Balogh (politician)
Father István Balogh was a Hungarian priest and anti-communist politician who later tolerated the rule of the Hungarian Communist Party.Initially associated with the Independent Smallholders Party he became a supporter of Nazism for a time during the 1930s and from his base in Debrecen formed a...
. Both Balogh and Festetics were elected to parliament for this group in 1935.
The two remaining parties came together as the National Socialist Party of Hungary in 1935 and before long Palffy had seen off Mesko as well to leave him as sole leader. As a consequence Mesko re-established the HNSALWP, although it failed to gain much support.
Scythe Cross rebellion
Whilst the various factions had struggled to gain some sort of unity the Scythe Cross movement had remained independent. The group pushed a strong platform of anti-SemitismAnti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
and anti-communism
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
and, drawing its support from the working classes, soon came to be seen as a potential danger by the government of Miklós Horthy
Miklós Horthy
Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya was the Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary during the interwar years and throughout most of World War II, serving from 1 March 1920 to 15 October 1944. Horthy was styled "His Serene Highness the Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary" .Admiral Horthy was an officer of the...
. Support was particularly strong amongst the poor seasonal workers who picked up casual labour on the large estates at harvest time, and when over 100 were arrested they all declared themselves willing to die for the 'Idea' espoused by Böszörmény.
Developing a militia structure, the Scythe Cross opted for insurgency
Insurgency
An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents...
and launched a rebellion of sorts on May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
1936. However the still fairly small and poorly equipped group was no match for the army and it was quickly put down. As a result the group was banned and suppressed by the government and Böszörmény went into exile in Germany.
Unity under Szálasi
Whilst this was going on Ferenc SzálasiFerenc Szálasi
Ferenc Szálasi was the leader of the National Socialist Arrow Cross Party – Hungarist Movement, the "Leader of the Nation" , being both Head of State and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Hungary's "Government of National Unity" for the final three months of Hungary's participation in World War II...
had emerged as a strong leader of his own Party of National Will (later the Arrow Cross Party
Arrow Cross Party
The Arrow Cross Party was a national socialist party led by Ferenc Szálasi, which led in Hungary a government known as the Government of National Unity from October 15, 1944 to 28 March 1945...
). This group soon became the focus for unity, absorbing first Balogh's group in 1937 before adopting the HNSP moniker for his own group that same year. Before long Szálasi had brought all the main talent bar Festetics, who was closer to the aristocracy despite his flirtation with Nazism, under his umbrella.
War-time experience
The Arrow Cross was banned when war broke out and as a result Szalasi found unity difficult to maintain. Palffy joined with László BakyLászló Baky
László Baky was a leading member of the Hungarian Nazi movement that flourished before and during World War II....
to relaunch the HNSP almost immediately and this group had 15 deputies by 1940 when it once again merged into Szalasi's group. This merger was not to last however as in 1941 they broke away to form Hungarian Renewal - National Socialist Party (HRNSP), which had as many as 44 deputies. Supported by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-funded newspaper Magyarság, the party made little headway, although it was one of the few allowed to continue after the German invasion and played a minor role in the government of Szálasi. The HRNSP was officially merged into the Arrow Cross in 1944, although separate organisations largely continued to function until the end of the war.
None of the various claimants to the title of Hungarian National Socialist Party survived the Second World War.