Vitéz Lajos Csatay de Csataj (born as Lajos Tutzentaller in 1 August 1886 – 16 October 1944) was a Hungarian military officer and politician, who served as Minister of Defence between 1943 and 1944. He fought in the First World War then he joined to the Hungarian Red Army to fight against the rebel nationalities. Between 1919 and 1921 he was a teacher of the Military Academy of Budapest. From 1926 he was a commander of miscellaneous legions. In 1943 he became commander of the Hungarian Third Army.

Miklós Kállay

Miklós Kállay

Dr. Miklós Kállay de Nagykálló was a Hungarian politician who served as Prime Minister of Hungary during World War II, from 9 March 1942 to 19 March 1944....

 appointed him as Minister of Defence in June 1943. Initially he supported the Nazis and the continuation of the war. Later his opinion changed continuously. After the replacement of the Sztójay

Döme Sztójay

Döme Sztójay born Demeter Sztojakovich was a Hungarian soldier and diplomat of Serb origin, who served as Prime Minister of Hungary during World War II.- Biography :...

 administration he kept his position. The new Prime Minister Géza Lakatos

Géza Lakatos

Knight Géza Lakatos de Csíkszentsimon was a general in Hungary during World War II who served briefly as Prime Minister of Hungary, under governor Miklós Horthy from August 29, 1944, until October 15,...

' real aim was jumping out of the war. The cabinet wanted to initiate peace negotiations with the Allies

Allies

In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...

. Miklós Horthy moved to reconsolidate his influence and began considering strategies for surrendering to the Allied force he deeply distrusted: the Red Army

Red Army

The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...

. The conversion was not successful. Horthy was captured by Edmund Veesenmayer

Edmund Veesenmayer

Edmund Veesenmayer was a German politician, officer and war criminal. He significantly contributed to The Holocaust in Hungary and Croatia...

 and his staff later on 15 October and taken to the Waffen SS office, where he was held overnight. Lajos Csatay was captured by the Gestapo

Gestapo

The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...

, as a result he committed suicide along with his wife.