Lajos Veress
Encyclopedia
Lajos Veress de Dálnok (4 October 1889 - 29 March 1976) was a Hungarian
military officer, who served as Commander of the Hungarian Second Army
during the Second World War.
noble family. He finished his studies at the Ludovica Military Academy
in 1910. He served as Chief of Staff of the Cavalry Division between 1933 and 1935. After that he had been a Military attaché
to Vienna
in 1935-1938. From 1938 to 1940 he served as commander of the 15th infantry Brigade. In 1940 he was the leader of the 2th Cavalry Brigade as Major General. Soon he was promoted to Lieutenant General and fought at the Don Front
as commander of the First Armored Division. Between 1942 and 1944 he served as commander of the 9th Corps. He was appointed commander of the Second Army on 1 April 1944.
Before the beginning of the surrender negotiations with the Allies
Regent Miklós Horthy
, who tried to step out of the war, was appointed him homo regius (the Regent's deputy) if Horthy would be indisposed. As a result of his pro-German officers' betrayal the German army arrested Veress and gave to the Arrow Cross
authorities; a military court sentenced him to fifteen years. He was imprisoned since 16 October 1944 in Sopronkőhida
but later successfully escaped. He was retired in 1946.
With false charges of right-wing, anti-state conspiracy a People's Tribunal sentenced him to death on 16 April 1947, but the National Council of People's Tribunals mitigated and changed the sentence to life imprisonment. He was released during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and left the country on 3 November 1956. From 1958 he served as chairman of the World Federation of Hungarian Freedom Fighters. Veress died in London. He was buried in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
.
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...
military officer, who served as Commander of the Hungarian Second Army
Hungarian Second Army
The Hungarian Second Army was one of three field armies raised by the Kingdom of Hungary which saw action during World War II. All three armies were formed on March 1, 1940...
during the Second World War.
Military career
He was born into a SzékelySzékely
The Székelys or Székely , sometimes also referred to as Szeklers , are a subgroup of the Hungarian people living mostly in the Székely Land, an ethno-cultural region in eastern Transylvania, Romania...
noble family. He finished his studies at the Ludovica Military Academy
Ludovica Military Academy
The Royal Hungarian Ludovica Defense Academy , shortened to Ludovica or Ludovica Academy, was Hungary's officer cadets training institute prior to 1945. The main edifice of the Academy was erected in 1836 at the Ludovica Garden, in the centrally located VIIIth district...
in 1910. He served as Chief of Staff of the Cavalry Division between 1933 and 1935. After that he had been a Military attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in 1935-1938. From 1938 to 1940 he served as commander of the 15th infantry Brigade. In 1940 he was the leader of the 2th Cavalry Brigade as Major General. Soon he was promoted to Lieutenant General and fought at the Don Front
Don Front
The Don Front was a front of the Soviet Union's Red Army during the Second World War. The name refers to Don River, Russia....
as commander of the First Armored Division. Between 1942 and 1944 he served as commander of the 9th Corps. He was appointed commander of the Second Army on 1 April 1944.
Before the beginning of the surrender 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...
Regent 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...
, who tried to step out of the war, was appointed him homo regius (the Regent's deputy) if Horthy would be indisposed. As a result of his pro-German officers' betrayal the German army arrested Veress and gave to the Arrow Cross
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...
authorities; a military court sentenced him to fifteen years. He was imprisoned since 16 October 1944 in Sopronkőhida
Sopronkőhida
Sopronkőhida is a village in North Western Hungary, 4 km north of the city Sopron and 5 km south of the border with Austria.-Significance:...
but later successfully escaped. He was retired in 1946.
With false charges of right-wing, anti-state conspiracy a People's Tribunal sentenced him to death on 16 April 1947, but the National Council of People's Tribunals mitigated and changed the sentence to life imprisonment. He was released during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and left the country on 3 November 1956. From 1958 he served as chairman of the World Federation of Hungarian Freedom Fighters. Veress died in London. He was buried in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
.