Overview

Guiding principles: Do chronicle the past as it really happened, Leopold von Ranke stressed long ago. Abiding by his spirit, this volume narrates the Hungarian nations quest for defending a sovereign existence while caught in the middle of a German-Soviet geopolitical struggle decisively influencing life and death. The narrative also considers the diligent Hungarian Jewish communitys attempt of carrying on a normal life despite facing severe domestic and foreign impediments, eventually leading to the enormous Holocaust tragedy. The author is mindful of Baruch Spinozas plea of ridicule not, bewail not, nor scorn human actions, but understand them. Rationality also dictates reflection upon Albert Einsteins appeal: Morality is of the highest importance for our very existence depends on it. Historical observations: Despite attending to Hungarys destabilizing irredentism, Hitler sought no Hungarian invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, and demanded large Honved forces only after his defeat in Moscow; The Holocausts intrusion into Hungary was triggered by a German military occupation, while local collusion and collaboration assisted it; Horthy was a calculating politician but not an anti-Semite, resulting in his uneven, positive and negative treatment of the Jewish Magyars; Szalasi was an anti-Jewish zealot proposing expulsion, but not genocide; Christians individuals and institutions saved many Jewish Magyars; Swedish humanitarian Wallenberg was an American secret agent; Not an Alpine redoubt, but Festung Budapest defended the Reich; 1941-1945, circa 500,000 Jewish and 600,000 non-Jewish Magyars died; Intervention, war, and a coup ended the Old Order and the Magyar monarchy.

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