Hitler used Hungary's ambition to recover the province of Erdely (Transylvania) as a means of drawing Hungary into his anti-Soviet alliance. Germany and Italy "awarded" northern Erdely to Hungary in 1940, and that country eagerly moved into that predominantly Hungarian-inhabited region. As Hungarian troops entered the capital, Kolozsvar, a young Hungarian soldier receives a welcoming bouquet along with a kiss, as shown in this lithograph.

Magyar Troops Welcomed in Kolozsvar,1940

In the wake of the punishing Treaty of Trianon, Regent Horthy of Hungary, determined to recover as much as possible of Greater Hungary, found international support for his aspirations only from Italy and Germany. So during the 1930's, the Trianon losses drove Hungary into the camp of led by Germany. In his drive for European hegemony and far-reaching power, Hitler eagerly sought the assistance of all malcontented countries, including Hungary, mainly by playing on her territorial yearnings. So it was a typical relationship of convenience that kept Hitler and Horthy on similar courses. Here Horthy, the old, former Austro-Hungarian admiral on the Adriatic sea, is being treated to a look at German naval exercises held near the port of Kiel, in May, 1938. 

Hitler and Horthy -- A Cooperation of Convenience

As Hitler's international moves led to the end of Czechoslovakia in March, 1939, Hungary was given Berlin's green light for the recovery of the province of Ruthenia or Karpatalja, garnered by Prague back in 1918-1920. Here Magyar Honveds look over from the castle hill both the city of Munkacs and the Carpathian mountains in the background.