Hungarian Forces

BUDAPEST SIEGE: Szalasi and General Beregfy

After Horthy's deposition, government nominally passed into the hands of a local right-wing nationalist and anti-Semite named Szalasi (Sah-laa-shee), the leader of the Arrow-Cross "Hungarist" party. He is shown here marching through a Buda Castle square, wearing a long overcoat, followed by a Hungarist retinue, including his Minister of Defense General Beregfy, in the front row. The display of armbands indicated adherance to the Arrow-Cross, which stood in agreement with Hitler for continuing the struggle against the Soviet Union. In any case, real decision-making had shifted to the Third Reich. The Szalasi government , including Beregfy, moved to western Hungary in early December. After the war, both were executed by the new regime.