Hungarian Forces

A MISLEADING PHOTO of Hitler and Horthy, 1938

A picture is often worth a thousand words – indeed. But this 1938 photo of Hitler and Horthy riding in an open automobile through Berlin is one of the exceptions. In all too many observers’ minds the image appears as a reflection of a cozy meeting transpiring between the Reich Chancellor and the Regent of Hungary. But that is far from the truth, as this long story unfolds. In 1938 Hitler was already on the warpath about dismantling Czechoslovakia, but in May of 1938 the threat of military retaliation by France and Great Britain stopped the Fuehrer cold. Seldom at a loss for solution, at this stage Hitler brought Hungary onto the world stage for the sake of helping him out. Hungary was no friend of the new Czechoslovakia and she wanted Slovakia, the former Upper Hungary, returned “home.” This was a convenient opening for Hitler. Horthy and his top officials were invited to a lavish state visit to Germany, with a naval parade held at Kiel for the former Austro-Hungarian admiral’s benefit. Here Hitler got down to business and proposed a Hungarian invasion of Czechoslovakia, i.e. Slovakia or Upper Hungary, rewarded by her reannexation of the multi-national province. Hitler’s ulterior motive was clever – in that case Germany could intervene to settle the turmoil by his own invasion and occupation of Bohemia-Moravia or “Czechia,” serving as a justification of “peacemaking intervention” toward the West. The Hungarian delegation first salivated then just about chocked in response. No way could Hungary risk a war in 1938 and deal with a Yugoslav military intervention, because “we could not be expected to commit suicide,” so her foreign minister explained. Both Hitler and Horthy were badly frustrated at Kiel consequently. But the smooth operators they both were, the planned visit continued in Berlin, including an amiable looking open car ride in the morning, see photo above, and a gala opera performance in the evening. There was much more to follow in the two politicians interactions until 1945, but to his credit on this visit and ever after Horthy and his country refused the National Socialist raised-hand salute, because even though subordinated by the Third Reich imperial power, Horthy remained a conservative Hungarian nationalist. In any case, the above is not the first or last photo to mess with our perception.