Professional officer who as chief of staff of the Hungarian Red Army directed the northern campaign of 1919
Born in Újpest into a German-origin Evangelical family of intellectuals, he graduated from the Ludovika Academy in 1896, studied at the War Academy in Vienna and in 1913 became its first professor from the Hungarian army. In January 1919 he joined the Social Democratic Party and as state secretary was put in charge of army organisation. Under the Soviet Republic he became chief of staff of the Red Army on 21 April, won an important victory near Miskolc and led the northern campaign, but resigned on 3 July in protest at the acceptance of the Clemenceau note and the order to withdraw. Arrested after the fall, he was sentenced to three years for treason in 1920, and from 1925 he was a member of the illegal Communist Party. He died in 1927 and was posthumously promoted to colonel general in 1945.
Activities and affiliations
Career Timeline
- 1896Graduated from the Ludovika Academy
- 1913Professor at the War Academy in Vienna
- 1919Joined the Social Democrats; state secretary for army organisation
- 1919Chief of staff of the Red Army
- 1920Sentenced to three years for treason
- 1925–1927Member of the illegal Communist Party