Defence minister who pressed for joining the invasion of Yugoslavia and the war on the Soviet Union, and harshened labour service
Born in Budapest, he graduated from the military technical academy at Mödling in 1904. After the fall of the Soviet Republic he joined Horthy’s National Army. Appointed defence minister by Imrédy in 1938, he kept the post until 1942; with Chief of Staff Werth he pressed for full participation in the invasion of Yugoslavia and for fighting on the Eastern Front, and after the Kassa bombing demanded an immediate declaration of war on the Soviets. In 1942 he removed the age limit for conscription into labour service battalions and in June announced in parliament that Jewishness would be defined in racial terms. Horthy forced him to resign in September 1942 over his excessive pro-German stance. After the war a military court stripped him of his rank; he emigrated to Venezuela and died in 1964 while visiting Linz, Austria.
Activities and affiliations
- 1938–1942 Government and administration · Hungary
- 1919–1938 Military command · Hungary
Career Timeline
- 1904Graduated from the military technical academy at Mödling
- 1914–1918Senior commands in Budapest and Trieste
- 1919Fought the Czechoslovak and Romanian armies; joined the National Army
- 1938–1942Defence minister
- 1945Stripped of rank by a military court
- 1950년대–1964Emigrated to Venezuela; railway engineer