Communist who ran the political police of the Hungarian Soviet Republic as head of its political investigation department
Born into a wealthy, enlightened Jewish family, he was active in the Galileo Circle and, while working as a bank official, led the illegal anti-militarist group of revolutionary socialists in 1918. He helped found the Party of Communists in Hungary and joined its Central Committee, and on 21 March 1919 he typed the text of the merger of the two parties in prison. In the Soviet Republic he first handled the socialisation of shops and then, as head of the political investigation department of the interior commissariat, hunted suspected counter-revolutionaries. After the fall he stayed behind with György Lukács to rebuild the underground party, was arrested and tortured, and was hanged in December 1919.
Activities and affiliations
Career Timeline
- 1917Joined the Galileo Circle and the anti-militarist movement
- 1918Co-founded the KMP; Central Committee member
- 1919In charge of socialising shops
- 1919Head of the political investigation department