National Defence Committee (Hungary, 1848–1849)
헝가리 국방위원회 (1848–1849)
The committee that acted as the de facto government of revolutionary Hungary from early October 1848 to 14 April 1849. Created by a vote of the Diet on 16 September on Kossuth's proposal, it took over executive power after Batthyány's second resignation on 2 October, with Lajos Kossuth as its president directing the recruitment of the Honvéd and the conduct of the war. Abbreviated OHB.
In depth
Amid Jelačić's invasion and the collapse of the Batthyány ministry, the committee began as a six-member body mediating between the premier and the Diet, became the de facto government on 2 October when Batthyány resigned again, and by a resolution of the Diet of 8 October received all the powers of a government until a new one should meet; the English Wikipedia has it taking power provisionally after 28 September; from 14 September a growing number of deputies had already called for Kossuth to be given temporary dictatorial powers. Under the committee the war ministry was reorganised into specialised departments and eight military districts were formed, and by December there were 62 infantry battalions.
Short of officers, the committee promoted former imperial officers and trained civilians, and it obtained arms through imports and factory conversions, creating a State Armament Factory. By mid-December 1848 the Hungarian army numbered 100,000–110,000 men. Its work ended on 14 April 1849 with the dethronement of the Habsburgs and Kossuth's election as regent-president, and the Szemere cabinet was formed on 2 May.