Béla Kun
In 1930 Szántó published a history of the Hungarian revolution, in which he criticized the actions of Béla Kun, the central leader of the Hungarian communists. This caused hostile relations between Szántó and Kun. With Soviet support, Kun was ousted from the Hungarian party leadership, but Szántó was also targeted, being expelled from the Communist Party and for a time arrested. He was rehabilitated in 1940, and in 1945 returned to Hungary.