Hungarian and Slovak Soviet Republic

The Hungarian and Slovak Soviet Republic arose during the turbulent times following the Great War. It would become a constituent state of the United Earth Government Charter and supporter of Earth Gov.

## Origin

Ethnic relations within the Austro-Hungarian Empire had always been strained. Hungarian nationalist were always agitating for more autonomy. The rise of socialist ideology only served to increase tensions. Emperor Karl's post-war reforms would prove too little too late for the disparate dissident groups within Hungary. In 1919 a revolution began led by Count Mihaly Karolyi.

Karolyi had been a long time dissenter and opponent of the war, even going so far as to collaborate behind the scenes with the Entente. After the war he managed to form a coalition between liberal democratic revolutionaries and socialist revolutionaries. The combined forces managed to oust the current Hungarian administration and force the Prime Minister to step down. Revolutionary agents also attempted to assassinate Count Istvan Tisza, former Prime Minister, proponent of the Dual Monarchy, and one of the finest political and economic minds in Hungary. Count Tisza fled to Austria and Karolyi declared the First Republic of Hungary with himself as President.

Romania saw a moment of opportunity in the conflict of the revolution and they lost no time in invading the newly formed Republic of Hungary with the intent of reclaiming Transylvannia. While President Karolyi had been a popular figurehead for the revolutionaries, he soon proved to be an inept administrator and politician. His government was mired by indecision, inaction, and disorganization.

By 1920 the Republic of Hungary suffered a socialist coup and was reborn as the Hungarian and Slovak Soviet Republic. The new Soviet Republic was forced to cede Transylvannia to Romania to secure its continued existence.

## Red Terror

By 1922 the Hungarian and Slovak Soviet Republic began to launch a series of repressive actions against conservative elements within their society. This would eventually become known as the Red Terror and many of the conservatives who were able to leave would eventually seek asylum in Austria.

One of these Hungarian refugees was Count Ivan Tisza, political theorist, economist, and former Prime Minister of Hungary. He had narrowly avoided an assassination attempt when the initial Hungarian coup took place under Karolyi. Tisza was a long time proponent of the Dual Monarchy and was well received by the Imperial Court in Vienna.

## Mid Century and the Commintern

With their control secure and opposition elements either forced to flee or brutally suppressed, the new Soviet government turned to trying secure their tenuous international position. The new republic was surrounded by enemies with Romania to the south, Austria to the west and Poland to the north. The Hungarian soviets turned to their only natural ally, the Soviet Russians.

The Russian Civil war was entering into a stalemate by this point but the Red Russians were exhausted from the prolonged conflict and desperately needed to rebuild their own infrastructure. As a result they could offer little direct support, but their diplomatic alliance would provide a deterrent.

This combination of isolation and reliance on the Russians as both an ally and primary trade partner would see the HSSR become a virtual client state of Soviet Russia.

With the death of Stalin and the ultimate victory of the pro-Trotsky Krushchev faction in Soviet Russia, the HSSR also received full membership in the Commintern and a significant broadening of trade partners. This produced an era of economic growth throughout the 1940's and 1950's and also decreased dependence on the Russians. As a result the 1960's would see a resurgence of Hungarian national identity among the populace.