1919 in Hungary

The following lists events in the year 1919 in Hungary.

Incumbents

President: Mihály Károlyi (until 21 March), Sándor Garbai (21 March-1 August), István Friedrich (23 August - 24 November), Károly Huszár (from 24 November) Regent: Archduke Joseph August (7-23 August) Prime Minister: Mihály Károlyi (until 11 January), Dénes Berinkey (11 January - 21 March), Sándor Garbai (21 March-1 August), Gyula Peidl (1-6 August), István Friedrich (6 August - 24 November), Károly Huszár (from 24 November) Presidents of the National Assembly of Councils (14 June - 6 August): Péter Ágoston, Dezső Bokányi, Miska Kovács, Jenő Pósz, János Szokob, Lajos Urbán

Events

January

January 1 – Czech troops occupied Pozsony (now Bratislava) January 3 – Romania begins pacifying the Zsil Valley (now Jiu Valley) in southern Transylvania by collecting weapons Mass looting in Salgótarján, after the communist-aligned workers' council takes control. A detachment from Hatvan restores order with about 18 deaths and 50 injuries. January 6 – First clash between Romanian and Hungarian forces at Egeres (now Aghireșu) January 7 - At an MSZDP meeting, Károlyi and Kunfi intervenes against Garami so that the party does not withdraw from government A pro-Czechoslovak Ruthenian council in Eperjes (now Prešov) declares Carpathian Ruthenia for Czechoslovakia January 8 Hutsul Republic declared in Körösmező (now Yasinia) Transylvanian Saxons declare for Romania in Medgyes (now Mediaș) Allied economic committee sent by the American mission of Archibald Cary Coolidge arrives to Budapest, led by Alonzo E. Taylor January 10 – France declares a buffer zone in the Banat between Serbian and Romanian troops (occupied on January 25-30) January 11 – Mihály Károlyi named provisional President of the Republic by the National Council, tasked to form a new government January 12 – Czechoslovak forces capture Ungvár (now Uzhgorod) January 13 – Székely Division halts Romanian advance at Cigányi (now Crișeni) Árpád Paál finishes his memorandum on a "Székely Republic" January 14 – Romanians arrest István Apáthy for trying to resist the establishment of Romanian administration in Kolozsvár (now Cluj-Napoca) January 15–29 – A Czech legion temporarily occupies Balassagyarmat, pushed out by local resistance January 16 – Furthest advance of West-Ukrainian forces into Carpathian Ruthenia. From the Hutsul republic, they reach Máramarossziget (now Sighetu Marmației) where they are pushed back by Romanian troops. Another column advances to Munkács (now Mukachevo) and Csap (now Chop), but retreats after the failure at Máramarossziget. January 17 – Romania occupies Máramarossziget January 16–29 – Battle of Csucsa (now Ciucea), Romanian advance halted January 19 Berinkey Government is formed Hungarian National Defense Association (MOVE) rally at Gólyavár. Gömbös's speech against the Károlyi regime. Gömbös becomes president of MOVE. West-Ukrainian forces withdraw from Csap (now Chop) and Munkács (now Mukachevo) January 21 – Telegram by Clemenceau demands Romanians halt their advance All-People's Transcarpathian Congress in Huszt (now Khust) declares for West-Ukraine January 23 – Central Workers' Council expels communists from unions January 29 – Act VI of 1919: Autonomy established for Germans in West Hungary. Géza Zsombor appointed as governor. January 30 – Communists attack the gendarmerie in Makó and overthrow the local National Council. A worker's council takes over the governance of the city. January 31 – Disarmament of the population in Makó leads to a firefight, 5 people are killedHalmágyi, P. (Ed.). (2001). A makói terroristák pere (A Návay-per), 1919–1921 (A Makói Múzeum Füzetei, 96). Makó: Makói Múzeum.

February

February 1 – Paris Peace Conference decides to cede Transylvania to Romania, details are delegated to sub-committee led by André Tardieu February 2 – Act XVII of 1919 on land reform passed, mostly never implemented February 3 – János Junker appointed minister for the German minorities February 5 – The Czech delegation presents its proposal to the Paris Peace Conference, including the Czech Corridor February 8 - First meeting (of 12) of the Commission on Romanian and Yugoslav Affairs at the Paris Peace Conference February 12 – Czech forces leave Csap (now Chop) In Pozsony (now Bratislava), the German and Hungarian population started a protest against the Czechoslovak occupation, the Czechoslovak Legions opened fire on the unarmed demonstrators.Marcel Jankovics, "Húsz esztendő Pozsonyban", p. 65-67 (Hungarian) The intervention by the Czechoslovak soldiers firing on the peaceful demonstrators caused 8 deaths and 14 injuries. February 13 – Communists attack the Military Nursing Office and remove its leadership February 16 - Act XVIII of 1919 on land reform February 19 – István Bethlen forms the Party of National Unification (NEP) Paris Peace Conference proposes a Neutral Zone between Romania and Hungary February 20 – Communists attack MSZDP newspaper Népszava's building, 8 fatalities February 21 – Communist leaders arrested. Béla Kun is beaten up and imprisoned 100-150 thousand pro-MSZDP workers demonstrate against the communist attack February 22 – Jászi dissolves his Civic Radical Party, advising his followers to join the Social Democrats February 23 – Károlyi ceremonially starts land reform on his own Heves county estates (Kápolna) February 23–26 – Battle of Zilah (now Zalău) February 26 – Paris Peace Conference approves the finalized version of the neutral zone between Romanian and Hungarian forces February 27 – Paris Peace Conference establishes its Committee on Czecho-Slovakia. It would hold ten sessions, last on May 5. February 28 - March 5 – Czech Corridor proposal discussed and rejected under Italian pressure

March

March 1 – Free elections scheduled for April 10 Army of Hungary led by Paul-Joseph de Lobit separated from the Armée d'Orient March 2 – Mihály Károlyi's speech in Szatmárnémeti in front of the Székely Division, declaring armed resistance against allied territorial demands March 4 – Elections held in Rus'ka Krajina March 5 – People's Law establishes a Party-list proportional system, never implemented March 10 – The Kaposvár Workers' Council overthrows the local county government and established a 3-member directory March 12 – Act XIX. of 1919 on Slovak Autonomy March 15 – Election rally of János Vass is crashed by József Migray's band March 18 – Commission on Romanian and Yugoslav Affairs finalizes the division of the Banat. On a sudden American proposal, 8 full settlements and some other areas in Torontál county (around Szeged) would stay with Hungary. March 20 The Vix Note demands Hungary withdraw over 100 km to the Szeged–Debrecen–Vásárosnamény line Berinkey Government resigns Hungarian National Council dissolved March 21 MSZDP and KMP unite to form the Socialist Party of Hungary Károlyi falls from power Hungary rejects the Vix Note 17:00 – Soldiers' Council declares for the communists, takes control of key points of Budapest Hungarian Soviet Republic declared from 22:00 – First joint meeting of the Socialist Party of Hungary, Revolutionary Governing Council established March 22 – The Hungarian Soviet Republic is proclaimed to the public on the famous "To Everyone!" (Mindenkihez!) posters. March 23 – Czechoslovak massacre in Zselíz (Želiezovce) (5 killed) March 26 – Red Guard established March 29 – April 6 – Székelys revolt in Sóvidék

April

April 1 – The National Guard and Financial Guard are merged into the Red Army April 4 Provisional constitution establishes new election system Lands above 100 acres nationalized April 4–5 – Smuts Mission: Jan Smuts offers a more favorable demarcation line, the Soviet government rejects it April 5 – On its last session, the Commission on Romanian and Yugoslav Affairs approves its border proposal for the Romanian-Hungarian border and the division of the Banat April 7–14 – Council elections in Soviet Hungary April 10 – Zala county is split into Lower and Upper Zala counties. April 12 – Bethlen forms the Antibolsevista Comité (ABC) in Vienna April 14 – Anti-Soviet group formed in French-occupied Szeged by Béla Kelemen. April 16 – Successful Romanian offensive launched to capture Tiszántúl and Carpathian Ruthenia April 19 – Romanian troops and civilians massacred 91 Hungarian civilians in Köröstárkány (now Tărcaia) April 19–24 – Counter-revolution in Carpathian Ruthenia April 21–22 – Counter-revolution in Alsólendva April 23 Romanians enter Debrecen Böhm becomes commander of Tiszántúl operations April 26 ABC sends Gyula Gömbös to Szeged Part of the Székely Battalion surrenders at Demecser April 27 Czechoslovak forces attack the Hungarian Soviet Republic French troops occupy MakóHalmágyi, P. (2021). Makó francia megszállása, 1919. április 27. – 1919. június 15. In Lokális Trianon 1: Csongrád, Csanád és Torontál vármegye az összeomlás éveiben 1918–1920 (Vol. 28, pp. 55–66)

May

May 1 Romanians cross the Tisza at Tiszafüred and Szolnok, but withdraw on Entente pressure Hungarian workers' militias cross the Danube at Komárom, massacred by Czechoslovak forces Oszkár Jászi emigrates to Vienna May 2 Morning: Böhm dispatches Parlimentairs to negotiate armistices with the intervention, later recalled Romania demands demobilization, handover of transport vehicles and 8 bridgeheads on the Tisza for an armistice. However, due to both American pressure, and Soviet threats on Bessarabia, Romania would not advance further into Hungary.Hatos 2021, p. 55 Czech forces capture Miskolc Full-scale Czechoslovak attack on Salgótarján begins Kun and Böhm speak in front of the Workers' and Soldiers' Council, call for the mobilization of the proletariat, resolve to continue fighting Bankgasse robbery: ABC members steal 100 million Korona from the Hungarian Embassy in Vienna In the power vacuum, counter-revolutionaries establish control in Szolnok, led by Lajos Thurzó, Antal Bordás-Lassenberg and Andor Kuster. A white guard of 700-800 men is formed. May 3 – Red army (by Tibor Szamuely and Ottó Steinbrück) re-captures Szolnok from Romanians and counter-revolutionaries May 5 Counter-revolution breaks out in Devecser First counter-revolutionary government formed by Gyula Károlyi in Arad Last session of the Committee on Czecho-Slovakia May 6 – ABC militia raid repulsed at Bruck am Leitha May 8 Central Ruthenian National Council headed by Ágoston Volosin declares the union Carpathian Ruthenia with Czechoslovakia Committees of the Paris Peace Conference present recommended border with Romania and Czechoslovakia to the Council of Foreign Ministers May 9 – The Workers' Council's system of Trusted Men is abolished in the Red Army The Arad government departs for Szeged, but is intercepted by Romanians at Mezőhegyes and held captive for two weeks.Pataki, I. (1968). Az ellenforradalom fegyveres szervezkedése Magyarországon és Ausztriában a proletárhatalom ellen: A „nemzeti hadsereg” létrehozásának első periódusa (1919. III. 21.–1919. VIII. 1.). Hadtörténelmi Közlemények, 15(3), 429–463. May 10 – Anti-Soviet Social Democrat Garami negotiates with Sir Thomas Montgomery-Cuninghame in Vienna May 12 – Supreme Council of the Paris Peace Conference accepts border proposals. Aside from the Austrian claims to Western Hungary, these roughly match the final borders to be defined by the Treaty of Trianon Guido Romanelli is delegated to Budapest from the Italian Allied Mission in Vienna. May 15 – Last session of the ABC. They agree that Pál Teleki should join the Arad/Szeged government, while Bethlen should stay to represent them from Vienna