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Hungarian History Page 1

Revolution and Compromise

1848 was the year of revolution and upheaval in Europe, with Hungary also caught up in this great surge for change. Although initially the Hungarians had the upper hand against the Habsburgs, a combination of misguided political decisions and the intervention of a Russian army (following a plea to the Tsar by the new emperor Franz Joseph) led to Hungarian defeat by 1849.

Immediately after the defeat, the Hungarians suffered harshly under Austrian rule. For example, the Citadella at the top of Gellért Hill in Buda was constructed to deter the masses from further attempts against Habsburg rule (although in the event, the cannons pointing out threateningly over the towns were never used in anger). Indeed, changing political circumstances for the Habsburgs dictated that they reach a fairer accommodation with the Hungarians.

The compromise of 1867 (the "Ausgleich") made Hungary a more equal power in the Habsburg Empire and Austria-Hungary was born, a single nation with two parliaments. The Government ministries were also separate, apart from areas of common need such as defence. Transylvania also became part of Hungary in 1868.

Progress and Prosperity

The period between 1867 and the outbreak of the First World War is regarded as a Golden age of progress, which included the unification of Buda, Óbuda and Pest in 1873 to form Budapest. The population swelled with country people attracted by new industries and the chance of increased wealth and prosperity. Indeed, Pest became the centre of a new railway system that spread throughout the Empire, doing much to enhance trade and commerce. The majority of new municipal construction also took place in Pest. During this time Hungarian culture thrived too, particularly theatre and literary life in the coffee houses, which rivalled that of Vienna.

The 1890's saw Budapest as one of the fastest growing cities in Europe. During this decade, the Hungarians held the Millennium celebrations (1896) to mark one thousand years of Magyar settlement in the Carpathian Basin. As part of the celebrations the Földalatti (now metro line 1) underground railway was constructed along with Hősök tér (Heroes Square) and the Városliget (City Park). These celebrations were designed to symbolised the confidence and sense of achievement that Hungarians now felt. However, the pomp and ceremony attached to events masked deep domestic problems that would come to the fore in later years.

By the turn-of-the-century Budapest had become a destination for wealthy travellers throughout Europe and cultural life was prospering on a previously undreamt scale. All this however was brought to a sudden end by the outbreak of war in 1914.

World War I and its Aftermath

The first World War exposed all of the weaknesses of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, both politically and militarily. Not only did Hungary end up on the losing side, it also suffered in the ensuing peace treaty. Enfeebled by four years of war, and suffering from internal political divisions between Bolshevik supporters hoping for help from the Soviet Union and right wing elements, the country was in no position to influence the subsequent peace treaty. Indeed, Romanian and Czech forces, with the blessing of the French occupied areas of Hungary. As a result the Romanians occupied Budapest for a time, looting and plundering until they left in November 1919. Hungary then signed the treaty of Trianon on 4 June 1920 which instantly stripped the country of two thirds of its territory, leaving millions of Hungarians outside of the country's new borders.

During the 1920's and 30's, Hungary moved further to the right, marking it as an ally of Nazi Germany. The main Hungarian political figure was Miklós Horthy, who had assumed the title of Regent in place of any Habsburg claimant to the Hungarian throne. Horthy's desire to reclaim the territory lost under Trianon pushed him further towards the German camp.

During the interwar period Budapest still provided a worthy destination for Europe's rich, with a developing spa sector, which is still important today. The cafe society continued to thrive on a par with Vienna and Hungarian culture continued to develop. However, as Hungary moved closer to an accommodation with Germany, an unpleasant aspect of Budapest came to the fore, with growing anti-semitism against the city's large and prominent Jewish community (who found their rights and freedoms gradually being eroded).

World War II

When war broke out Hungary became gradually more involved. The country reclaimed most of Transylvania and part of Slovakia. In return it sent troops to Yugoslavia and dispatched an army to aid the Germans in their invasion of the Soviet Union, a disastrous decision as the entire force was surrounded and subsequently surrendered at the battle of Stalingrad. The Germans were gradually pushed back on the Russian front, while Soviet troops pushed towards Hungary.

By this time, Budapest had been subject to Allied bombing campaigns which aimed to prevent the supply of armaments and other supplies to Germany. Horthy, seeing that the war was lost, tried to take the nation out of the conflict but his gamble failed. The Germans, who had been building up their forces in Hungary throughout 1944, occupied and fortified Budapest. At the same time they began the wholesale deportation of Budapest's Jewish population (which until Horthy's removal Hungary had prevented). Now however, the Germans had a willing ally in the Arrow Cross, the Hungarian Nazi party (led by the ruthless Ferenc Szalasi). In addition to the deportation of many Jews, those deemed to be enemies of the right wing regime (left wingers, communists and members of the resistance etc) were executed along the banks of the Danube.

Despite the relentless Soviet advance, the Germans decided to make a last stand in Budapest with the ensuing battle continuing for several months. With much of the city destroyed in fierce fighting, the remaining German forces surrendered on 4 April 1945 following a bloody siege in the area around the Royal Palace. The damage was widespread, with many of Pests residential blocks destroyed, the Palace in ruins and the city's bridges blown up by the Germans (in a desperate bid to halt Russian movement across the Danube).

The Post War Period

Following the war, the massive task of reconstructing Budapest began almost immediately. Over the years, the vast majority of the city's historic buildings were restored, although in some cases the work was carried out with poor quality materials. At the same time, construction began on new residential areas on the outskirts of the city. Sadly, Budapest is still blighted by these horrendous, shabby blocks, which are a stark contrast to those in the beautiful Belváros area. With work completed under the auspices of a sterile communist political leadership, there was little time for quality architecture or innovative design. Instead bleak functionality marked the rise of these new buildings.

The major symbol of architecture during this period is the Népstadion (or peoples stadium) which was built by volunteers, many with no previous construction experience. Memorials to communist leaders, Budapest's soviet liberators and worker's heroes also sprang up in the city. Likewise the city's streets were given the names of revolutionary heroes and leaders. Thus, the communist government exerted its influence into all areas of life, architecture and civil planning.

The uprising of 1956 was to scar Budapest yet again, this time as the streets became the scene of fierce fighting between Hungarian civilians/army units and the Soviet forces sent in to crush the struggle for freedom. With no hope of support from Western powers preoccupied with the Suez crisis, the Soviets and new communist leader János Kádár were able to restore the regime. Aside from the human cost, a number of buildings were destroyed by tank and artillery fire, whilst hundreds more were scarred by machine gun and small arms fire. Indeed you can still see the bullet holes in some of Budapest's buildings today.

After a period of repressive consolidation, Kádár moved towards a more liberal style of politics, dubbed "Goulash Communism". Whilst this allowed Hungarians to live under a more liberal and prosperous regime than their Central and Eastern European neighbours, state control still pervaded into the everyday lives of ordinary Hungarians.

Unfortunately, Kádár's regime presided over further architectural disasters in Budapest, with scores more low-quality housing estates and shabby concrete municipal buildings. In truth however, the communist regime did not have the sizeable revenues needed to fund new quality projects. One redeeming feature was that they did provide funds to maintain or restore some of Budapest's finer buildings and areas, such as the castle district.

In 1989, the Hungarian communist party moved quietly aside as a tide of democracy swept across Eastern Europe. In the years since, Hungary has made a (relatively) smooth transition to a free-market economy, though social inequality between those with new found wealth (often gained through the non-payment or exploitation of tax loopholes) and the elderly/welfare dependent has seen the divide between rich and poor widen significantly.

That said, there's a new spirit in the country, with Budapest being the main stimulus for change (as well as taking the lion share of new investment from the west). Indeed, one hopes that now, following Hungary's accession to the EU on 1 May 2004, the country can take advantage of the opportunities and stability that lie ahead in a united Europe.

Slowly regaining its position as the Paris of the east (although no doubt the residents of Prague would dispute this), Budapest is a rare mix of old and new, with many reminders of its turbulent past. It is not a city which can be appreciated on a day trip. So linger for a few days, soak up the unique atmosphere and spirit of the people and enjoy!

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