Hungarian Soviet Republic
The Socialist Federative Republic of Councils in Hungary was a short-lived communist state that existed from 21 March 1919 to 1 August 1919, succeeding the First Hungarian Republic. The Hungarian Soviet Republic was a small communist rump state which, at its time of establishment, controlled approximately only 23% of Hungary's historic territory. The head of government was Sándor Garbai, but the influence of the foreign minister Béla Kun of the Party of Communists in Hungary was much stronger. Unable to reach an agreement with the Triple Entente, which maintained an economic blockade of Hungary, in dispute with neighboring countries over territorial disputes, and beset by profound internal social changes, the soviet republic failed in its objectives and was abolished a few months after its existence. Its main figure was the Communist Béla Kun, despite the fact that in the first days the majority of the new government consisted of radical Social Democrats. The new system effectively concentrated power in the governing councils, which exercised it in the name of the working class.
Proclamation of the Hungarian Soviet Republic, 21 March 1919
The government of the Hungarian Soviet Republic from left to right: Sándor Garbai, Béla Kun, Vilmos Böhm, Tibor Szamuely, György Nyisztor, Jenő Varga, Zsigmond Kunfi, Dezső Bokányi, József Pogány, Béla Vágó, Zoltán Rónai, Károly Vántus, Jenő Landler, Béla Szántó, Sándor Szabados, György Lukács, Jenő Hamburger, Gyula Hevesi, and Antal Dovcsák.
An automobile loaded with communists dashing through streets of Budapest, March 1919
Béla Kun, the de facto leader of the Hungarian Soviet Republic
Sándor Garbai was a Hungarian socialist politician who served as both head of state and prime minister the de jure leader of the Hungarian Soviet Republic.
Sándor Garbai in 1919
Garbai with his family in 1917
Garbai speaking with Béla Kun after the proclamation of the Soviet Republic
Bust of Garbai