The Fate of Western Hungary 1918-1921 - Corvinus Library ...
The Fate of Western Hungary 1918-1921 - Corvinus Library ... The Fate of Western Hungary 1918-1921 - Corvinus Library ...
the units we scattered. The Viennese of the day report the strength of our rebel forces at 20-30,000, when, in fact, it was merely several hundred.” 333 During these days, the unit of Iván Héjjas took control of the area around Királyhida on the Hungarian side – and Bruck on the Austrian side – in Moson County, along the Hungarian-Czechoslovak border. The rebels, led by Pál Gebhardt and Viktor Maderspach, initially joined by the Friedrich group, were waiting for the Austrian incursion in Ágfalva, west of Sopron. South of them, around Felsőőr (Oberwart) and Pörgölény (Pilgersdorf), were the units of Árpád Taby. The fifth rebel unit claimed as its battle zone in the South, around Gyanafalva. The patriots who took to the field were armed by Héjjas and Prónay with the arms and ammunition that Héjjas and company acquired through the daring raid of July 1920 from the armory of the Austrian garrison of Fürstenfeld. By this time, the unit organized from the students of the Sopron mining and forestry academy had joined the uprising. A meeting was held in the morning of August 29, where it was decided that the academy was joining the Ostenburg battalion as a company comprised of [former] officers. The meeting sent a three-man delegation to Major, and city commander, Ostenburg and after an agreement was made, the students joined the battalion as the 5 th Officer Company. The Major assigned the 5 th Company, led by Elemér Székely, to the sector running northwest of Sopron along the line of Kelénpatak – Szentmargitbánya – Kismarton – Kishőflány – Lajtaújfalu. Ostenburg was not disappointed in the young men as they took their share in the struggles and played a large role in the plebiscite and Sopron remaining in Hungary. In their sector, they carried out nighttime raids on the villages and harried the gendarmes billeted in the houses with barrages of rifle fire. “During the day in uniform, weapons drill and various duties; then almost every night, in civilian coat and hat, armed with a rifle and grenades, one rebel raiding party after another. A little ‘worrying’ of the occupying ‘Austrian cousins’ and by morning another ‘delicacy’ for the Entente committees, preferably from an Austrian perspective.” 334 The majority of Sopron citizens could not accept that their city was to be torn from Hungary. They delegated former mayor Dr. Károly Töpler, the lawyer Dr. István Pinezich and the principal of the technical institute, Ernő Lauringer, who visited Deputy Chief Government Commissioner Frigyes Villani in his room in the Pannonia Hotel on August 29. They stated that they would not stand idly by and watch the occupation of their city but will support the Héjjas rebels. The baron took note of the decision with dismay and repeated that this move by the citizens harmed the country. It was in these circumstances that the 83-strong Sopron detachment of the Ragged Guard was born, which swore allegiance and joined the force of Iván Héjjas. The list of signatories contained many local notable families – such as Imre and Pál Storno – and 333 Héjjas J., 1929, op. cit., p. 31. 334 Krug, 1930, op. cit., pp. 54–55. 128
doctors, and, based on purely their names, were not Hungarians but of German origins. 335 In his report of September 1, Sigray telegrammed the following to PM Bethlen: “The Austrians have reached the ‘A’ line everywhere in Moson and Sopron Counties” but are loath to enter into certain villages, being afraid of the armed rebels. “In Kismarton, every night they move into the Esterhazy castle and set up machine guns, leaving the rest of the town undefended, saying that the town should look after itself as best as it can. The situation in Vas County is, for the moment, unchanged. [The] Austrian gendarmes could not penetrate but [the] Entente officers have received new orders to introduce new gendarmes – which will supposedly act braver. (…) [The] Austrians have released the hostages in Kismarton. (…) Telegrams and delegations from the villages attest to their loyalty and devotion to Hungary.” 336 The rebels fought an extended pitched battle with the Austrian gendarmes on September 1 and 2, in the outskirts of Cinfalva, between Sopron and Kismarton. The attack began at night, as reported by Sigray to the PM’s office at 13:50 on September 1. In the next village, Darázsfalva, the occupying Austrian gendarmes forbade the local population from going out to work in the fields, saying they wanted to clear the area of rebels. “In Ágfalva, [the] Austrians arrested National Assembly representative Ödön Scholtz, postmistress Szabó and notary-intern István Bősze and sent them to Wiener Neustadt. The population is on edge.” 337 On September 1, Deputy Commissioner Villani reported at 19:30 to the PM that the Croat population of the village of Kópháza, near Sopron, asked the Commissariat to forward a petition to the Entente Mission. Its text: “We do not wish to separate from Hungary and reach the fate of our formerly separated Croat brethren who have been stripped of their language and culture in Austria. Today, they are not Croats but ethnicityless Germans. We want to remain Croats and see it ensured with our brother Magyars.” 338 The Cabinet met the next day, September 2, where PM Bethlen honestly stated: “Generally, the Western Hungary situation is perhaps better today than a week or two ago because it seems certain that we will gain some time for negotiations. And it is not impossible that at least a part of this territory may be retained, perhaps all of zone ‘B’.” Then he discussed that he had talks with Sir Thomas Hohler, Britain’s ambassador, from whom he learned that the Entente Powers will shortly hand a memorandum to Hungary. But no need to be frightened, assured the prime minister, because it does not contain an ultimatum, not even a deadline to complete the demands. Bethlen added to the previous that there was no need to worry about political or military intervention 335 Ádám, 1939, op. cit., pp. 19–20. 336 MOL. K 26. 1388. csomó. 1922–„H” tétel, pp. 331–332. 337 Ibid, p. 334. 338 Ibid, p. 335. 129
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doctors, and, based on purely their names, were not Hungarians but <strong>of</strong> German<br />
origins. 335<br />
In his report <strong>of</strong> September 1, Sigray telegrammed the following to PM<br />
Bethlen: “<strong>The</strong> Austrians have reached the ‘A’ line everywhere in Moson and<br />
Sopron Counties” but are loath to enter into certain villages, being afraid <strong>of</strong> the<br />
armed rebels. “In Kismarton, every night they move into the Esterhazy castle<br />
and set up machine guns, leaving the rest <strong>of</strong> the town undefended, saying that<br />
the town should look after itself as best as it can. <strong>The</strong> situation in Vas County<br />
is, for the moment, unchanged. [<strong>The</strong>] Austrian gendarmes could not penetrate<br />
but [the] Entente <strong>of</strong>ficers have received new orders to introduce new gendarmes<br />
– which will supposedly act braver. (…) [<strong>The</strong>] Austrians have released the<br />
hostages in Kismarton. (…) Telegrams and delegations from the villages attest<br />
to their loyalty and devotion to <strong>Hungary</strong>.” 336<br />
<strong>The</strong> rebels fought an extended pitched battle with the Austrian gendarmes<br />
on September 1 and 2, in the outskirts <strong>of</strong> Cinfalva, between Sopron and<br />
Kismarton. <strong>The</strong> attack began at night, as reported by Sigray to the PM’s <strong>of</strong>fice<br />
at 13:50 on September 1. In the next village, Darázsfalva, the occupying<br />
Austrian gendarmes forbade the local population from going out to work in the<br />
fields, saying they wanted to clear the area <strong>of</strong> rebels. “In Ágfalva, [the]<br />
Austrians arrested National Assembly representative Ödön Scholtz,<br />
postmistress Szabó and notary-intern István Bősze and sent them to Wiener<br />
Neustadt. <strong>The</strong> population is on edge.” 337 On September 1, Deputy<br />
Commissioner Villani reported at 19:30 to the PM that the Croat population <strong>of</strong><br />
the village <strong>of</strong> Kópháza, near Sopron, asked the Commissariat to forward a<br />
petition to the Entente Mission. Its text: “We do not wish to separate from<br />
<strong>Hungary</strong> and reach the fate <strong>of</strong> our formerly separated Croat brethren who have<br />
been stripped <strong>of</strong> their language and culture in Austria. Today, they are not<br />
Croats but ethnicityless Germans. We want to remain Croats and see it ensured<br />
with our brother Magyars.” 338<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cabinet met the next day, September 2, where PM Bethlen honestly<br />
stated: “Generally, the <strong>Western</strong> <strong>Hungary</strong> situation is perhaps better today than a<br />
week or two ago because it seems certain that we will gain some time for<br />
negotiations. And it is not impossible that at least a part <strong>of</strong> this territory may be<br />
retained, perhaps all <strong>of</strong> zone ‘B’.” <strong>The</strong>n he discussed that he had talks with Sir<br />
Thomas Hohler, Britain’s ambassador, from whom he learned that the Entente<br />
Powers will shortly hand a memorandum to <strong>Hungary</strong>. But no need to be<br />
frightened, assured the prime minister, because it does not contain an<br />
ultimatum, not even a deadline to complete the demands. Bethlen added to the<br />
previous that there was no need to worry about political or military intervention<br />
335 Ádám, 1939, op. cit., pp. 19–20.<br />
336 MOL. K 26. 1388. csomó. 1922–„H” tétel, pp. 331–332.<br />
337 Ibid, p. 334.<br />
338 Ibid, p. 335.<br />
129
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