35) The history of Hungary: a series of accidents or a misinterpretation Written by Rainer: rainer.lehrer@yahoo.com Learn languages (via Skype): Rainer: + 36 20 549 52 97 or + 36 20 334 79 74

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The history of Hungary: a series of accidents or a misinterpretation We are near Mohács in 1526. 150,000 Turkish soldiers from all parts of the Ottoman Empire are facing a small army of courageous Hungarians who have been decimated by internal disputes. The Turks had no particular tactics. They were mostly religious fanatics or had joined the stronger party out of opportunism and simply ran in open terrain in deep rows of almost endless lengths towards the enemy. The Hungarians had no chance. With the news of the defeat, many Hungarians left their homeland to avoid falling into the hands of the heathens. Of course, some were abducted and sold as slaves, but the Turks were no more barbarians than the Christians were. For example, there was no inquisition among the Moslems; If one paid a bit more taxes, one could still freely practice one’s religion, which was not possible in Christian Europe. It was also important for the Turks that a large number of residents remained on the site to keep agriculture going and later to pay taxes. Me personally, as a liberal, I would probably have preferred to live under Turkish rule than under dogmatic Christian rule. This was the first lie in the history of Hungary. The once glorious but rather unstable kingdom of King Mathias was divided into 3 parts. A Turkish province in the center and in the south, an Austrian province in the northwest and a relatively sovereign part in the northeast under the protection of the Carpathian Mountains. The Turks could have conquered this part too, but the Ottoman Empire had already become too big and uncontrollable. And it was especially in this part dependent on the Turks that culture and arts flourished. The freedom of religion prevailing there attracted a lot of bright minds and since the Austrians did not want to give up the Hungarian crown, they gave themselves the name "Principality of Transylvania". But at some point this idyll would end and "orthodox" Austria would occupy and destroy everything. Sometimes the Habsburg gave Hungarians the feeling of being someone better than the surrounding Slavonic peoples were, especially when a war broke out and Habsburg needed their help. Who would expect an emperor to humiliate himself by emphasizing that he is king twice, that of Hungary and of the Czech people. The so-called Great Freedom Struggle of 1848/49 was part of a storm that swept across Europe and almost destroyed the foundation of the restoration from 1816. Nationalism had emerged and with it xenophobia. The Hungarians were not exactly tolerant towards the peoples living with and around them and were surprised that they did not want to help them against the Austrians. The last great common war, in which also Tisza István, who managed the Hungarian state affairs, went in not without enthusiasm, brought about the collapse of Austria and the freedom of the peoples of this region. With Trianon, Hungarians finally got to a sovereign state. Although the Hungarians should have been happy, they complained. From Mohács to Trianon, Hungary had only existed as a region, and now it was suddenly a sovereign country with its own government and, almost immediately, like many other countries, chose a fascist Horthy, who then immediately became complicit in World War II. What would have happened if these nationalistic, intolerant Hungarians had received a Mathias state with all the different ethnic groups, just like in Yugoslavia? The slaughter that the southern Slavonic peoples waged among themselves involving the Albanians would then certainly have decimated the Hungarians. One can't blame people if they want to live well or at least a normal life and therefore make all possible compromises with the reigning ruling classes. But the fact that everyone wants to be heroes today can only be disturbing or confusing, if not ridiculous, to an experienced thinker standing on the outside and watching. During the Horthy period, the Hungarians voluntarily helped to collect the Jews in order to take over their wealth and apartments. Till today, they worship Horthy who made a pact with Hitler, whose plan was to first enslave and then destroy the Hungarians as a people. The Hungarians have learned nothing till today. But when should they have learned freedom and personal responsibility? Powerful kings, Turks, Habsburgs, Horthy-Fascism, Communism, 20 years of freedom, Orbanism - that is the result. The only small glimmer of light is the European Union. But there is more resistance against this democratic organization today than against Hitler during World War II. Back to list!

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