ABSTRACT
On September 3, 1993 around 50,000 people, including seven members of the first Hungarian democratically elected postcommunist government, attended the reburial of Miklos Horthy, leader of Hungary for a quarter of the twentieth century. Horthy gave his name to the critical period from the end of World War I to the collapse of the Hungarian state on October 15, 1944. Horthy, although he had no political interest or career, became a key political figure in late 1918 and early 1919. During the 1920s Horthy distanced himself from daily politics and for most people became the symbol of staunch fight against extreme right and extreme left forces. After his return from Berchtesgaden Horthy, with the illness and death of Prime Minister Gyula Gombos, was very active in domestic politics. After the successful military coup of pro-Western army officers in Yugoslavia, Adolf Hitler invited Hungary to participate in his military campaign and promised the return of most of its former Southern territories.
