501413 - 500 Forint HUNGARY 2003 P.188c

HUNGARY

Hungary became a republic in 1918 with the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the abdication of Emperor Charles I. The peace treaties which cut off the former Kingdom of Hungary from 2/3 of its territories and created Hungarian minorities in the new neighboring countries plunged the country into a period of unrest. In 1920, Admiral Horthy became regent. From 1938, Hungary sided with the Axis and obtained the Hungarian part of Slovakia and Transylvania. Germany's ally, Hungary requested an armistice from the USSR in 1944. Hungary became a people's republic in 1949 under Soviet domination. In 1956, the opening attempt was repressed by a military intervention of the USSR. The opening of the borders in 1989 signaled the end of Soviet domination over Eastern Europe. Free elections are held in 1990.