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Paul von Hegedüs

Paul Hegedüs was born on 6 June 1861.  He commanded the k.u. Landwehr Cavalry Brigade No. 24 from June 1915 all the way to February 1918.  Hegedüs was promoted to Generalmajor on 1 May 1917.  From March 1918 until the end of the war, he was commander of the k.u. Landwehr Cavalry Division No. 11.  After the war, Hegedüs layed low while Mihaly Karolyi's radical Republic gave way to Bela Kun's ultraradical bolshevik terror.  After the Rumanian occupation of Budapest was forced out by the persistent reprimands of the Entente, Hegedüs assumed responsible for the Military District No. 6 in December 1919.  In August 1920, Hegedüs was promoted Feldmarschalleutnant by the Regency of Miklos Horthy. In February 1921, he left his former command and assumed leadership over the Military District No. 3, which was practically independent of Budapest, because it covered the unstable Sopron region. Hegedüs in fact was the driving force behind the Hungarian troops defending Sopron and West Hungary from an attempted Austrian occupation.  These troops proved to be the most reactionary and royalist of the armed forces in Hungary.  Hegedüs remained there until July 1921, when he retired from service to the Horthy regime.  Only a few days later, King Karl arrived in Szombathely with the intention of reclaiming his throne for a second time; this time, he intended to march on Budapest with a force of loyal soldiers.  Hegedüs was appointed to be Commander in Chief of the Royal Hungarian Armed Forces, and his troops in Sopron were among the first to swear allegiance to the returned King.  The whole tale is described in Karl's biographical essay.  Following the unsuccessful putsch attempt, Hegedüs stood trial by the Hungarian government and was stripped of all rank and honours associated with his long service to the Crown of St. Stephen. Paul Hegedüs died on 10 November 1944. GWS, 2/02 [rev. 4/05]