Chapter 37 People’s War

“If we accept the Fourteen Points for Peace, Hungary will lose Slovakia, Transcarpathian Ukraine, Transylvania, the Banat and Croatia. More than 10 million Hungarians will become foreigners, And there are probably only six to seven million Hungarians left in the new Hungarian land. This is absolutely unacceptable..."

On the eastbound train, Kun Bella talked to Hersman in a rather low tone about the disaster that the Fourteen Points of Peace would bring to Hungary. Although Woodrow Johnson did not explicitly state in the "Fourteen Points of Peace" that the various ethnic regions in Greater Hungary should be separated. But both Kun Béla and such a Hungarian politician understood what holding "national self-determination" in the event of defeat would mean to Greater Hungary!

Any area where the Hungarian ethnic minority is not dominant will be separated. The entire country will fall apart, and a large number of Hungarians will become an oppressed minority in other countries.

For the Hungarians, this is definitely not a peace with "no territory and no reparations", but a surrender that requires the cession of up to 70% of the territory!

"Any politician who accepts such peace conditions will be immediately abandoned by the Hungarians!" Kun Bella spoke slowly, but with a very sure tone, and the Hungarian revolutionary's face wrinkled. "If Karl I accepts the Fourteen Points of Peace, then the Austro-Hungarian Empire will be completely finished! And we have very reliable news that Karl I is preparing to accept the Fourteen Points of Peace."

The Austro-Hungarian Empire has always had two pillars - the Germans in Austria and the Hungarians under the crown of St. Stephen. The Germans and Hungarians together accounted for about 45% of the total population of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which was less than half. Once the Hungarians and the Germans say goodbye, the Austro-Hungarian Empire will immediately disintegrate!

The disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire also meant the defeat of the German Empire - because without the millions of troops in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the German army alone would not be able to defeat it.

"But the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire will not solve the problem of Greater Hungary!" Hersman's tone was heavy and he spoke equally slowly. "The Allies will not spare Greater Hungary just because Austria-Hungary is separated, so the Hungarian political forces that came to power in place of Karl I are faced with a mess that is difficult to clean up."

In the eyes of the Allied Powers, this world war was probably started by the Germans and Hungarians! Even if the Hungarians were not the culprits, they were still the accomplices of the Germans, and of course they should be punished in the most severe way.

Moreover, Romania, Serbia, and the Czech Republic have all set their sights on the land that belongs to Hungary. Romania and Serbia were both members of the Entente. They had fought hard for so many years, so of course they had to share the spoils. Although the Czech Republic is a member of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, there is now a Czech Legion helping the Allies fight the Bolsheviks. If the Czech Republic is not given any sweetness, what energy will the Czech Army have to fight?

In addition, a strong Czech Republic is also an important tool to inhibit Germany's resurgence. A powerful Hungary may once again become an accomplice of the Germans - this is related to the history of Hungary, which was once destroyed by the Ottoman Empire. It was restored by the Germanic Habsburg dynasty and the Holy Roman Empire. Later, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was established, and the Hungarian nobles and capitalists also received a lot of benefits. There were many Hungarians who were pro-German and loyal to the Habsburgs.

Therefore, it is very clear how the Allied Powers will choose.

"So, what are the Hungarian Bolsheviks going to do?" Hersman had known for a long time that Austria-Hungary would collapse, so he was not surprised.

In fact, everyone with a certain level in the General Staff Department knows this. Plans were even made to occupy Austria and the Czech Republic in the event of the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire! But this matter had nothing to do with Hessman, so he didn't know the details... What he was responsible for was not finding a way to fight, but how to surrender in a planned way. However, he can try to support other countries to fight!

"Are the Hungarian Bolsheviks going to fight?" Hersman asked.

Kun Bella nodded, "In Hungary, nationalism is a very powerful force, not even the Bolsheviks can fight against it!"

When any country faces losing more than 70% of its territory, nationalism will rebound strongly. Moreover, Hungarian nationalism is relatively strong, otherwise Franz Joseph I would not have established a dualist empire with the Hungarians.

"As long as the Hungarian Bolsheviks conform to the Great Hungarian nationalism, they can come to power within a few months after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire." Kun Bella wrinkled his nose, picked up the cup and took a sip of coffee. "But only if we can defeat the Allied invasion...which is very difficult!"

The Hungarian revolutionary's judgment was absolutely correct! Historically, the Hungarian Bolsheviks conformed to the nationalism of Greater Hungary, harvested the fruits of victory of the Autumn Rose Revolution (October 30, 1918), and established the Hungarian Soviet Republic in March 1919.

But three months later, on June 24, Kun Bella chose to compromise in the face of the Allied troops' pressure and accepted the Allied ultimatum. On August 1 of the same year, the Hungarian Soviet Republic perished due to internal and external difficulties. Woodrow Johnson once again broke his promise and pushed the Allied forces to attack Hungary. The nationalists in the Hungarian Red Army also deserted because of the traitorous Hungarian Bolshevik Party.

Hersman still does not know how the Hungarian Soviet Republic was established and how it collapsed, but he knows very well the final fate of this regime.

"I guess you will not let go of the opportunity to gain power." Hessmann clasped his hands and poked his chin with two fingers in an insightful manner. Finally he nodded. "Besides, you may win in the end!"

"I think so, but we need help."

“And the right strategy and tactics.”

Kun Bella's slender, scimitar-like eyebrows were raised. "Ah, that's something we Hungarian Bolsheviks are not good at. Yes, do you have any good suggestions?"

"Have you read the book The People Armed?"

"A book by Field Marshal Colmar von der Golz?"

"Yes, after studying the history of the Franco-Prussian War, he came to the conclusion that in the late period of the Franco-Prussian War, the new French Republic was able to mobilize the national will to carry out the people's war, and the losses caused by the irregular National Guard to the German army were not low. to the French regular army.”

"But we don't have enough weapons to arm the people."

"The key is determination!" Hersman asked seriously. "Are the Hungarian Bolshevik Party and the Hungarian people determined to fight to the end to defend their country?"

"Yes!" Kun Bella replied decisively.

"That's good! Then do you know the price of carrying out the people's war?" Hersman paused, asked and answered: "Most of Hungary's land will fall, including most of the Hungarian Great Plains, close to Transylvania in Romania, Banat between Serbia and Transylvania, and of course Croatia.”

"Then what's left in Hungary?" Kun Bella frowned.

Hessmann's mind was spinning quickly and he already had a rough plan. He said slowly: "The mountains of Slovakia, Budapest and the west of the Danube River. The mountainous terrain of Slovakia is difficult. Historically, when most of Hungary fell to the Ottoman Empire, it was the last fortress of Hungary. Budapest is the capital of Hungary and the home of the Hungarian working class. The base camp. The west of the Danube is backed by Austria. As long as the Danube is blocked, it will be difficult for the enemy to reach it. It can be used as the rear of the Hungarian war... The Hungarian war of resistance should not only be a people's war, but also a protracted war. The Hungarians cannot count on it. We cannot achieve victory within a few months, nor can we expect to defeat the enemy in one or two major battles. We must have a plan for a long, protracted and arduous struggle! If you and the Hungarian Bolshevik Party are mentally prepared in this way, then we will continue to do so. Let’s discuss with Comrade Lenin the issue of supporting the Hungarian revolution.”