= Béla Kun = '''Béla Kun''' (''Kohn Béla'') was commissar for foreign affairs and the effective head of state in the [[Hungary/Democratization#Hungarian_Soviet_Republic|Hungarian Soviet Republic]]. <> ---- == History == Kun served as a soldier for [[Hungary/Democratization#Austria-Hungary|Austro-Hungary]] in [[WorldHistory/WorldWar1|World War 1]]. He was radicalized as a prisoner of war in Russia, met [[Russia/VladimirLenin|Lenin]], and fought in the [[Russia/Democratization#October_Revolution|October Revolution]] for the [[Russia/Bolsheviks|Bolsheviks]]. He returned to Hungary and established the [[Hungary/CommunistParty|KMP]]. His party was banned, and he was imprisoned, by the [[Hungary/MihalyKarolyi|Károlyi]] government. ---- == Policies == The [[Hungary/CommunistParty|KMP]] seized power in March 1919 and established the '''Hungarian Soviet Republic'''. '''Sándor Garbai''' was named prime minister, but as a direct subordinate of [[Russia/VladimirLenin|Lenin]], Kun was the ''de facto'' head of state. [[Romania/FerdinandI|Romanian]] invaded and, by August, captured [[Hungary/Budapest|Budapest]]. ---- == Legacy == He fled to Russia after the [[Romania/FerdinandI|Romanian]] takeover, and served in various international [[WorldHistory/SovietUnion|USSR]] capacities. He was eventually accused of [[Russia/LeonTrotsky|Trotskyism]], arrested, and executed. ---- CategoryRicottone