Chapter 37 People's War

"If we accept the Fourteen Points, Hungary will lose Slovakia, Transcarpathian Ukraine, Transylvania, Banat and Croatia. More than 10 million Hungarians will become foreigners, and there will probably be only 6 or 7 million Hungarians left on the new Hungarian land. This is absolutely unacceptable..."

On the train heading east, Béla Kun told Hersman in a rather low voice what kind of disaster the Fourteen Points would bring to Hungary. Although Woodrow Johnson did not explicitly state in the Fourteen Points that the various ethnic regions within Greater Hungary would be separated. But Béla Kun and any Hungarian politician understood what "national self-determination" meant to Greater Hungary in the event of defeat!

All regions where the Hungarian population is not dominant will be separated. The entire country will fall apart, and a large number of Hungarians will become oppressed minorities in other countries.

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

"Any politician who accepts such peace terms will be immediately abandoned by the Hungarians!" Béla Kun spoke slowly, but with a very firm tone, and the face of this Hungarian revolutionary wrinkled. "If Karl I accepts the Fourteen Points, 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."

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 account for about 45% of the total population of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which is 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 means the defeat of the German Empire - because without the millions of troops of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the German army alone cannot fight.

"But the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire cannot solve the problem of Greater Hungary!" Hersman's tone was heavy and he spoke very slowly. "The Allies will not let Great Hungary off easily just because of the separation of Austria-Hungary, so the Hungarian political forces that replaced Charles I faced a mess that was difficult to clean up."

In the eyes of the Allies, this world war was probably provoked by the Germans and Hungarians together! Even if the Hungarians were not the culprits, they were accomplices of the Germans and of course they should be punished most severely.

In addition, Romania, Serbia, and Czechoslovakia have all set their sights on the land that originally belonged to Hungary. Romania and Serbia are both members of the Allies. They have fought hard for so many years, so of course they have 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 a sweet treat, what will the Czech Legion have to fight?

In addition, a strong Czech Republic is also an important tool to curb the resurgence of Germany. And a strong Hungary may once again become an accomplice of the Germans-this is related to Hungary's history. This country was once destroyed by the Ottoman Empire. It was restored by relying on the Habsburg Dynasty and the Holy Roman Empire of the Germans. Later, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was established, and Hungarian nobles and capitalists also gained a lot of benefits. There were many Hungarians who were pro-German and loyal to the Habsburgs.

So it was clear what the Allied Powers would choose.

"So, what is the Hungarian Bolshevik Party going to do?" Hessman had known that Austria-Hungary would collapse, so he was not surprised.

In fact, everyone with a little level in the General Staff knew it. There was even a plan to occupy Austria and Czech 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... He was not responsible for finding a way to fight, but how to surrender in a planned way. However, he could try to support other countries to fight!

"Will the Hungarian Bolshevik Party fight?" Hessman asked.

Béla Kuhn nodded, "In Hungary, nationalism is a very powerful force, even the Bolsheviks can't fight it!"

When any country faces the loss of 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 dual 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." Béla Kun wrinkled his nose and took a sip of coffee. "But the premise is that we can defeat the invasion of the Allies... This is very difficult!"

The judgment of this great Hungarian revolutionary is absolutely correct! Historically, the Hungarian Bolsheviks conformed to the Great Hungarian nationalism, reaped 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, Béla Kun chose to compromise in the face of the Allied troops and accepted the Allied ultimatum. On August 1 of the same year, the Hungarian Soviet Republic perished under internal and external difficulties-Woodrow Johnson once again broke his promise and pushed the Allied army to attack Hungary. The nationalists in the Hungarian Red Army also defected because of the Hungarian Bolshevik Party's betrayal of the country.

Hersman didn't know how the Hungarian Soviet Republic was established and how it collapsed, but he knew the final outcome of the regime.

"I guess you won't miss the opportunity to seize power." Hesman clenched his hands and poked his chin with two fingers in a very insightful manner. Finally, he nodded. "And you may win in the end!"

"I think so too, but we need help."

"And the right strategy and tactics."

Kun Bella raised his thin, scimitar-like eyebrows. "Ah, that's what we Hungarian Bolsheviks are not good at. Do you have any good suggestions?"

"Have you read the book "The Armed People"?"

"The work of Marshal Colmar von der Goltz?"

"Yes, after studying the history of the Franco-Prussian War, he came to the following conclusion: In the later period of the Franco-Prussian War, the new French Republic was able to mobilize the will of the state to carry out the people's war, and the losses caused by the irregular National Guard to the German army were no less than those of the regular French army."

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

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

"Yes!" Béla Kun answered decisively.

"That's good! Do you know the price of waging a people's war?" Hessman paused, asked himself and answered: "Most of Hungary's territory will fall, including most of the Great Hungarian Plain, Transylvania near Romania, Banat between Serbia and Transylvania, and of course Croatia."

"What will be left of Hungary?" Bella Kun frowned.

Hessman's mind turned quickly, and he already had a general strategy. He said slowly: "The Slovakian mountains, Budapest, and the area west of the Danube. The Slovakian mountains have a rugged terrain. Historically, when most of Hungary fell to the Ottoman Empire, it was Hungary's last bastion. Budapest is the capital of Hungary and the base camp of the Hungarian working class. The area 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 serve as the rear base of Hungary's war of resistance... Hungary's war of resistance is not only a people's war, but also a protracted war. Hungarians cannot expect to win within a few months, nor can they expect to defeat the enemy through one or two major battles. There must be a plan for a long, lasting and arduous struggle! If you and the Hungarian Bolshevik Party are mentally prepared for this, then we can discuss the issue of supporting the Hungarian revolution with Comrade Lenin together."