Count Sándor Ágost Dénes Festetics de Tolna (31 May 1882 – 12 September 1956) was a Hungarian nobleman and cabinet minister who later became an advocate of Nazism in Hungary.
Coming from one of Hungary's leading families (his father was Andor Festetics), Count Festetics was amongst those chosen to serve in the cabinet of Mihály Károlyi, being appointed Minister of Defence in 1918. Although this was to prove ill-fated, Festetics remained committed to parliamentary politics, becoming a supporter of István Bethlen.[1]
Politics and embrace of Nazism
After a spell away from politics, Festetics, who had become convinced of Nazism, took charge of the tiny Hungarian National Socialist Peoples Party in 1933, using the fortune he had inherited from his uncle Prince Tasziló to seek to expand the group.[1] This party was effectively a copy of the Nazi Party, taking over most of its 25 point programme.[2] By 1934, he had come together with Zoltán Meskó and Fidél Pálffy to form an alliance of their movements. Before long, however, he was expelled as his commitment to anti-Semitism was seen to be weak; Festetics had continued to employ Jews on his estates.[1]
He then became associated with minor movements led by István Balogh and Kálmán Hubay, sitting in parliament from 1935 until his retirement in 1939 under various labels.[1]
In keeping with some of his contemporaries who preached against the influence of the Jews, Festetics was attracted to the idea of Zionism as a solution to what he saw as the Jewish problem in Europe. Indeed, in a 1934 session of Parliament, he announced that the Zionists should be encouraged because all people, including the Jews, had a right to live in their own land, and revealed that he had even allowed a Zionist organisation to use his land for an agricultural training programme for a group of Jewish youths who were preparing to migrate to Palestine.[3]
Retirement from politics
Festetics brought an end to his political career in 1939.[4] He took no active part in politics during the Second World War, and died a private citizen at his home near Lake Balaton in 1956.[1]
sándor, festetics, count, sándor, Ágost, dénes, festetics, tolna, 1882, september, 1956, hungarian, nobleman, cabinet, minister, later, became, advocate, nazism, hungary, count, tolnaborn, 1882, 1882dégdied12, september, 1956, 1956, aged, balatonrendes, near, . Count Sandor Agost Denes Festetics de Tolna 31 May 1882 12 September 1956 was a Hungarian nobleman and cabinet minister who later became an advocate of Nazism in Hungary Count Sandor Festetics de TolnaBornSandor Festetics 1882 05 31 31 May 1882DegDied12 September 1956 1956 09 12 aged 74 Balatonrendes near Lake BalatonCitizenshipHungarianKnown forPoliticianTitleMinister of WarTerm1918 1919PredecessorAlbert BarthaSuccessorVilmos BohmPolitical partyHungarian National Socialist Peoples PartySpouseCountess Julia Karolyi de NagykarolyParent s Count Andor Festetics de TolnaLenke Pejacsevich de VeroczeThe native form of this personal name is tolnai grof Festetics Sandor Agost Denes This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals Contents 1 Background 2 Politics and embrace of Nazism 3 Retirement from politics 4 ReferencesBackground EditComing from one of Hungary s leading families his father was Andor Festetics Count Festetics was amongst those chosen to serve in the cabinet of Mihaly Karolyi being appointed Minister of Defence in 1918 Although this was to prove ill fated Festetics remained committed to parliamentary politics becoming a supporter of Istvan Bethlen 1 Politics and embrace of Nazism EditAfter a spell away from politics Festetics who had become convinced of Nazism took charge of the tiny Hungarian National Socialist Peoples Party in 1933 using the fortune he had inherited from his uncle Prince Taszilo to seek to expand the group 1 This party was effectively a copy of the Nazi Party taking over most of its 25 point programme 2 By 1934 he had come together with Zoltan Mesko and Fidel Palffy to form an alliance of their movements Before long however he was expelled as his commitment to anti Semitism was seen to be weak Festetics had continued to employ Jews on his estates 1 He then became associated with minor movements led by Istvan Balogh and Kalman Hubay sitting in parliament from 1935 until his retirement in 1939 under various labels 1 In keeping with some of his contemporaries who preached against the influence of the Jews Festetics was attracted to the idea of Zionism as a solution to what he saw as the Jewish problem in Europe Indeed in a 1934 session of Parliament he announced that the Zionists should be encouraged because all people including the Jews had a right to live in their own land and revealed that he had even allowed a Zionist organisation to use his land for an agricultural training programme for a group of Jewish youths who were preparing to migrate to Palestine 3 Retirement from politics EditFestetics brought an end to his political career in 1939 4 He took no active part in politics during the Second World War and died a private citizen at his home near Lake Balaton in 1956 1 References Edit a b c d e Philip Rees Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890 Simon amp Schuster 1990 p 125 Stanley G Payne A History of Fascism 1914 1945 Routledge 1996 p 270 Herbert Arthur Strauss Hostages of Modernization Studies on Modern Antisemitism 1993 p 936 C P Blamires World Fascism A Historical Encyclopedia ABC CLIO 2006 p 233 Political officesPreceded byAlbert Bartha Minister of War1918 1919 Succeeded byVilmos Bohm Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sandor Festetics amp oldid 1113475291, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
