Garbai was born into the family of a Protestant bricklayer. An active participant in the labor movement from a young age, he joined the Social Democratic Party of Hungary (MSZDP) in 1901 and quickly rose through its ranks.[1]
Garbai with his family in 1917
From 1908 he was the chairman of the Workers' Insurance Fund and during the First Hungarian Republic he headed the All National Housing Council.[2] He was in favour of the merger of the MSZDP with the Hungarian Communist Party which occurred on 21 March 1919. This led to the foundation of the Hungarian Soviet Republic, with Garbai as the Revolutionary Governing Council, both head of state and prime minister. Although Garbai remained titular leader of the Soviet Republic for the better part of its existence, the de facto leader of the state was Communist foreign minister Béla Kun.
Garbai speaking with Béla Kun after the proclamation of the Soviet Republic
According to historian Jerry Z. Muller, Mátyás Rákosi later joked that the revolution's Jewish leaders took the gentile Garbai in so that they would have somebody to sign the death sentences on Shabbat.[3]
After the fall of the Soviet Republic, he was arrested by the Romanian military. Fearing reprisals, Garbai escaped from Romanian captivity in Cluj and fled to Czechoslovakia and first in settled Bratislava and then emigrated to Vienna. He was a leader of the centrist Marxist movement among the Hungarian political refugees. With his family, he opened a restaurant in Vienna, where he hosted former communist and other socialist leaders. The restaurant soon went bankrupt, Garbai suffered huge financial losses and lived in poverty for the rest of his lifetime. After leaving Austria in 1934 due to the victory of the right-wing Fatherland Front, he settled in Bratislava, and in 1938, in Paris.[4]
During the German occupation of France he did not participate in the Resistance Movement, although the underground tried to recruit him. He was also not bothered by the German occupiers. After the liberation of Hungary, Garbai and his family desired to return to their homeland but their request was rejected.
Bust of Garbai
Garbai remained in Paris where he died on 7 November 1947.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abRoszkowski, Wojciech; Kofman, Jan (2016). Biographical Dictionary of Central and Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century. Routledge. p. 277. ISBN9781317475941.
^"Politikatörténeti Intézet" (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2 January 2022.
^Jerry Z. Muller [de; pl], Capitalism and the Jews, Princeton University Press, 2010, page 153
^"Gyenes, Lajos Sándor", Benezit Dictionary of Artists, Oxford University Press, 31 October 2011, doi:10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.b00081888, retrieved 2 January 2022
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sándor Garbai.
sándor, garbai, march, 1879, november, 1947, hungarian, socialist, politician, served, both, head, state, prime, minister, jure, leader, hungarian, soviet, republic, 1919chairman, hungarian, central, executive, councilin, office, march, 1919, august, 1919prime. Sandor Garbai 27 March 1879 7 November 1947 was a Hungarian socialist politician who served as both head of state and prime minister the de jure leader of the Hungarian Soviet Republic Sandor GarbaiSandor Garbai in 1919Chairman of the Hungarian Central Executive CouncilIn office 21 March 1919 1 August 1919Prime MinisterHimselfPreceded byMihaly Karolyi as President of Hungary Succeeded byGyula PeidlPrime Minister of HungaryIn office 21 March 1919 1 August 1919ChairmanHimselfPreceded byDenes BerinkeySucceeded byGyula PeidlPersonal detailsBorn 1879 03 27 27 March 1879Kiskunhalas Austria HungaryDied7 November 1947 1947 11 07 aged 68 Paris FranceNationalityHungarianPolitical partyHungarian Social Democratic Party Hungarian Socialist and Communist PartySpouseZsofia PotordiProfessionpolitician journalistThe native form of this personal name is Garbai Sandor This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals Life and political career editGarbai was born into the family of a Protestant bricklayer An active participant in the labor movement from a young age he joined the Social Democratic Party of Hungary MSZDP in 1901 and quickly rose through its ranks 1 nbsp Garbai with his family in 1917From 1908 he was the chairman of the Workers Insurance Fund and during the First Hungarian Republic he headed the All National Housing Council 2 He was in favour of the merger of the MSZDP with the Hungarian Communist Party which occurred on 21 March 1919 This led to the foundation of the Hungarian Soviet Republic with Garbai as the Revolutionary Governing Council both head of state and prime minister Although Garbai remained titular leader of the Soviet Republic for the better part of its existence the de facto leader of the state was Communist foreign minister Bela Kun nbsp Garbai speaking with Bela Kun after the proclamation of the Soviet RepublicAccording to historian Jerry Z Muller Matyas Rakosi later joked that the revolution s Jewish leaders took the gentile Garbai in so that they would have somebody to sign the death sentences on Shabbat 3 After the fall of the Soviet Republic he was arrested by the Romanian military Fearing reprisals Garbai escaped from Romanian captivity in Cluj and fled to Czechoslovakia and first in settled Bratislava and then emigrated to Vienna He was a leader of the centrist Marxist movement among the Hungarian political refugees With his family he opened a restaurant in Vienna where he hosted former communist and other socialist leaders The restaurant soon went bankrupt Garbai suffered huge financial losses and lived in poverty for the rest of his lifetime After leaving Austria in 1934 due to the victory of the right wing Fatherland Front he settled in Bratislava and in 1938 in Paris 4 During the German occupation of France he did not participate in the Resistance Movement although the underground tried to recruit him He was also not bothered by the German occupiers After the liberation of Hungary Garbai and his family desired to return to their homeland but their request was rejected nbsp Bust of GarbaiGarbai remained in Paris where he died on 7 November 1947 1 References edit a b Roszkowski Wojciech Kofman Jan 2016 Biographical Dictionary of Central and Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century Routledge p 277 ISBN 9781317475941 Politikatorteneti Intezet in Hungarian Retrieved 2 January 2022 Jerry Z Muller de pl Capitalism and the Jews Princeton University Press 2010 page 153 Gyenes Lajos Sandor Benezit Dictionary of Artists Oxford University Press 31 October 2011 doi 10 1093 benz 9780199773787 article b00081888 retrieved 2 January 2022 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sandor Garbai Political officesPreceded byMihaly Karolyias Provisional President Chairman of the Hungarian Central Executive Council1919 Succeeded byGyula Peidlas Prime MinisterPreceded byDenes Berinkeyas Prime MinisterPreceded byJozsef Pogany Minister of Religion and Education1919 Succeeded bySandor Imre Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sandor Garbai amp oldid 1210774098, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
