As I saw it: The tragedy of Hungary

These memoirs relate events in Hungary in an era which was most crucial in the history of Hungary & Central Europe. The author, Colonel General Geza Lakatos, was appointed Prime Minister by Regent Horthy on 29 August 1944 & served as the last head of government of that era. The mission of Lakatos' Cabinet was to conclude peace with the Grand Alliance, despite German occupation. Lakatos makes a significant contribution to scholarship. With an eye for detail he outlines the day-to-day developments during the closing months of the war. His hands tied by the German authorities & with very limited room for maneuver, crucial yet highly dangerous steps were undertaken. The terror of White & Red factions became immediate as the middle ground gave way to the political peripheries. From these pages the helplessness of the country becomes obvious, especially in the light of new evidence that has emerged since the Second World War. The purpose of the book is to provide an eyewitness account. This succeeds remarkably well considering the detached tone & heavy reliance on historical fact. Written as a documentary, the reader, too becomes caught up in the events. The relationship of the author with the German authorities, especially Veesenmayer, the head of the German High Command in Budapest, was fueled by mutual mistrust & this provided a mirror image on a personal level of the "Realpolitik" of nation states. This together with the author's meeting with Hitler & the secret plans to end the war make fascinating reading. Universe Publishing Co., 185 West Demarest Avenue, Englewood, NJ 07631. Tel. 201-567-4296, FAX: 201-567-6488.Lakatos, Geza is the author of 'As I saw it: The tragedy of Hungary' with ISBN 9780935484168 and ISBN 0935484167.