Hungarian POWs in Italy and Their Future Prospects After WWI

Abstract

I November 1918, after the end of the First World War, several hundred thousand prisoners of war were waiting in Italy to return to their home countries. Most came from the territory of the former Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, which had been dissolved during their absence. Many became prisoners on the last day of the war due to some discrepancies in the interpretation of the armistice, and a large amount did not realize that their status as prisoners of war may cause their return home to be delayed for up to one and half years. During this time, the hinterland was undergoing continuous change. The successor countries of the monarchy fought for territories and resources, a fact that had become obvious not only for the participants of the Paris Peace Conference, but also for the various affected populaces given that several armed incidents – even a prolonged war in Hungary – caused unrest in the civil sphere. The situation was further aggravated by the spread of Bolshevik ideology towards the West, which resulted in the establishment of a few Republics of Councils in several Central European countries. Of these, the Hungarian Republic of Councils is special, among other reasons, because ideological tensions were mixed with a fundamentally nationalist war fought for territorial integrity.