Photo: Anonymous Unknown author / Zespół: Wydawnictwo Prasowe Kraków-Warszawa · Public domain
Born in Slovakia · Nationality Hungarian — politics / fascism / Arrow Cross / Holocaust / war
Documented profile covering 9 controversies, including “1935–1938: Founding of Hungarian National Socialist movements and radically antisemitic programme” and “1938–1940: Conviction and imprisonment for subversive political activities, followed by amnesty”.
Profile No. 2238 · Updated on 12 October 2026
§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology
Case · 4 documented stages
1945-05–1946-03-12
Captured by American forces and subsequently handed over to Hungary, Szálasi was tried by the People's Tribunal, found guilty of war crimes and high treason, among other offences, sentenced to death and hanged on 12 March 1946.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1944-11–1945-01
The Arrow Cross government confined remaining Jews in ghettos while its militiamen committed abductions, looting and executions, including mass shootings on the banks of the Danube.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1944-10-15–16
Following the failure of Horthy's attempted armistice, Germany imposed a change of government and Szálasi became prime minister and subsequently 'Leader of the Nation', heading an Arrow Cross-dominated government.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1944-11–12
The regime organised forced marches towards Hegyeshalom and handed tens of thousands of Jews over to the Germans for forced labour. Thousands died from cold, hunger or exhaustion, or were shot.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1944-10–1945-05
The Szálasi government kept Hungary in the war alongside the Reich and organised general mobilisation as the territory progressively came under Soviet control.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1944-10
The new government ordered forced labour for Jews, and the Arrow Cross launched renewed round-ups in Budapest.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1938–1940
Authorities under the Horthy regime imprisoned Szálasi in the late 1930s because of his radical political activities. He was released under an amnesty in 1940.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1939
The Arrow Cross movement became one of Hungary's leading far-right forces, winning approximately 16% of the vote in the 1939 elections.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1935–1938
After leaving the army, Szálasi founded a National Socialist movement based on his 'Hungarist' ideology, which was ultranationalist, authoritarian and antisemitic.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
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