Skip to content
Spin & Win — science — Health-and-wellness — Crime-and-justice

Defiant Arrow Cross Birthday Celebration Marred by Executions in Kassa

A birthday shrouded in blood: Szálasi's supporters rallied as executions and political murders cast a dark shadow over Arrow Cross-ruled Kassa. The regime's cruelty knew no bounds.

,   and  Administrator
1 min read
The image shows an old Polish propaganda poster from 1931 depicting a man and woman in traditional...
The image shows an old Polish propaganda poster from 1931 depicting a man and woman in traditional Hungarian clothing. The poster is adorned with text and pictures, likely related to the Hungarian culture.

Defiant Arrow Cross Birthday Celebration Marred by Executions in Kassa

A sombre yet defiant celebration marked Ferenc Szálasi’s birthday in Kassa, held under the shadow of the Arrow Cross regime. The event followed weeks of terror and a series of executions ordered by local officials. Despite the harsh conditions, supporters gathered to honour the leader with speeches, music, and nationalist symbols.

The occasion came just after the funeral of László Tost, a former mayor known for his opposition to the Arrow Cross, whose death was quickly followed by further violence.

For 83 days, the Arrow Cross had enforced a reign of terror in Kassa. On the morning of Szálasi’s birthday, Gábor Gyarmathy, the lord lieutenant, reported carrying out executions as a warning. Eight men—Jews, farmers, and military deserters—were shot on direct orders from Szálasi. The killings were performed by two soldiers disguised in civilian clothes, supplied by the German SD, while police stood by to maintain order.

Before the celebration, Gyarmathy and József Fazekas attended the burial of László Tost, the anti-Nazi former mayor. Shortly after, the Arrow Cross murdered Sándor Koczka, a private office worker, and falsely blamed his death on 'partisans'. The birthday event itself was framed as an inward, prayerful gathering rather than a grand display. Hungarian flags and Arrow Cross emblems filled the space, while the national anthem and the *Hungarist March* played. Speeches followed, including one by József Oláh, a teacher and county propaganda chief, who praised Szálasi’s leadership. Arrow Cross songs and poems were performed, reinforcing the regime’s ideological stance.

The celebration ended with no outward extravagance, reflecting the grim circumstances of the time. Szálasi’s supporters remained steadfast in their loyalty, despite the ongoing violence and repression. The executions and Tost’s murder underscored the Arrow Cross’s brutal control over Kassa, leaving the city under a heavy shadow.

Read also:

Related

Latest