Samu Hazai
Encyclopedia
Baron Samu Hazai was a Hungarian
military officer and politician, who served as Minister of Defence between 1910 and 1917.
in Budapest
which he left as a cadet in the 51st Home Defence Infantry Battalion on 1 November 1874. On 1 May 1876 he was commissioned as a Lieutunant in the active ranks of the Hungarian Honvédség
. From 1879 to 1881 he attended the Kriegsschule
at Vienna
with "excellent success" and was promoted to Oberlietunant on 1 May 1883.
Hazai married Mária Juhász with whom he had two sons and one daughter. In the year of 1886 he received his first employment at the Ministry of defence of Hungary. With only short interruptions at troop duty with the military, he performed the majority of his military career in this ministry. His theoretical talent was soon recognized and he became an instructor at the k.u. Ludovika academy. In 1888 he was promoted to Hauptmann 2nd class, on 1 September 1889 to Hauptmann 1st class, to Major on 1 May 1895 and on 1 November 1897 to Oberstlietunant. In March 1900 his achievements as an instructor were rewarded by the award of the bronze Military Merit Medal
(Signum Laudis) and he was transferred as an instructor to the school for senior officers of the Honvéd (k.u. Landwehr-Stabsoffizierskurs) shortly followed by his promotion to Oberst on 1 November 1900.
Hazai's troublesome duty was now on the one hand to fulfill his duty and to send the much needed new materiel – men and equipment to the field and on the other hand to calm down the Hungarian opposition leaders playing with treasonable ideas. At times it seems that only the Emperor and the Hungarian Prime Minister Tisza
supported him during his "mission impossible"! In 3 February 1915 he was awarded the Military Merit Cross
1st class with war decoration, followed be the award of the Merit Star of the Red Cross with war decoration. In June 1916 he received the Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold
, shortly followed by the award of the war decoration to this decoration on 10 August 1916. On 25 November 1916 he was awarded the large golden Military Merit Medal (Großes Signum Laudis) and the title of Oberstinhaber of the k.u.k. infantry regiment number 46 by the ruler.
His troublesome position seems clear if one noticed that General Hazai, as one of the most important Hungarian ministers never received the Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen
.
The allied countries honored him during the war with the following awards: the Prussian Iron Cross
1st and 2nd class (1915), the Grand Cross with Swords of the Bavarian Military Merit Order
(1915), the Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Württemberg
(1916), the Grand Cross with Golden Star and Swords of the Saxon Albrechts Order
(1916) and the Ottoman Medschidj Order 1st class, the golden Imtiaz Medal and the "Iron Half Moon"
– all three in 1917.
and King of Hungary
Charles made the decision to appoint Hazai to be "Chef des Ersatzwesens für die gesamte bewaffnete Macht" (Chief of replacement services for the entire armed services). It was a wise decision to combine the authority regarding supply and replacement together in the hands of one man and to choose an Hungarian for this post. Not so wise was that the Emperor decided the appointment spontaneously without informing any other authorities like ministers and the high commands which had previously dealt with supply and replacement issues and consequently Hazai had more unexpected problems than planned at the outset. In 19 February 1917 Charles released him from the function of the Minister of Defence, simultaneously awarding him the large golden military merit medal (Großes Signum Laudis) a second time, to give him more time for his new post. It was due to Hazai's diplomatic talents that he had succeeded in overcoming the early problems with his new appointment. In November 1917 he was promoted to Generaloberst with seniority from 11 August 1917. Relatively soon he built a Zentralstelle for supply at Vienna
and so-called Exposituren or branch office with each higher command in the field and at home. For his outstanding efforts he was honored with the award of the military merit cross 3rd class with war decoration in brilliants on 12 August 1918.
Until the end of the war General Major Samu Hazai stayed at his important post and did his duty. After the collapse he settled down in Budapest
. During the Hungarian Soviet Republic
he was arrested by the communists and he was caught kept as a hostage for a long-lasting time. From 1927 he was a member of the House of Magnates until his death. He died in 10 February 1942.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
military officer and politician, who served as Minister of Defence between 1910 and 1917.
Early career
When his father converted to Christianity he also converted using the name Khon-Hazai but in 1876 he finally changed his name into Sámuel Hazai. His military career started at the Hungarian Ludovika academyLudovica Military Academy
The Royal Hungarian Ludovica Defense Academy , shortened to Ludovica or Ludovica Academy, was Hungary's officer cadets training institute prior to 1945. The main edifice of the Academy was erected in 1836 at the Ludovica Garden, in the centrally located VIIIth district...
in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
which he left as a cadet in the 51st Home Defence Infantry Battalion on 1 November 1874. On 1 May 1876 he was commissioned as a Lieutunant in the active ranks of the Hungarian Honvédség
Military of Hungary
The Hungarian Defence Force is the national military of Hungary. It currently has two branches, the Hungarian Ground Force and the Hungarian Air Force....
. From 1879 to 1881 he attended the Kriegsschule
Kriegsschule (Austria)
The Kriegsschule was the military academy in Vienna at which officers for the armies of the Austrian Empire and later the Austro-Hungarian Empire were trained from 1852 to 1918....
at Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
with "excellent success" and was promoted to Oberlietunant on 1 May 1883.
Hazai married Mária Juhász with whom he had two sons and one daughter. In the year of 1886 he received his first employment at the Ministry of defence of Hungary. With only short interruptions at troop duty with the military, he performed the majority of his military career in this ministry. His theoretical talent was soon recognized and he became an instructor at the k.u. Ludovika academy. In 1888 he was promoted to Hauptmann 2nd class, on 1 September 1889 to Hauptmann 1st class, to Major on 1 May 1895 and on 1 November 1897 to Oberstlietunant. In March 1900 his achievements as an instructor were rewarded by the award of the bronze Military Merit Medal
Military Merit Medal (Austria-Hungary)
The Military Merit Medal was a military decoration of the Empire of Austria-Hungary. It was founded by Emperor Franz Joseph I on March 12, 1890...
(Signum Laudis) and he was transferred as an instructor to the school for senior officers of the Honvéd (k.u. Landwehr-Stabsoffizierskurs) shortly followed by his promotion to Oberst on 1 November 1900.
Minister of Defence
It was in the nature of a defence ministers post to be more a politician than an officer but in the circumstances of Hazai's Hungarian appointment, politics was the predominant factor. When the war started in 1914 Hazai, meanwhile promoted to General der Infanterie in 1914, especially had his problems with the Hungarian politicians. They always thought that the Hungarian part of the monarchy had to pay more money for the war and that more of their soldiers died than all others. This was objectively not true but some circles in Hungary hated the Dual monarchy so much that they were prepared to risk losing the war in order to damage the Habsburgs.Hazai's troublesome duty was now on the one hand to fulfill his duty and to send the much needed new materiel – men and equipment to the field and on the other hand to calm down the Hungarian opposition leaders playing with treasonable ideas. At times it seems that only the Emperor and the Hungarian Prime Minister Tisza
István Tisza
Count István Tisza de Borosjenő et Szeged was a Hungarian politician, prime minister, and member of Hungarian Academy of Sciences....
supported him during his "mission impossible"! In 3 February 1915 he was awarded the Military Merit Cross
Military Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary)
The Military Merit Cross was a decoration of the Empire of Austria and, after the establishment of the Dual Monarchy in 1867, the Empire of Austria-Hungary. It was first established on October 22, 1849 and underwent several revisions to its design and award criteria over the years of its existence...
1st class with war decoration, followed be the award of the Merit Star of the Red Cross with war decoration. In June 1916 he received the Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold
Order of Leopold (Austria)
The Imperial Austrian Order of Leopold was founded by Franz I of Austria on 8 January 1808. The order's statutes stipulated only three grades: Grand Cross, Commander and Knight. During the war, in common with the other Austro-Hungarian decorations Crossed Swords were instituted to reward bravery in...
, shortly followed by the award of the war decoration to this decoration on 10 August 1916. On 25 November 1916 he was awarded the large golden Military Merit Medal (Großes Signum Laudis) and the title of Oberstinhaber of the k.u.k. infantry regiment number 46 by the ruler.
His troublesome position seems clear if one noticed that General Hazai, as one of the most important Hungarian ministers never received the Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen
Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary
The Royal Hungarian Order of Saint StephenThe Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary, the royal Hungarian order, founded in 1764 by the empress Maria Theresa of Austria, consisted of the grand master , 20 knights grand cross, 30 knights commanders and 50 knights...
.
The allied countries honored him during the war with the following awards: the Prussian Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
1st and 2nd class (1915), the Grand Cross with Swords of the Bavarian Military Merit Order
Military Merit Order (Bavaria)
The Bavarian Military Merit Order was established on July 19, 1866 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It was the kingdom's main decoration for bravery and military merit for officers and higher-ranking officials. Civilians acting in support of the army were also made eligible for the decoration...
(1915), the Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Württemberg
Order of the Crown (Württemberg)
The Order of the Württemberg Crown was an order of chivalry in Württemberg.-History:First established in 1702 as the St.-Hubertus-Jagdorden , in 1807 it was renamed the "Ritterorden vom Goldenen Adler" by Frederick I, and on 23 September 1818 renewed and restructured by William I as the "Order of...
(1916), the Grand Cross with Golden Star and Swords of the Saxon Albrechts Order
Albert Order
The Albert Order was created 31 December 1850 by King Frederick Augustus II of Saxony to commemorate Albert III, Duke of Saxony and was to be awarded to anyone who had served the state well, for civil virtue, science and art....
(1916) and the Ottoman Medschidj Order 1st class, the golden Imtiaz Medal and the "Iron Half Moon"
Gallipoli Star (Ottoman Empire)
The Ottoman War Medal , better known as the Gallipoli Star, or the Iron Crescent was a military decoration of the Ottoman Empire which was instituted by the Sultan Mehmed Reshad V on 1 March 1915 for gallantry in battle...
– all three in 1917.
Later life
The problem with the supply of men and materiel grew ever worse, especially in Hungary, so that the new Emperor of AustriaEmperor of Austria
The Emperor of Austria was a hereditary imperial title and position proclaimed in 1804 by the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, a member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, and continually held by him and his heirs until the last emperor relinquished power in 1918. The emperors retained the title of...
and King of Hungary
King of Hungary
The King of Hungary was the head of state of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1000 to 1918.The style of title "Apostolic King" was confirmed by Pope Clement XIII in 1758 and used afterwards by all the Kings of Hungary, so after this date the kings are referred to as "Apostolic King of...
Charles made the decision to appoint Hazai to be "Chef des Ersatzwesens für die gesamte bewaffnete Macht" (Chief of replacement services for the entire armed services). It was a wise decision to combine the authority regarding supply and replacement together in the hands of one man and to choose an Hungarian for this post. Not so wise was that the Emperor decided the appointment spontaneously without informing any other authorities like ministers and the high commands which had previously dealt with supply and replacement issues and consequently Hazai had more unexpected problems than planned at the outset. In 19 February 1917 Charles released him from the function of the Minister of Defence, simultaneously awarding him the large golden military merit medal (Großes Signum Laudis) a second time, to give him more time for his new post. It was due to Hazai's diplomatic talents that he had succeeded in overcoming the early problems with his new appointment. In November 1917 he was promoted to Generaloberst with seniority from 11 August 1917. Relatively soon he built a Zentralstelle for supply at Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and so-called Exposituren or branch office with each higher command in the field and at home. For his outstanding efforts he was honored with the award of the military merit cross 3rd class with war decoration in brilliants on 12 August 1918.
Until the end of the war General Major Samu Hazai stayed at his important post and did his duty. After the collapse he settled down in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. During the Hungarian Soviet Republic
Hungarian Soviet Republic
The Hungarian Soviet Republic or Soviet Republic of Hungary was a short-lived Communist state established in Hungary in the aftermath of World War I....
he was arrested by the communists and he was caught kept as a hostage for a long-lasting time. From 1927 he was a member of the House of Magnates until his death. He died in 10 February 1942.