Hungarian responsibility 1943 – the trial of the officers of the Novi Sad raid, 4 executed (but many fled), partial impunity

Hungarian responsibility 1943 – the trial of the officers

21–23 January 1942 – the Hungarians execute 1,246–4,000 Serbs and Jews in the Novi Sad raid.

1943 (a year later) – the Hungarian government (under public pressure + Germany having warned that it was "excessive") tries the officers responsible for the raid.

Result:

• 16 officers indicted
• 4 executed (May 1943)
• 12 officers fled to Germany (never extradited)
• Partial impunity – most of the officers never answered for it

📅 1942–1943 – public pressure in Hungary

February–March 1942 (a month after the raid) – news of the massacre reaches Budapest:

• Hungarian journalists travel to Novi Sad – they write about the massacre
• Priests (Catholic, Orthodox) protest
• Hungarian intellectuals write petitions: "This is a disgrace for Hungary!"

March 1942 – the Hungarian parliament debates:

• The opposition demands an inquiry: "Who ordered the raid?"
• The government (Admiral Miklós Horthy) at first refuses: "That is a military matter."

September 1942 – Germany reacts:

• The German ambassador warns Horthy: "The raid was EXCESSIVE. Killing 4,000 civilians draws the attention of the Allies. Bad for Hungary."
• Hitler does not support the raid (too brutal – even for the Nazis)

December 1942 – Horthy decides:

• "The officers must be tried – to satisfy the public and the Germans."
• He orders an inquiry

⚖️ 1943 – the trial of the officers (Budapest)

January–March 1943 – the inquiry:

• Investigators travel to Novi Sad
• They interview survivors (Serbs, Jews)
• They gather testimonies
• Conclusion: "The raid was a war crime. The officers are responsible."

April 1943 – the indictment:

• 16 Hungarian officers indicted (generals, colonels, majors)
• Charge: "War crimes – the killing of civilians, violation of international law"

But: 12 of the 16 officers fled to Germany (before the trial).

Result: Only 4 officers were tried (the rest evaded).

🪖 The officers responsible – who ordered the massacre?

Conclusion:

• 16 officers indicted
• 12 fled to Germany (never extradited)
• 4 executed (May 1943)
• Most of the officers never answered for it

🏃 The officers' flight to Germany – why did Germany not extradite them?

March–April 1943 (before the trial) – 12 Hungarian officers flee to Germany:

• They cross the border (Hungary → Austria → Germany)
• They seek asylum from Hitler
• Hitler: "You may stay. We will not extradite you."

Why did Hitler not extradite the officers?

• Hungary = an ally of the Germans (Hitler needed Hungary in the war)
• Extraditing the officers = an insult to Hungary
• Hitler knew that Hungary would cease to be loyal if it extradited the officers
• Result: Hitler protected the officers – they were not extradited

After WWII (1945):

• Germany capitulated
• The 12 Hungarian officers (who had fled) – vanished
• Some died of natural causes (Germany, Austria, Argentina)
• Not one was convicted of the Novi Sad raid

👨‍⚖️ General Ferenc Feketehalmy-Czeydner – the chief culprit

Ferenc Feketehalmy-Czeydner (born 1890, Hungary) – general, commander of Vojvodina (1941–1942).

January 1942 – ordered the Novi Sad raid:

• "Carry out the cleansing of Vojvodina of Serbs and Jews. Use all necessary measures."
• 21–23 January: 1,246–4,000 Serbs and Jews executed

March 1943 – indicted for war crimes:

• The Hungarian parliament voted: "Feketehalmy is responsible for the raid."
• His arrest was ordered

April 1943 – he flees to Germany:

• He crosses the border
• Hitler grants asylum
• Never tried

1945 (the end of WWII) – Germany capitulated. Feketehalmy still in Germany.

1946 – committed suicide:

• He knew he would be extradited to Yugoslavia (Tito demanded his extradition)
• He killed himself before he could be arrested
• He never answered for the 1,246–4,000 Serbs and Jews he had killed

🇷🇸 The Serbian perspective – partial impunity

For the Serbian people, the 1943 trial = partial justice:

• 16 officers indicted (a positive)
• But: 12 fled to Germany (a negative)
• Only 4 executed – for 1,246–4,000 victims (not enough)
• General Feketehalmy (the chief culprit) – fled, committed suicide in 1946 (never convicted)
• Partial impunity – most of the officers never answered for it

A contrast with other trials:

• The Nuremberg trials (1945–1946): Germans convicted of war crimes
• Hungary 1943: Only 4 of 16 officers executed
• Conclusion: Hungary punished its own officers less severely than the Germans did

"1943 – the Hungarian government (under public pressure) tries the officers responsible for the Novi Sad raid (21–23 January 1942). 16 officers indicted. But: 12 fled to Germany (Hitler granted asylum). Only 4 executed (May 1943). General Ferenc Feketehalmy-Czeydner (the chief culprit) – fled to Germany, committed suicide in 1946 (never convicted). Colonel József Grassy – fled, died 1952 (natural death). Captain Sándor Képíró – fled, died 2011 (96 years old, natural death). Partial impunity. Most of the officers never answered for the 1,246–4,000 Serbs and Jews. WE WILL NEVER FORGET."