Bella Kun

Bella Kun was born in Szlagycseh, Hungary in 1886. He worked as a journalist before serving in the Austro-Hungarian Army during the First World War. He was captured by the Russian Army in 1916 and spent the next year in a prison camp. He was released in 1917 and supported the Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution.

On his return to Hungary he joined with Imre Nagy, Laszlo Rajk, Matyas Rakosi and others to form the Hungarian Communist Party.

After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the last few months of the First World War, the leader of the Independent Party, Mihaly Karolyi, gained control. He tried to introduce social and democratic reforms but lack of support led to him being ousted by the communists led by Kun.

Admiral Miklos Horthy, commander-in-chief of the Imperial and Royal Fleet, returned to Hungary in November 1919 and Kun was forced to flee. He lived in Vienna before moving to the Soviet Union.

Joseph Stalin ordered the execution of Bella Kun in about 1937.