Vitéz Lajos Csatay de Csataj (born as Lajos Tutzentaller on 1 August 1886 – 16 October 1944) was a Hungarian military officer and politician, who served as Minister of Defence between June 1943 and October 1944.
Life
World War I and the Interwar He fought in World War I and then joined the Hungarian Red Army to fight against the rebelling Slovak, Romanian, and other nationalists. Between 1919 and 1921 he was a teacher of the Military Academy of Budapest. From 1926 he was a commander of a mixed brigade.
World War II In the first year of World War II, he was Chief of Artillery Field Training, until 1 August 1941, when he became commander of the IV Army Corps. With this Corps, he served on the battlefield in the Soviet Union until 3 December 1942, when he was recalled to Hungary, to reform and lead the Hungarian Third Army.Generals.dk Then Miklós Kállay appointed him as Minister of Defence in June 1943. Initially he supported the Nazis and the continuation of the war, but his opinion changed continuously. After the replacement of the Sztójay administration he kept his position. Géza Lakatos, the new prime minister's real aim was leaving the war.
Operation Panzerfaust The cabinet wanted to initiate peace negotiations with the Allies. Miklós Horthy moved to reconsolidate his influence and began considering strategies for surrendering to the Western Allies because he distrusted the Red Army. The attempted coup was unsuccessful. Horthy was captured by Edmund Veesenmayer and his staff later on 15 October and taken to the Waffen SS office, where he was held overnight.
Lajos Csatay was arrested by the Gestapo; as a result he committed suicide along with his wife.
Awards and decorations
1st rowGolden Military Merit Medal on war ribbon with swordsOrder of Merit of the Kingdom of Hungary Commander's Cross with Star on war ribbon with swordsOrder of Merit of the Kingdom of Hungary Commander's Cross with Star on war ribbonOrder of Merit of the Kingdom of Hungary Officer's Cross2nd rowOrder of the Iron Crown (Austria) 3rd Class with war decoration and swordsMilitary Merit Cross 3rd Class with war decoration and swordsSilver Military Merit Medal on war ribbon with swordsBronze Military Merit Medal on war ribbon with swords3rd rowHungarian Bronze Military Merit Medal on war ribbon with swordsHungarian Bronze Military Merit MedalKarl Troop CrossHungarian World War I Commemorative Medal4th rowLong Service Crosses for Officers 2nd classLong Service Crosses for Officers 3rd class1908 Military Jubilee CrossIron Cross 1st Class (1939–1945)BadgeBadge of the Order of Vitéz
References
Magyar Életrajzi Lexikon