Bela Kun

Date of Birth: February 20, 1886

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: August 29, 1938

Biography

Béla Kun was a Hungarian Communist revolutionary and politician who played a pivotal role in the early 20th-century political landscape of Hungary. Born in a small town in Transylvania, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Kun rose to prominence during the tumultuous years following World War I. He is best known for leading the Hungarian Soviet Republic in 1919, a short-lived communist government that aimed to establish a socialist state in Hungary. Kun’s early life was marked by his involvement in socialist movements and his active participation in World War I, where he was captured by Russian forces. During his captivity, he became deeply influenced by Bolshevik ideologies and joined the Russian Communist Party. After the war, he returned to Hungary and quickly ascended the ranks of the Hungarian Communist Party. In March 1919, Kun and his fellow communists seized power in Hungary, establishing the Hungarian Soviet Republic. His government implemented radical reforms, including the nationalization of industries and the redistribution of land. However, Kun’s regime faced significant internal and external opposition, and by August 1919, it was overthrown by Romanian forces and Hungarian counter-revolutionaries. After the fall of the Hungarian Soviet Republic, Kun fled to the Soviet Union, where he continued to be active in the Communist International. He held various positions within the Soviet government and was involved in communist activities across Europe. However, during Joseph Stalin’s Great Purge in the late 1930s, Kun was arrested, accused of espionage, and executed.

5 Interesting Facts about Bela Kun

1. Béla Kun was born Béla Kohn, but he changed his surname to Kun, which means “Cuman” in Hungarian, a nod to the Cuman people who historically settled in Hungary.

2. Kun was captured by Russian forces during World War I and became a Bolshevik while in a POW camp.

3. Under Kun’s leadership, the Hungarian Soviet Republic was the second socialist state to be established after the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

4. Kun was a prolific writer and contributed to various communist publications throughout his life.

5. Despite his downfall and execution, Kun remains a controversial figure in Hungarian history, with some viewing him as a revolutionary hero and others as a dictator.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Bela Kun

1. “The proletariat must use its political power to expropriate the expropriators.”

2. “We must not forget that the Communist Party is the vanguard of the working class.”

3. “The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.”

4. “History is on our side. We will bury you!”

5. “The struggle for socialism is the struggle for the future.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Béla Kun did not achieve significant personal wealth. As a communist revolutionary, he advocated for the abolition of private property and wealth accumulation. Therefore, his highest net worth was negligible and not documented.

Children

Béla Kun had a daughter named Irén Kun, who later became a translator and editor. Her life was significantly impacted by her father’s political activities and subsequent execution.