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Description

Hungary, Surrounded.

Rare example of Hungarian persuasive cartography, showing the threat posed to Hungary by its lack of military armaments when compared to its neighbors. 

Published in 1931, when Hungary was still bound by the unfavorable Treaty of Trianon to limit its military might. By the 1930s, Magyar nationalists were deeply unhappy at their military limitations, in particular when compared to their imminent neighbors. Like the National-Socialist Party in Germany, Hungarian nationalists used the perceived threat of their neighbors supposed military might to argue for military buildup. 

On the present map, Hungary is shown vastly out-armed and staring down the barrels of neighboring weapons. It is particularly outgunned when it comes to tanks and planes, according to these. A table at the base of the map explains the exact number of armaments possessed by Hungary and its neighbors.

The Treaty of Trianon

The Treaty of Trianon has been called the most traumatic event in the past hundred years of Hungarian history by Magyar nationalists (which obviously ignores the atrocities of WWII and the Soviet occupation). The Treaty was negotiated as part of the Paris Peace Talks which determined the terms of surrender for the Kingdom of Hungary, and was named after the Grand Trianon Palace of Versailles.

While this Treaty is often neglected in favor of the more well-known Treaty of Versailles signed between the Allies and the Kingdom of Germany, Trianon would be one of the defining factors of interwar Central European politics. The terms of the Treaty were effectively dictated by the victorious powers, and while not as harsh as those imposed on Germany, still had far-reaching implications. The treaty included many clauses, including stipulating that the Hungarian military would be reduced to 35,000 soldiers and the Hungarian navy disbanded. The most offensive terms to Hungarians, however, regarded losses in territory.

The treaty would involve a contraction in territory that would reduce the population of Hungary by 64% and relegate many ethnic Hungarians to minority status. Furthermore, these decisions were decided with only a single plebiscite, which served to resolve a small border dispute between Hungary and Austria. This was contrary to the principle of self-determination that the victorious powers so championed. Hungarians were left feeling enraged by the massive loss of territory to their state which drastically reduced the importance of Hungary on the European stage after the war.

Condition Description
Minor toning on edge folds.