Hungarian Police Officers in the US Service

Type of Abstract (select): Individual Presentation

Abstract (max. 250 words):
The presentation's focal point is the trajectory of a distinct police unit and its members. Before World War II, the relevant civilian response work was carried out within the framework of the police in Hungary. The Political Police Department, operating under the auspices of the Budapest Police Headquarters, was entrusted with the conducting prevention work. By the end of the 1930s, it was evident that Germany, an ally in theory, was conducting covert operations activities within Hungary. Consequently, upon the Wehrmacht's occupation of Hungary on March 19, 1944, one of the initial actions by the SS and SD units was to apprehend police officers exhibiting opposition to the German forces. Concurrently, numerous police officers anticipated the continuation of their careers, and even expected advancements in their careers following the German occupation. The so-called State Security Police, which was established during this period, served the occupiers and participated in the Holocaust. In 1945, the group's activities centered on the resolution of an anti-state conspiracy. The German police officers were detained for several weeks and subsequently deported. In 1945, the prisoners were liberated by US troops and subsequently entered the Counter Intelligence Corps with the objective of identifying and apprehending Hungarian war criminals.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Dr. Tamás Kovács (1979) graduated from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Pécs in 2003 and obtained his Ph.D. in 2014. Since February 2018, he has been associate professor at the Faculty of Law and Order at the National University of Public Service. He has been the head of the Department of Political Theory and History since April 1, 2024. His academic interests focus on the Holocaust and the history of Hungarian law enforcement and state security. He publishes in Hungarian, English, and Russian, and he is regularly lecturer of Hungarian and international conferences.