The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - ELTE BTK Történelem Szakos Portál

Different relations Reich had with Romania and Hungary. Romania might be
situated somewhere between Poland and Czechoslovakia on one side and Hungary
on another. Concerning Romanian relations with Soviet Union in June 1934 both
countries recognised the borders and political independence, but the problem of
Bessarabia was not solved. Two years later, in June 1936, both countries signed a
mutual help agreement, but in August 1936 Soviet Union cancelled it due to
supposed change in Romanian foreign policy connected with the change of foreign
affairs minister. The relations with Reich based rather on the economical platform.
Romania signed four consecutive trade deals with Reich: in March 1935,
September 1935, December 1937 and March 1939. In such a way it gradually
became dominated by German economical system and corporations. Romania
agreed to sign those deals hoping that it would stop the possible threat of military
action. It was also a way of creating counterweight to another Reich's ally -
Hungary, and possible territorial revision. This threat was strong especially after
the incidents with Czechoslovakia in 1938 and 1939. Romania made an effort to
become more independent by getting British and French guarantees in April 1939
and by signing trade deals with those countries, but it did not change the general
Reich's dominance over Romania. 15 The internal problem of Romania was the rise
of Iron Guard, fascist organisation, which in the late 30s had a big impact on
Romanian policy.
At the beginning of the 30s in Hungary parties following the example of
German NSDAP started to appear. Gyula Gömbös, fascist and anti-Semite,
appointed a prime minister of Hungary in 1932, broke off the profrench and
probritish foreign policy of the former PM István Bethlen. He rather strived to
develop good relations with Italy, Austria and Germany. Gömbös was the first
diplomat, who visited Hitler after he had been appointed a chancellor, but
eventually stayed closer with Italy and Austria, because Hitler had stressed, that he
would not support Hungarian territorial demands towards Romania and
Yugoslavia. Only when in 1935 Italy signed an agreement with France, and Soviet
Union expanded its diplomatic policy in Europe, Hungary made turn towards
Reich. It was continued by the next PM Kálmán Darányi, and only when Béla
Imrédy had been appointed to the head of government he changed the policy,
trying to improve relations with Poland, Great Britain and Little Entente countries.
On the other hand Hungary could not resign from the revisionist plans. In
November 1938 after the First Vienna Award lead by Reich and Italy Hungary
regained southern Slovakia and part of Carpathian Ruthenia, and the rest of it in
March 1939, with the consent from Hitler. The strive to revise the Treaty of
Trianon led Hungary to the alliance with Reich. Despite the next PM Pál Teleki
was wary of Reich, Hungary did not have any way out - Reich dominated the
Hungarian economy and was able to offer much more than other possible allies. In
February 1939 Hungary joined Anti-Comintern Pact and in March recognised
15 WILLAUME, Małgorzata: Rumunia. Trio, Warsaw, 2004. 131-136.
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