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TheHungarian National Defence Association (Hungarian:Magyar Országos Véderő Egyesület orMOVE) was an earlyfar-right movement active inHungary. The structure of the group was largelyparamilitary and as such separate from its leader's later political initiatives.[1]
MOVE grew out of the 'right radicals' phenomenon i.e. those who strongly opposed theHungarian Soviet Republic but who felt that the mainstreamconservatives were not strong enough to cope with the shift to communism.[2] An extreme group of these radicals within the army formed aroundGyula Gömbös inSzeged and in 1919 solidified as MOVE (or theSzeged Fascists) as they were more commonly known.[2] Already self identifying as 'national socialists' in 1919, the group called for changes in land ownership, a moreChristian economic policy against thecapitalism which they identified asJewish and a foreign policy based onrevanchism.[2] The group was led by the likes ofLászló Endre andGyula Gömbös, although it was forced underground in 1937 when rumours circulated that it was planning a coup.[3]
WhenMiklós Horthy ousted the communists MOVE was largely turned over to him, although it continued to develop along fascist lines, offering support forBenito Mussolini and establishing contacts withAdolf Hitler andErich Ludendorff inGermany.[2] Under Horthy MOVE enjoyed a final period of influence as all existing Nazi and rightist paramilitary groups were merged into it.[4]
In 1945, MOVE was banned under decree 529/1945, ME regulation, §3.
In the summer of 2007 a group calling itself the "Hungarian National Defence Association" was formed with similar goals to the original.[5] The association soon split in half[6] with the paramilitary branch operating independently. The paramilitary branch is known as "Véderő" for short. It was led byTamás Eszes.[7]
