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Change of authority, new borders between Hungary, Germany, and the Independent State of Croatia

Hungary did not want to break the friendship and cooperation agreement signed with Yugoslavia on December 12, 1940, so the Germans occupied Prekmurje and Međimurje in a swift attack from Austria. The unit that was the first one to occupy Lendava then proceeded over the Mura river to Mursko Središče and further to Čakovec, which had recently been bombed. On April 16, 1941, Prekmurje was handed over to Hungary at a ceremony in Murska Sobota. There was no formal border agreement signed between Germany and Hungary due to a conflict of territorial interests involving Romania. The Hungarians, Romanians, and NDH all wanted Banat, which ultimately remained in the German hands. Both Hungary and the NDH lobbied intensely for their interests in Berlin, with the Hungarians being more successful since they were allies, while the NDH was a subordinate quisling state. In the end, the Germans gave Prekmurje and Međimurje to the Hungarians as compensation for Banat. The majority of the local population did not want to be under Hungarian rule. When the German army left, they were sometimes accompanied by flowers. In Prekmurje, the Germans kept towns in Goričko that had a predominantly German population: Fikšinci, Kramarovci, Ocinje, and Rottenberg as part of the divided Serdica. Similar to the Lendava creek, the Kučnica creek, the left tributary of Mura, also had a dividing role. It had been regarded as one of the borderlines between the German Empire and Hungary since the Middle Ages. Except it did not demarcate the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Austria during the occupation, but Germany and Hungary. The tri-border became an ordinary border. Hungary also gained part of the Slovenian territory, which was otherwise under the NDH, namely the towns of Štrigova and Razkrižje with its surroundings. Before the war, the towns and their surrounding areas belonged to the Drava Banate. A mere month before the war began, an agreement was reached between two Catholic politicians, namely Fran Kulovec, the leader of the SLS party, and the Croatian Ban Ivan Subašič. Under that agreement, the towns were supposed to join the Banate of Croatia, and in return, the Drava Banate would get the municipalities of Draga and Osilnica in Bela Krajina.

Map of the border between Hungary, Germany, and NDH. The occupation and annexation of Prekmurje to Hungary in 1941 meant the separation of Slovenes in Prekmurje from their compatriots on the Styrian side of the Mura, and the establishment of a state border on the river on one hand, and the reunification of Prekmurje and Porabje under a common political-administrative system.
Map of the border between Hungary, Germany, and NDH. The occupation and annexation of Prekmurje to Hungary in 1941 meant the separation of Slovenes in Prekmurje from their compatriots on the Styrian side of the Mura, and the establishment of a state border on the river on one hand, and the reunification of Prekmurje and Porabje under a common political-administrative system.


The territory of Goričko that was included in the German Reich.
The territory of Goričko that was included in the German Reich.


The Ustashe proclamation of the annexation of Međimurje, Štrigova, and Razkrižje to the NDH. The Ustashe plans did not materialize, and both the Međimurje region and Štrigova with Razkrižje were given to Hungary by the Germans. MOL-K-64 93 csomó1941 67 tétel horvát-magyar viszony.
The Ustashe proclamation of the annexation of Međimurje, Štrigova, and Razkrižje to the NDH. The Ustashe plans did not materialize, and both the Međimurje region and Štrigova with Razkrižje were given to Hungary by the Germans. MOL-K-64 93 csomó1941 67 tétel horvát-magyar viszony.


The bilateral agreement on the local border traffic and trade between Germany and Hungary. The residents by the border were exempted from customs duties on cigars, cigarettes, and tobacco for personal use during the day pass. Paragraph 2 of Article 5 set the upper limit in grams and articles for tobacco products. Politisches Archiv. Auswärtiges Amt. Mikrofilm- Nr.: J. Serie: 1274-1280. R 29.786.
The bilateral agreement on the local border traffic and trade between Germany and Hungary. The residents by the border were exempted from customs duties on cigars, cigarettes, and tobacco for personal use during the day pass. Paragraph 2 of Article 5 set the upper limit in grams and articles for tobacco products. Politisches Archiv. Auswärtiges Amt. Mikrofilm- Nr.: J. Serie: 1274-1280. R 29.786.


Lendava, April 16, 1941. Celebration of the Hungarian takeover of Prekmurje. Photographed by István Vida. PMMS.
Lendava, April 16, 1941. Celebration of the Hungarian takeover of Prekmurje. Photographed by István Vida. PMMS.


The handover of the administration of Prekmurje to the Hungarians by the Germans (the Mayor of Murska Sobota Ferdinand Hartner in the foreground), April 16, 1941. PMMS.
The handover of the administration of Prekmurje to the Hungarians by the Germans (the Mayor of Murska Sobota Ferdinand Hartner in the foreground), April 16, 1941. PMMS.