HAZAI, SAMU

HAZAI, SAMU (1851–1942), Hungarian army officer and minister. Born in Rimazombat, Hazai graduated from the military academy in Vienna. He taught at the Ludovika Military Academy of Budapest and at the officers' school, of which he later became director. He was made Hungarian minister of defense in 1910 and was later given a barony and raised to the rank of field marshal-lieutenant. During World War I, Hazai instituted several emergency laws, and later was in charge of recruitment for the entire Austro-Hungarian army. After the collapse of the empire in 1918 he was arrested for a short time by the Hungarian revolutionary government, and later played no further part in public affairs. Hazai converted to Christianity in his youth and had no interest in Jewish matters.