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The Last Days of Budapest: The Destruction of Europe’s Most Cosmopolitan Capital in World War II
In 1945, Budapest, once one of the cultured twin capitals of the Austro-Hungarian empire, became the site of the last great, brutal city siege of WWII--now brilliantly recreated in this new history.
Although Hungary was a German ally in 1941, two years into World War II, it was still possible for Allied prisoners of war, French and Polish refugees, spies of every kind, and the city’s large Jewish population to live freely and openly, enjoying the cafes and boulevards that made Budapest one of the great European capitals. While the other multicultural centers of Europe had fallen to the almost all-consuming conflict, Budapest remained intact, a shining reminder of what middle European high culture could be.
In September 1944, three months after D-Day, life in the city seemed idyllic. But under the guise of peace existed an undercurrent of tension and anxiety: British and American troops advanced from the west and Soviet troops from the east. Who would reach the capital first? By mid-October 1944, Budapest had collapsed into anarchy: death squads roamed the streets, the city’s remaining Jews were funneled into ghettos, Russian shells destroyed city blocks, and everyone struggled to find food and survive the winter.
Using newly uncovered diaries and archives, Adam Lebor brilliantly recreates the increasingly desperate efforts of Hungary’s leaders to avoid being drawn into the cataclysm of war, the moral and tactical ambiguity they deployed in the attempt, and the ultimate tragedy that befell Hungary and, in particular, its Jewish population. Told through the lives of a glamorous aristocrats, SS Officers, a rebellious teenage Jewish school student, Hungary's most popular singer and actress, and a housewife trying desperately to keep her family alive, the story of how Budapest is threatened from all sides as the war tightens its noose is highly dramatic and utterly compelling.
Although Hungary was a German ally in 1941, two years into World War II, it was still possible for Allied prisoners of war, French and Polish refugees, spies of every kind, and the city’s large Jewish population to live freely and openly, enjoying the cafes and boulevards that made Budapest one of the great European capitals. While the other multicultural centers of Europe had fallen to the almost all-consuming conflict, Budapest remained intact, a shining reminder of what middle European high culture could be.
In September 1944, three months after D-Day, life in the city seemed idyllic. But under the guise of peace existed an undercurrent of tension and anxiety: British and American troops advanced from the west and Soviet troops from the east. Who would reach the capital first? By mid-October 1944, Budapest had collapsed into anarchy: death squads roamed the streets, the city’s remaining Jews were funneled into ghettos, Russian shells destroyed city blocks, and everyone struggled to find food and survive the winter.
Using newly uncovered diaries and archives, Adam Lebor brilliantly recreates the increasingly desperate efforts of Hungary’s leaders to avoid being drawn into the cataclysm of war, the moral and tactical ambiguity they deployed in the attempt, and the ultimate tragedy that befell Hungary and, in particular, its Jewish population. Told through the lives of a glamorous aristocrats, SS Officers, a rebellious teenage Jewish school student, Hungary's most popular singer and actress, and a housewife trying desperately to keep her family alive, the story of how Budapest is threatened from all sides as the war tightens its noose is highly dramatic and utterly compelling.
512 pages, Hardcover
First published April 22, 2025
164 people are currently reading
1279 people want to read
About the author
Adam LeBor
17 books86 followersAdam LeBor was born in London and read Arabic, international history and politics at Leeds University, graduating in 1983, and also studied Arabic at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He worked for several British newspapers before becoming a foreign correspondent in 1991. He has reported from thirty countries, including Israel and Palestine, and covered the Yugoslav wars for The Times of London and The Independent. Currently Central Europe correspondent for The Times of London, he also writes for the Sunday Times, The Econdomist, Literary Review, Condé Nast Traveller, the Jewish Chronicle, New Statesman and Harry's Place in Britain, and contributes to The Nation and the New York Times in the States. He is the author of seven books, including the best-selling Hitler's Secret Bankers, which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize. His books have been published in nine languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 1, 2025
This is a good, well-rounded book about Hungary's role in WWII through the lens of events in Budapest. Pre-war politics and antisemitism feature in a grand tableau peopled by those in power who could have done the right thing and dithered and those not in power who worked hard at saving the lives of as many people as they could. I have read books about the events that are depicted in this book that tend to concentrate on the efforts of one person such as Kazstner and or Wallenberg. Both of these men and their efforts are discussed in this book. However, this book shows the events from a perspective of the city rather than individuals. It is fair and balanced.
If you want a good read about WWII in eastern Europe, you can' go wrong with this one.
If you want a good read about WWII in eastern Europe, you can' go wrong with this one.
June 10, 2025
I was born in Budapest in 1943 and my parents told me often that we survived the final four months of the war in the Glass House after my father's brother, a Zionist who was killed soon after, arranged for his parents, his sister and us to be admitted. My parents told me of several immediately preceding events that were nearly identical to those mentioned in the book (my parents handing me over to a Red Cross orphanage prior to my father being caught in and escaping from round up at the Nagybátony-Újlak Brick Factory and my mother escaping from a forced march during an Allied strafing run). So I was very excited to learn about LeBor's book. The book filled in t big gap in the knowledge of what my parent's life might have been like before I came on the scene.
The book did give me a good picture of what their life was like but, unfortunately, it was disjointed and in need a good, thorough editing. Reading it was a slog. It was as if the author took verbatim quotes from survivor testimonial videos and strung them together, haphazardly, roughly in chronological order. Many characters enters the picture, left for several chapters and then reentered the storyline. After a while it was difficult remembering whether the character was a Nazi, an Arrow Cross, an Allie spy, a Turk or a Hungarian Jew. The list of 63 characters listed in the appendix and a bibliography that stretched to 17 pages. It was impressive amount of research however, in my opinion, all those facts interfered with the narrative.
I wish it had been different.
The book did give me a good picture of what their life was like but, unfortunately, it was disjointed and in need a good, thorough editing. Reading it was a slog. It was as if the author took verbatim quotes from survivor testimonial videos and strung them together, haphazardly, roughly in chronological order. Many characters enters the picture, left for several chapters and then reentered the storyline. After a while it was difficult remembering whether the character was a Nazi, an Arrow Cross, an Allie spy, a Turk or a Hungarian Jew. The list of 63 characters listed in the appendix and a bibliography that stretched to 17 pages. It was impressive amount of research however, in my opinion, all those facts interfered with the narrative.
I wish it had been different.
May 22, 2025
Having a longtime interest in both Hungary and in Judaism, and with friends overlapping both these identities, I anticipated this with enthusiasm, despite the grim topic. The convoluted Horthy regime, in this way maybe similar to its fascist Romanian neighbors before and during much of WWII, shows the difficulty of holding out against the Nazis, negotiating with their Allied enemies, dealing with a homegrown nativist force fundamentally antisemitic, and extorting the wealth and labor of captive innocent people persecuted and compromised into unwilling collaboration under fanatical militants.
It makes in LeBor's telling (he necessarily relies on translation assistance, lacking Magyar fluency) a comprehensive presentation, if sprawling and disjointed, given his getting lost in potted biographies, tempting sidebars, and dismal detours. It integrates many personal narratives, testimonies of spies, diplomats, witnesses and survivors, as well as doomed heroes such as Hannah Szenes and too many others (as among her brave comrades) too soon forgotten. Among them Pál Teleki, although his story jumbled when LeBor begins the Arrow Cross imposition of cruelty early on, awkwardly, suddenly...
I must admit disappointment. The backstory of a teenaged George Soros, who's been alleged to have assisted via the unenviable Jewish Council system--so cynical in its composition, engineered by a mind utterly devoid of compassion in its manipulation of desperate men and women driven by fear and greed, rationalization and bargaining to buy their own survival at the price of their souls--won't be found in these otherwise densely researched pages, unless I missed it in my Kindle doublechecking.
This episode, embedded within the dark elements shadowing this tragic tale, would appear necessary for any reader wondering about one of the world's leading influencers of politics, social causes, and self-titled "progressive" causes. It's not stereotyping or prejudice that causes me to mention this gap.
For as LeBor otherwise engages with commendable diligence to those caught up in horrible decisions, unjust demands, failed schemes, and hopeless consequences, the apparent lacuna in this instance, to me at least, crucial to our own comprehensive and complete comprehension of Hungarian agency in what Eichmann called blood for goods (as in the "gold train" skullduggery alleged late in the conflict) puzzles me. Perhaps another Goodreads reviewer may enlighten me, for I am open to correction here.
P.S. In my online ed. among sources is listed: "Soros, Tivadar, Maskerado: Dancing Around Death in Nazi Hungary (Edinburgh, 2000)." But György's father Tivadar (aka the Esperanto Teodor Švarc, the family changed their surname from Schwartz in 1936 to an Hungarian one to evade being singled out) isn't otherwise included in the text itself. The Soros clan were from Budapest and George was b. 1930.
It makes in LeBor's telling (he necessarily relies on translation assistance, lacking Magyar fluency) a comprehensive presentation, if sprawling and disjointed, given his getting lost in potted biographies, tempting sidebars, and dismal detours. It integrates many personal narratives, testimonies of spies, diplomats, witnesses and survivors, as well as doomed heroes such as Hannah Szenes and too many others (as among her brave comrades) too soon forgotten. Among them Pál Teleki, although his story jumbled when LeBor begins the Arrow Cross imposition of cruelty early on, awkwardly, suddenly...
I must admit disappointment. The backstory of a teenaged George Soros, who's been alleged to have assisted via the unenviable Jewish Council system--so cynical in its composition, engineered by a mind utterly devoid of compassion in its manipulation of desperate men and women driven by fear and greed, rationalization and bargaining to buy their own survival at the price of their souls--won't be found in these otherwise densely researched pages, unless I missed it in my Kindle doublechecking.
This episode, embedded within the dark elements shadowing this tragic tale, would appear necessary for any reader wondering about one of the world's leading influencers of politics, social causes, and self-titled "progressive" causes. It's not stereotyping or prejudice that causes me to mention this gap.
For as LeBor otherwise engages with commendable diligence to those caught up in horrible decisions, unjust demands, failed schemes, and hopeless consequences, the apparent lacuna in this instance, to me at least, crucial to our own comprehensive and complete comprehension of Hungarian agency in what Eichmann called blood for goods (as in the "gold train" skullduggery alleged late in the conflict) puzzles me. Perhaps another Goodreads reviewer may enlighten me, for I am open to correction here.
P.S. In my online ed. among sources is listed: "Soros, Tivadar, Maskerado: Dancing Around Death in Nazi Hungary (Edinburgh, 2000)." But György's father Tivadar (aka the Esperanto Teodor Švarc, the family changed their surname from Schwartz in 1936 to an Hungarian one to evade being singled out) isn't otherwise included in the text itself. The Soros clan were from Budapest and George was b. 1930.
February 24, 2025
Adam Lebor’s ‘The Last Days Of Budapest’ is a fantastic insight into the life of the city during the Second World War. Lebor also places events within their wider historical contexts and clearly explains Hungary’s confused, self-interested and tragic role in both the conflict and the Holocaust. He is unsparing on Miklos Horthy and his inability to act against Hitler and in defence of Hungary’s Jewish population, who were all but wiped out in the summer of 1944. It’s a fantastic book and notable for weaving fascinating personal stories and tales of extraordinary people living through horrific events.
April 26, 2025
In my studies of WWII and the Holocaust as well as the many books of historical fiction I have read over the years, I have never come across any with a focus on Hungary. Germany, Poland, Russia, yes but places like Hungary and Czechoslovakia are not places that my mind immediately goes to when thinking about this time period. This past fall I took a vacation to Europe and had an eye-opening experience as I walked the city streets of Budapest, Bratislava and Prague, captivated by the extensive history and stories that were shared. I found myself fascinated and overwhelmed by the history and the horrors that took place.
The Last Days of Budapest, is an extensive look at the history of Budapest during 1944 and 1945. Using historical documents and personal accounts of survivors, Adam LeBor, tells the story of the city through the eyes of multiple people of different social stature and titles/positions. He explores the role the country’s leaders played as well as the politics, military strategy, and the suffering that citizens were forced to endure. A mix of politics and social issues, this book focuses on the happenings in the city during WWII.
The book is very well written and is laid out in a manner that is easy to follow. Often, with a book like this it is easy to get lost or confused by the flurry of characters, events, topics, etc, but this book was very concise. The subject matter is tough and can be hard to handle at certain points, but it is an important account of some dark times in history.
I listened to the audio version of this book. The narrator David Thorpe did a wonderful job. It is a long read with a lot of intense subject matter, but the way in which he read it kept my attention throughout.
Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC of this book. It was an educational experience, and I learned far more than I had even expected when going into it. This is an important subject that many would benefit from being more aware of and learning more about.
The Last Days of Budapest, is an extensive look at the history of Budapest during 1944 and 1945. Using historical documents and personal accounts of survivors, Adam LeBor, tells the story of the city through the eyes of multiple people of different social stature and titles/positions. He explores the role the country’s leaders played as well as the politics, military strategy, and the suffering that citizens were forced to endure. A mix of politics and social issues, this book focuses on the happenings in the city during WWII.
The book is very well written and is laid out in a manner that is easy to follow. Often, with a book like this it is easy to get lost or confused by the flurry of characters, events, topics, etc, but this book was very concise. The subject matter is tough and can be hard to handle at certain points, but it is an important account of some dark times in history.
I listened to the audio version of this book. The narrator David Thorpe did a wonderful job. It is a long read with a lot of intense subject matter, but the way in which he read it kept my attention throughout.
Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC of this book. It was an educational experience, and I learned far more than I had even expected when going into it. This is an important subject that many would benefit from being more aware of and learning more about.
August 14, 2025
An in-depth look at one of the most cosmopolitan cities prior to World War II and its destruction at the hands of the axis powers and soviets.
August 22, 2025
The Last Days of Budapest: The Destruction of Europe's Most Cosmopolitan Capital in World War II, Adam LeBor, author; David Thorpe, narrator
I don’t quite know where to begin. The amount of research that produced the information in this book is astounding, as it shines a bright light on the war in Europe, during the 1940’s, with its focus on Budapest, Hungary. Sadly, many of the same barbaric players are still disrupting world peace today, in Europe and the Middle East. Many of the same hateful kinds of people are gaining support and assuming positions of power with their loud protestations against the innocent that are coupled with the support of those who agree with their evil intentions and age-old hatreds. This book is an intense expression of the hate and barbarism that consumed those who supported Hitler, but also those who supported other authoritarian rulers like Mussolini, Franco, Hirohito and Stalin. Often switching sides to gain the advantage, these leaders were responsible for the war that raged on and on and for the proliferation of sadistic and violent behavior that defied credulity. The author has provided us with an educational and authentic presentation of the effects of World War II on a country with a conflicted allegiance, like so many others, but this country was late to the game. Because it entered late, it was a country that had the most surviving Jews at the end of the war. Yet, in so short a time, the brutality and sadism they experienced seemed far more horrifying than anything that I had learned before.
When the war began, Hungary’s leaders supported Germany’s position. Some underground programs and efforts, however, were staged from Hungary, because they remained quasi-neutral. This allowed the British SOE (Special Operations Executive), to develop some clandestine operations that used Hungary as their base. Spain had diplomatic relations with Hungary so many of the leaders of the resistance were able to use false papers identifying them as Spanish. This offered them immunity and enabled them to help fight back against the Germans and those that supported them. Those that had diplomatic immunity could move around more freely, engaging in surreptitious behavior, but many were betrayed, caught and executed. Hungary’s Regent, Admiral Miklós Horthy, actually tried to remain neutral, which kept Hungarian Jews safe from deportation until 1944 when a coup removed him from power. Still, the Hungarian authorities did align themselves with Hitler’s policies. Until the coup led by Ferenc Szálasi removed Admiral Horthy, varied people and organizations were more able to help the Jews escape if they wished. They could also attempt to hide their children and to save some lives when threatened. After 1944, it became far more difficult. The aid, however, came from people from all walks of life. It was the rich, the famous, the young, the old, the aristocratic, the Jew and the Christian who stepped up to the plate to save the lives of those being persecuted. Sadly, though, many Hungarians were as bad or worse than the Germans they supported.
Tragedies, errors, mistakes, lack of experience, incompetence, and accidents of fate prevented many efforts to save the people and the country, but that cannot take away from the efforts of the heroes who tried. In so many cases, sheer luck determined the outcome. Most of the Jewish community was wiped out in Europe because of the warped, barbaric behavior of a citizenry that was mad with hate, greed and selfishness, jealousy and envy. One can’t help but ask how such collective madness could gain a foothold in the world, yet are we not witnessing some of the same kind of madness flourishing again today? As we witness war again between Russia and Ukraine, the proliferation of hate again with the protest marches against Israel in America, as we witness antisemitism again with the barbaric attack of Hamas against the Jews on October 7th 2023, we are seeing the same kind of political games, power and greed motivating the behavior of the heads of state and the people participating in this grotesque behavior. Most people have not learned from history, but soldiers and innocent citizens are the victims who pay the price for their fury and decisions. History will judge the outcome and the players of today’s horrific behavior as it has judged the behavior of the past, but it seems that no one has learned from the past, since the same monstrous attitudes are resurfacing.
This book is so well researched that it leaves no assessment of any situation to chance, although life and death was often serendipitous, completely dependent on accidents of fate, it was mostly orchestrated by demented psychopaths who enjoyed the killing and the torturing. Using historic records, victim testimonies, court records, documents, diaries and other sources, the author has laid bare that period between 1940 and the end of World War II. He even goes back into the early 20th century and details the history of Hungary and its possible reasons for supporting Germany’s hateful policies, and then, eventually attempting to abandon Germany, but failing. Unfortunately, we are watching similar situations today, involving wars in Europe and the Middle East as the same mindset is guiding these leaders who are intent on conquering land that is not theirs to conquer. They are murdering innocent victims in the process.
There are a great many characters, names and dates, places and events in this book, so many, that in fact, it often gets confusing, but the information is so well researched that one cannot turn away, even when the incidents reported are revolting. They will make the reader wonder how human beings could even think of the things that were done to other humans and then think that they could get away with their cruelty. When one thinks of the heinous behavior some human beings were capable of, it was especially helpful to also learn of the acts of heroism that took place to try and combat those who were so evil, those who were trying to exterminate people, not because of anything they had done, but because of who they were. They derived sadistic pleasure from the torture and barbarism. The perpetrators did not only prey upon the Jews. They also murdered the Roma (gypsies), who like the Jews, were also thought to be racially inferior to the Aryans. However, their greatest effort was geared toward the annihilation of Jews.
The acts of barbarism defy the imagination. Three people would be tied together. The middle one was shot forcing that victim to fall into the Danube and take the other two with them to drown. Sometimes, whole families were murdered this way. Male sex organs were mutilated. Woman were raped with foreign objects. Twins were sewn together so their blood vessels would mix and then they would be left to die. These were only some of the monstrous ways in which people were tortured and murdered by the Germans and the Arrow Cross. The idea that the population was unaware of the brutality is a farce. The looting and the violence carried out by the citizens and the psychopaths was contrasted by the bravery of the heroes who stepped forward to try and save the victims, often becoming the victims themselves.
What would make a normal person seek the extermination of anyone? Why would so many go quietly into the night and not fight back? They were led to the slaughter like the proverbial lambs that they were. Even when the Germans were losing the war, the Hungarian fascist Arrow Cross Party, led by Ferenc Szálasi, became even more cruel in their behavior toward their victims. They murdered children, the elderly, doctors, nurses and their patients in cold blood as they emptied the orphanages, hospitals, and nursing homes. When the Russians came and so-called liberated the country, they were even more barbaric, in some cases, raping, pillaging and murdering those who had falsely thought they had survived the carnage. The book highlights the places, the people and the camps where people withered and died. Sometimes the information is overwhelming and difficult to believe, but the barbarism, deportations, and outright murder of the Jews, and others of Hungary is well is documented.
Varied emotions are displayed on every page. There was abject terror, passive acceptance, grief, fury, frustration and helplessness, because there was no way to fight back once the door was open and the monsters entered. They were slowly robbed of their possessions, their self-respect, their independence, and finally, their lives. Several facts are important. I will highlight a few. The Glass house provided papers for Jews hoping to escape. Carl Lutz, a Swiss diplomat was the person behind it. There were far less permits, however, than people seeking refuge. Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, engaged in several rescue operations saving thousands of Jews. He disappeared, and no one knows what happened to him. When bodies were thrown into the river after they were shot, he and his people rescued those who managed to separate themselves from those they were tied to and then swim away. Hannah Senesh (Szenes) rescued Jews from deportation. She had moved to British Palestine and was safe from Hitler’s madness, but she returned to Hungary to help in the resistance effort of the SOE.
Tracing the history of Buda and Pest from the early 1900’s through the days of WWI and WWII, the author has done a remarkable job of detailing the entire history of Budapest, Hungary, from the Trianon Treaty that crippled them, to the Communist takeover, and then to the invasion by the Nazis. Revolutions and protests seem to have been a big part of its past. I was struck with the question of why Hungary would align itself with Germany again after failing the first time in World War I.
The book could have used some editing as it was often repetitious and the time line wandered. However, because of the amazing presentation of information and sources, that has to be forgiven. The book made me wonder why today’s Jews are supporting those who want to eliminate them “from the river to the sea” and are supporting a candidate for mayor, in NYC, that does not support them either. Why haven’t they learned from history and October 7th that turning the other cheek only gets both sides slapped? The belief that if they are kind to their enemies their enemies will learn to like them seems to be an obvious oxymoron, but their complicity, with their support, seems to have encouraged even more of a madness in the world that is once again embracing antisemitism.
I don’t quite know where to begin. The amount of research that produced the information in this book is astounding, as it shines a bright light on the war in Europe, during the 1940’s, with its focus on Budapest, Hungary. Sadly, many of the same barbaric players are still disrupting world peace today, in Europe and the Middle East. Many of the same hateful kinds of people are gaining support and assuming positions of power with their loud protestations against the innocent that are coupled with the support of those who agree with their evil intentions and age-old hatreds. This book is an intense expression of the hate and barbarism that consumed those who supported Hitler, but also those who supported other authoritarian rulers like Mussolini, Franco, Hirohito and Stalin. Often switching sides to gain the advantage, these leaders were responsible for the war that raged on and on and for the proliferation of sadistic and violent behavior that defied credulity. The author has provided us with an educational and authentic presentation of the effects of World War II on a country with a conflicted allegiance, like so many others, but this country was late to the game. Because it entered late, it was a country that had the most surviving Jews at the end of the war. Yet, in so short a time, the brutality and sadism they experienced seemed far more horrifying than anything that I had learned before.
When the war began, Hungary’s leaders supported Germany’s position. Some underground programs and efforts, however, were staged from Hungary, because they remained quasi-neutral. This allowed the British SOE (Special Operations Executive), to develop some clandestine operations that used Hungary as their base. Spain had diplomatic relations with Hungary so many of the leaders of the resistance were able to use false papers identifying them as Spanish. This offered them immunity and enabled them to help fight back against the Germans and those that supported them. Those that had diplomatic immunity could move around more freely, engaging in surreptitious behavior, but many were betrayed, caught and executed. Hungary’s Regent, Admiral Miklós Horthy, actually tried to remain neutral, which kept Hungarian Jews safe from deportation until 1944 when a coup removed him from power. Still, the Hungarian authorities did align themselves with Hitler’s policies. Until the coup led by Ferenc Szálasi removed Admiral Horthy, varied people and organizations were more able to help the Jews escape if they wished. They could also attempt to hide their children and to save some lives when threatened. After 1944, it became far more difficult. The aid, however, came from people from all walks of life. It was the rich, the famous, the young, the old, the aristocratic, the Jew and the Christian who stepped up to the plate to save the lives of those being persecuted. Sadly, though, many Hungarians were as bad or worse than the Germans they supported.
Tragedies, errors, mistakes, lack of experience, incompetence, and accidents of fate prevented many efforts to save the people and the country, but that cannot take away from the efforts of the heroes who tried. In so many cases, sheer luck determined the outcome. Most of the Jewish community was wiped out in Europe because of the warped, barbaric behavior of a citizenry that was mad with hate, greed and selfishness, jealousy and envy. One can’t help but ask how such collective madness could gain a foothold in the world, yet are we not witnessing some of the same kind of madness flourishing again today? As we witness war again between Russia and Ukraine, the proliferation of hate again with the protest marches against Israel in America, as we witness antisemitism again with the barbaric attack of Hamas against the Jews on October 7th 2023, we are seeing the same kind of political games, power and greed motivating the behavior of the heads of state and the people participating in this grotesque behavior. Most people have not learned from history, but soldiers and innocent citizens are the victims who pay the price for their fury and decisions. History will judge the outcome and the players of today’s horrific behavior as it has judged the behavior of the past, but it seems that no one has learned from the past, since the same monstrous attitudes are resurfacing.
This book is so well researched that it leaves no assessment of any situation to chance, although life and death was often serendipitous, completely dependent on accidents of fate, it was mostly orchestrated by demented psychopaths who enjoyed the killing and the torturing. Using historic records, victim testimonies, court records, documents, diaries and other sources, the author has laid bare that period between 1940 and the end of World War II. He even goes back into the early 20th century and details the history of Hungary and its possible reasons for supporting Germany’s hateful policies, and then, eventually attempting to abandon Germany, but failing. Unfortunately, we are watching similar situations today, involving wars in Europe and the Middle East as the same mindset is guiding these leaders who are intent on conquering land that is not theirs to conquer. They are murdering innocent victims in the process.
There are a great many characters, names and dates, places and events in this book, so many, that in fact, it often gets confusing, but the information is so well researched that one cannot turn away, even when the incidents reported are revolting. They will make the reader wonder how human beings could even think of the things that were done to other humans and then think that they could get away with their cruelty. When one thinks of the heinous behavior some human beings were capable of, it was especially helpful to also learn of the acts of heroism that took place to try and combat those who were so evil, those who were trying to exterminate people, not because of anything they had done, but because of who they were. They derived sadistic pleasure from the torture and barbarism. The perpetrators did not only prey upon the Jews. They also murdered the Roma (gypsies), who like the Jews, were also thought to be racially inferior to the Aryans. However, their greatest effort was geared toward the annihilation of Jews.
The acts of barbarism defy the imagination. Three people would be tied together. The middle one was shot forcing that victim to fall into the Danube and take the other two with them to drown. Sometimes, whole families were murdered this way. Male sex organs were mutilated. Woman were raped with foreign objects. Twins were sewn together so their blood vessels would mix and then they would be left to die. These were only some of the monstrous ways in which people were tortured and murdered by the Germans and the Arrow Cross. The idea that the population was unaware of the brutality is a farce. The looting and the violence carried out by the citizens and the psychopaths was contrasted by the bravery of the heroes who stepped forward to try and save the victims, often becoming the victims themselves.
What would make a normal person seek the extermination of anyone? Why would so many go quietly into the night and not fight back? They were led to the slaughter like the proverbial lambs that they were. Even when the Germans were losing the war, the Hungarian fascist Arrow Cross Party, led by Ferenc Szálasi, became even more cruel in their behavior toward their victims. They murdered children, the elderly, doctors, nurses and their patients in cold blood as they emptied the orphanages, hospitals, and nursing homes. When the Russians came and so-called liberated the country, they were even more barbaric, in some cases, raping, pillaging and murdering those who had falsely thought they had survived the carnage. The book highlights the places, the people and the camps where people withered and died. Sometimes the information is overwhelming and difficult to believe, but the barbarism, deportations, and outright murder of the Jews, and others of Hungary is well is documented.
Varied emotions are displayed on every page. There was abject terror, passive acceptance, grief, fury, frustration and helplessness, because there was no way to fight back once the door was open and the monsters entered. They were slowly robbed of their possessions, their self-respect, their independence, and finally, their lives. Several facts are important. I will highlight a few. The Glass house provided papers for Jews hoping to escape. Carl Lutz, a Swiss diplomat was the person behind it. There were far less permits, however, than people seeking refuge. Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, engaged in several rescue operations saving thousands of Jews. He disappeared, and no one knows what happened to him. When bodies were thrown into the river after they were shot, he and his people rescued those who managed to separate themselves from those they were tied to and then swim away. Hannah Senesh (Szenes) rescued Jews from deportation. She had moved to British Palestine and was safe from Hitler’s madness, but she returned to Hungary to help in the resistance effort of the SOE.
Tracing the history of Buda and Pest from the early 1900’s through the days of WWI and WWII, the author has done a remarkable job of detailing the entire history of Budapest, Hungary, from the Trianon Treaty that crippled them, to the Communist takeover, and then to the invasion by the Nazis. Revolutions and protests seem to have been a big part of its past. I was struck with the question of why Hungary would align itself with Germany again after failing the first time in World War I.
The book could have used some editing as it was often repetitious and the time line wandered. However, because of the amazing presentation of information and sources, that has to be forgiven. The book made me wonder why today’s Jews are supporting those who want to eliminate them “from the river to the sea” and are supporting a candidate for mayor, in NYC, that does not support them either. Why haven’t they learned from history and October 7th that turning the other cheek only gets both sides slapped? The belief that if they are kind to their enemies their enemies will learn to like them seems to be an obvious oxymoron, but their complicity, with their support, seems to have encouraged even more of a madness in the world that is once again embracing antisemitism.
July 28, 2025
Subject matter super interesting and it gives a good overall picture of pre war Budapest. We picked up this book in London to read about Budapest because we were traveling there. The siting is awful! Full of mistakes, both grammar and nonsensical sentences. The storytelling seems random, often going back and forth between an infinite number of players with the same name and not necessarily in chronological order making it very difficult to follow.
May 12, 2025
This was a very difficult book for me to read. Not because of its 491 pages, but because my parents and brother lived through the Nazi occupation of Budapest. I was born after the war, but all my life I have heard the stories of my Dad in the labor service, being moved from Yellow Star houses to protected houses, being in constant fear, etc. Some of the houses mentioned in the book, such as the house near St Istvan Park could have been the very house my parents and brother was hiding in. The book mentions the Palatinus houses, that’s where my aunt and uncle lived. The Phoenix house, that’s where my friend lived and that’s where I went to a local drugstore, patika. Without exception I knew all the streets and squares mentioned in the book. My mother had a baby girl in 1944, but unfortunately when she got sick, there was not enough food or medicine to keep her alive. As my mother was told “ the Jew baby died” when she inquired in the hospital about her baby.
When at times I found really difficult to keep reading, I was thinking, my parents went through this, my father lost siblings in Auschwitz and I can’t even read about it? The story has to be told, it happened and we should hope it will never happen again.
Although many of the stories were familiar from my parents’ eyewitness stories, many I never knew about. I didn’t know about Horthy’s back and forth, I didn’t know about all the spying, I didn’t know of any attempt to change sides. Although the Russians were not welcomed after they stayed in Hungary after the war, without doubt my parents always mentioned that the Russians were the ones who liberated Hungary and put an end to killing the Jews.
So, why did I give 4 stars and not five? I thought the book was a little too detailed, too many people, Hungarian and foreigners to keep track of. Although I appreciate the tremendous research that went to writing this book, it would have had the same effect with somewhat less detail.
When at times I found really difficult to keep reading, I was thinking, my parents went through this, my father lost siblings in Auschwitz and I can’t even read about it? The story has to be told, it happened and we should hope it will never happen again.
Although many of the stories were familiar from my parents’ eyewitness stories, many I never knew about. I didn’t know about Horthy’s back and forth, I didn’t know about all the spying, I didn’t know of any attempt to change sides. Although the Russians were not welcomed after they stayed in Hungary after the war, without doubt my parents always mentioned that the Russians were the ones who liberated Hungary and put an end to killing the Jews.
So, why did I give 4 stars and not five? I thought the book was a little too detailed, too many people, Hungarian and foreigners to keep track of. Although I appreciate the tremendous research that went to writing this book, it would have had the same effect with somewhat less detail.
July 13, 2025
I found this British author’s book after reading superb reviews of it in The Wall Street Journal and The Economist.
Although I grew up in Budapest as a son of Hungarian holocaust survivors and had already learned much about what unfolded there some 80 years ago...I was still thoroughly gripped by Mr LeBor’s beautifully written, fastidiously researched account of how these tragic events happened. After reading the book, I finally understood why some of my surviving relatives were so reluctant to return to this formerly cosmopolitan capital with nightmares just underneath its surface charm.
I can also recommend the book very highly, but be forewarned: it’s a heartbreaking history.
Although I grew up in Budapest as a son of Hungarian holocaust survivors and had already learned much about what unfolded there some 80 years ago...I was still thoroughly gripped by Mr LeBor’s beautifully written, fastidiously researched account of how these tragic events happened. After reading the book, I finally understood why some of my surviving relatives were so reluctant to return to this formerly cosmopolitan capital with nightmares just underneath its surface charm.
I can also recommend the book very highly, but be forewarned: it’s a heartbreaking history.
February 6, 2025
An advanced review copy was provide by the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Detailed Summary:
"The Last Days of Budapest: The Destruction of Europe's Most Cosmopolitan Capital in World War II" by Adam LeBor provides a vivid recounting of Budapest's tumultuous wartime experience from 1940 to 1945. The narrative begins with Budapest as a relatively peaceful haven amidst World War II, known for its cultural richness and as a melting pot of spies, refugees, and locals.
The book chronicles the city's descent into chaos following the Nazi invasion in March 1944. LeBor details the life of Budapest's Jewish community, which initially enjoyed a degree of freedom, until they were subjected to severe persecution with the introduction of the "Yellow Star" houses, ghettoization, and eventual extermination efforts by the Arrow Cross Party.
The siege of Budapest by the Red Army from late 1944 into 1945 is described with harrowing detail, capturing the city's transformation into a battlefield where starvation, murder, and survival tests the human spirit. LeBor uses a wide array of sources, including diaries, interviews, and newly discovered documents, to paint a picture of both the grand scale of historical events and the personal stories of those caught within them.
Key plot points include:
The initial vibrancy of Budapest as a cultural hub and espionage center.
The brutal shift after the German invasion, leading to the persecution of Jews.
The heroic efforts of rescuers like Raoul Wallenberg, who issued protective passports.
The desperate siege of Budapest with its attendant horrors.
The aftermath and the tragic fate of many of the city's inhabitants.
The book concludes with Budapest in ruins, the end of the siege, and reflections on the human cost of this period, particularly the loss of cultural and human life.
Main Characters:
Miklós Horthy: Regent of Hungary, whose decisions impact the city's fate.
Raoul Wallenberg: Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Jews through diplomatic efforts.
David Gur: A young Jewish forger producing fake documents to save lives.
Katalin Karády: Hungary's popular actress and anti-fascist resistor.
Ilona Edelsheim Gyulai: Horthy's daughter-in-law, involved in humanitarian efforts.
Andor Grosz: Known as the "smuggler king," navigating the black market for survival.
Significant Passages:
"Budapest, in autumn 1943, was a city that still believed in its own invincibility, even as the world around it crumbled." - This encapsulates the city's denial and eventual rude awakening to the war's atrocities.
"The Danube, glistening like liquid silver under moonlight, bore silent witness to unspeakable atrocities." - A poetic yet grim reflection on the river's dual role in beauty and tragedy.
"In their laughter was a defiance more profound than any weapon." - LeBor highlights moments of humanity and resistance amid despair.
"Survival often demanded a surrender of the soul." - Reflects the moral compromises made during desperate times.
"Horthy's tragedy was that he sought to appease forces that could not be appeased." - An analysis of the political situation and leadership's futile attempts at neutrality.
Ratings Breakdown:
Historical Accuracy: 5/5 - LeBor's use of primary sources is meticulous and enlightening.
Research Depth: 5/5 - The book benefits from extensive research, including interviews with survivors.
Narrative Style: 4.5/5 - While occasionally dense, the narrative is compelling with its character-driven stories.
Character Portrayal: 5/5 - Characters are portrayed with depth, showing their personal struggles and heroism.
Emotional Impact: 5/5 - The book evokes a strong emotional response with its portrayal of human endurance and suffering.
Overall Enjoyment: 5/5 - It's a challenging read due to its subject matter but immensely rewarding for those interested in WWII history.
Conclusion:
"The Last Days of Budapest" is not just a historical recount but a poignant reminder of how quickly civilization can collapse under the weight of war and ideology. LeBor's work resonates with modern audiences by highlighting themes of resistance, complicity, and the human capacity for both cruelty and compassion. The repercussions of these events are felt today in discussions about:
Historical Memory: The book underscores the importance of remembering and understanding the Holocaust's varied experiences across Europe, influencing modern-day Holocaust education and remembrance.
Human Rights: The narrative of rescuers like Wallenberg emphasizes the impact one individual can have, paralleling contemporary discussions on humanitarian intervention and the protection of minorities.
Political Lessons: The political decisions of Horthy and others reflect on the dangers of appeasement and nationalism, topics still relevant in today's geopolitical climate.
Cultural Loss: The destruction of Budapest's Jewish community and cultural landmarks serves as a cautionary tale about the cultural devastation war brings, echoing in current efforts to preserve cultural heritage in conflict zones.
This book serves as a vital document of one city's experience during WWII, urging readers to reflect on past mistakes while advocating for vigilance and moral courage in the present.
Detailed Summary:
"The Last Days of Budapest: The Destruction of Europe's Most Cosmopolitan Capital in World War II" by Adam LeBor provides a vivid recounting of Budapest's tumultuous wartime experience from 1940 to 1945. The narrative begins with Budapest as a relatively peaceful haven amidst World War II, known for its cultural richness and as a melting pot of spies, refugees, and locals.
The book chronicles the city's descent into chaos following the Nazi invasion in March 1944. LeBor details the life of Budapest's Jewish community, which initially enjoyed a degree of freedom, until they were subjected to severe persecution with the introduction of the "Yellow Star" houses, ghettoization, and eventual extermination efforts by the Arrow Cross Party.
The siege of Budapest by the Red Army from late 1944 into 1945 is described with harrowing detail, capturing the city's transformation into a battlefield where starvation, murder, and survival tests the human spirit. LeBor uses a wide array of sources, including diaries, interviews, and newly discovered documents, to paint a picture of both the grand scale of historical events and the personal stories of those caught within them.
Key plot points include:
The initial vibrancy of Budapest as a cultural hub and espionage center.
The brutal shift after the German invasion, leading to the persecution of Jews.
The heroic efforts of rescuers like Raoul Wallenberg, who issued protective passports.
The desperate siege of Budapest with its attendant horrors.
The aftermath and the tragic fate of many of the city's inhabitants.
The book concludes with Budapest in ruins, the end of the siege, and reflections on the human cost of this period, particularly the loss of cultural and human life.
Main Characters:
Miklós Horthy: Regent of Hungary, whose decisions impact the city's fate.
Raoul Wallenberg: Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Jews through diplomatic efforts.
David Gur: A young Jewish forger producing fake documents to save lives.
Katalin Karády: Hungary's popular actress and anti-fascist resistor.
Ilona Edelsheim Gyulai: Horthy's daughter-in-law, involved in humanitarian efforts.
Andor Grosz: Known as the "smuggler king," navigating the black market for survival.
Significant Passages:
"Budapest, in autumn 1943, was a city that still believed in its own invincibility, even as the world around it crumbled." - This encapsulates the city's denial and eventual rude awakening to the war's atrocities.
"The Danube, glistening like liquid silver under moonlight, bore silent witness to unspeakable atrocities." - A poetic yet grim reflection on the river's dual role in beauty and tragedy.
"In their laughter was a defiance more profound than any weapon." - LeBor highlights moments of humanity and resistance amid despair.
"Survival often demanded a surrender of the soul." - Reflects the moral compromises made during desperate times.
"Horthy's tragedy was that he sought to appease forces that could not be appeased." - An analysis of the political situation and leadership's futile attempts at neutrality.
Ratings Breakdown:
Historical Accuracy: 5/5 - LeBor's use of primary sources is meticulous and enlightening.
Research Depth: 5/5 - The book benefits from extensive research, including interviews with survivors.
Narrative Style: 4.5/5 - While occasionally dense, the narrative is compelling with its character-driven stories.
Character Portrayal: 5/5 - Characters are portrayed with depth, showing their personal struggles and heroism.
Emotional Impact: 5/5 - The book evokes a strong emotional response with its portrayal of human endurance and suffering.
Overall Enjoyment: 5/5 - It's a challenging read due to its subject matter but immensely rewarding for those interested in WWII history.
Conclusion:
"The Last Days of Budapest" is not just a historical recount but a poignant reminder of how quickly civilization can collapse under the weight of war and ideology. LeBor's work resonates with modern audiences by highlighting themes of resistance, complicity, and the human capacity for both cruelty and compassion. The repercussions of these events are felt today in discussions about:
Historical Memory: The book underscores the importance of remembering and understanding the Holocaust's varied experiences across Europe, influencing modern-day Holocaust education and remembrance.
Human Rights: The narrative of rescuers like Wallenberg emphasizes the impact one individual can have, paralleling contemporary discussions on humanitarian intervention and the protection of minorities.
Political Lessons: The political decisions of Horthy and others reflect on the dangers of appeasement and nationalism, topics still relevant in today's geopolitical climate.
Cultural Loss: The destruction of Budapest's Jewish community and cultural landmarks serves as a cautionary tale about the cultural devastation war brings, echoing in current efforts to preserve cultural heritage in conflict zones.
This book serves as a vital document of one city's experience during WWII, urging readers to reflect on past mistakes while advocating for vigilance and moral courage in the present.
April 17, 2025
CW: graphic depictions of WWII
Budapest was a thriving cosmopolitan capital city in the 1930s, allied with Germany early in WWII and flipped allegiances late in the war, and became the site of gruesome war atrocities, vicious combat, and the extermination of Jews. The Last Days of Budapest spans from pre-WWII through the German surrender to the Soviets, but focuses primarily on 1943-1945. In 1945, the city was devastated as the Germans and Soviets fought street to street, building to building, and sometimes room to room, and a lot of that fighting is still evident 80 years later where Buda is largely under restoration and reconstruction.
I'm finishing reading this on April 16 completely by coincidence. Today is the day that Hungarians mark as their Holocaust Remembrance Day, when in 1944, they began sending Jews to the ghettos, where many were later shipped via train directly to Auschwitz. As LeBor writes, like all of the countries who aided the Germans, Hungary still grapples with their role in the Holocaust. It's a both-things-can-be-true situation, as a central part of this history focuses on zi0nists and their role in helping European Jews escape to Palestine. It can be an important component of WWII and Holocaust history and also troubling to today's war atrocities. The book doesn't address today's situation, because that isn't its focus, but I wanted to be transparent here.
The book is graphic, taken from many first-hand accounts. LeBor is a journalist, and served as foreign correspondent in Budapest from just after the fall of the Soviet Union. It's a part of history I was far less familiar with until recently, because most of what I learned from WWII in high school focused on the western front, and learned only because I traveled to Poland and Hungary in 2024, where it's impossible to remain unmoved by the tragedies of WWII. This is the first English language book focusing on Budapest during this era, and reflects a lot of what I learned in museums across Europe last summer (we started in Gdansk with the fall of Communism, and worked our way south through Auschwitz and to Budapest, so these horrors evoke visceral memories having recently seen these sites). I'm not sure if I would have picked up this book if I hadn't recently visited - I tend to stay away from WWII history - but I'm really glad I did.
I spent the bulk of my time reflecting on what the early days of deportation looked like in 1940s Europe, and what they look like in 2025 in the US. The wealthy - even the wealthier Jews - of Budapest spent the early war still enjoying the rich night life of their city, insulated from the politics of the war. This hit hard, and feels like an unintentional call to reflect and act now.
As I often do with nonfiction, I listened to the audiobook. Fair warning to anyone: if listening makes you visualize more than using your eyes, do not listen. The graphic nature of a lot of this content may distress you.
Thank you to PublicAffairs and Hachette Audio for an eARC and ALC for review. The Last Days of Budapest is out 4/22/25.
Budapest was a thriving cosmopolitan capital city in the 1930s, allied with Germany early in WWII and flipped allegiances late in the war, and became the site of gruesome war atrocities, vicious combat, and the extermination of Jews. The Last Days of Budapest spans from pre-WWII through the German surrender to the Soviets, but focuses primarily on 1943-1945. In 1945, the city was devastated as the Germans and Soviets fought street to street, building to building, and sometimes room to room, and a lot of that fighting is still evident 80 years later where Buda is largely under restoration and reconstruction.
I'm finishing reading this on April 16 completely by coincidence. Today is the day that Hungarians mark as their Holocaust Remembrance Day, when in 1944, they began sending Jews to the ghettos, where many were later shipped via train directly to Auschwitz. As LeBor writes, like all of the countries who aided the Germans, Hungary still grapples with their role in the Holocaust. It's a both-things-can-be-true situation, as a central part of this history focuses on zi0nists and their role in helping European Jews escape to Palestine. It can be an important component of WWII and Holocaust history and also troubling to today's war atrocities. The book doesn't address today's situation, because that isn't its focus, but I wanted to be transparent here.
The book is graphic, taken from many first-hand accounts. LeBor is a journalist, and served as foreign correspondent in Budapest from just after the fall of the Soviet Union. It's a part of history I was far less familiar with until recently, because most of what I learned from WWII in high school focused on the western front, and learned only because I traveled to Poland and Hungary in 2024, where it's impossible to remain unmoved by the tragedies of WWII. This is the first English language book focusing on Budapest during this era, and reflects a lot of what I learned in museums across Europe last summer (we started in Gdansk with the fall of Communism, and worked our way south through Auschwitz and to Budapest, so these horrors evoke visceral memories having recently seen these sites). I'm not sure if I would have picked up this book if I hadn't recently visited - I tend to stay away from WWII history - but I'm really glad I did.
I spent the bulk of my time reflecting on what the early days of deportation looked like in 1940s Europe, and what they look like in 2025 in the US. The wealthy - even the wealthier Jews - of Budapest spent the early war still enjoying the rich night life of their city, insulated from the politics of the war. This hit hard, and feels like an unintentional call to reflect and act now.
As I often do with nonfiction, I listened to the audiobook. Fair warning to anyone: if listening makes you visualize more than using your eyes, do not listen. The graphic nature of a lot of this content may distress you.
Thank you to PublicAffairs and Hachette Audio for an eARC and ALC for review. The Last Days of Budapest is out 4/22/25.
April 5, 2025
I read a free advance digital review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
I’ve read hundreds of books about World War II, but few focus much on Hungary’s role. Most people who are familiar with WW2 history know that while Hungary joined Germany’s invasion of Russia in 1941, the country’s government did not fall in line with the Nazis’ murderous policies against Jews, Roma, or other groups. While right-wing politicians were able to get some antisemitic laws passed, Jews were far better off in Hungary than in Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakia, for example. But in 1944, Germany forced itself on Hungary and, despite it being clear that Germany was losing the war, attacked Hungary’s Jews, enthusiastically aided by Hungary’s far-right and sadistic Arrow Cross party.
Lebor tells the story of Budapest during the war largely through people who lived that history. Jews, Hungarian socialites, members of the Hungarian army, spies, diplomats are all players in the story. It’s striking that Budapest remained its cosmopolitan self through 1943, with no blackouts or rationing. What a shock, then, when the war came home to Budapest just as everyone was thinking that it would soon be over.
Lebor also emphasizes the political role played by Hungary’s leaders. Hungary had lost a great deal of its lands in the Trianon treaty following World War I, and a desire to regain that land drove much of its early decision to join forces with Germany. Unfortunately, the obsession with reversing Trianon, and the country’s hostility toward Russia, clouded the government’s decision-making during 1944 and resulted in hesitation and lost opportunities. The result was disaster and a horrific year and a half being ravaged by Germany and the Arrow Cross. The Arrow Cross members in Budapest daily hunted Jews, Roma, and other perceived enemies, tortured them, and killed them, often in plain view of the public and right up until the last days of the war.
Lebor claims that because of this history—including its prewar history as being not nearly as anti-semitic as its neighbor countries—Budapest today is the least anti-semitic in Europe; there are no hateful graffiti or attacks on the several Holocaust memorials in the city, he writes. I don’t know if this is true, I hope it is.
A fascinating mix of political and social history of this intriguing city during World War II.
I listened to the audiobook, read by David Thorpe. Thorpe is an able narrator. Anyone familiar with Hungary and eastern Europe knows how difficult it can be to pronounce personal and place names correctly. It’s clear that Thorpe did some prep work on pronunciation, though there are still quite a few slip-ups that one often hears with native English speakers, like pronouncing Jerzy as if it’s a homophone with jersey. But if you don’t take offense at some mispronunciations, this book doesn’t suffer from being in audiobook form.
I’ve read hundreds of books about World War II, but few focus much on Hungary’s role. Most people who are familiar with WW2 history know that while Hungary joined Germany’s invasion of Russia in 1941, the country’s government did not fall in line with the Nazis’ murderous policies against Jews, Roma, or other groups. While right-wing politicians were able to get some antisemitic laws passed, Jews were far better off in Hungary than in Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakia, for example. But in 1944, Germany forced itself on Hungary and, despite it being clear that Germany was losing the war, attacked Hungary’s Jews, enthusiastically aided by Hungary’s far-right and sadistic Arrow Cross party.
Lebor tells the story of Budapest during the war largely through people who lived that history. Jews, Hungarian socialites, members of the Hungarian army, spies, diplomats are all players in the story. It’s striking that Budapest remained its cosmopolitan self through 1943, with no blackouts or rationing. What a shock, then, when the war came home to Budapest just as everyone was thinking that it would soon be over.
Lebor also emphasizes the political role played by Hungary’s leaders. Hungary had lost a great deal of its lands in the Trianon treaty following World War I, and a desire to regain that land drove much of its early decision to join forces with Germany. Unfortunately, the obsession with reversing Trianon, and the country’s hostility toward Russia, clouded the government’s decision-making during 1944 and resulted in hesitation and lost opportunities. The result was disaster and a horrific year and a half being ravaged by Germany and the Arrow Cross. The Arrow Cross members in Budapest daily hunted Jews, Roma, and other perceived enemies, tortured them, and killed them, often in plain view of the public and right up until the last days of the war.
Lebor claims that because of this history—including its prewar history as being not nearly as anti-semitic as its neighbor countries—Budapest today is the least anti-semitic in Europe; there are no hateful graffiti or attacks on the several Holocaust memorials in the city, he writes. I don’t know if this is true, I hope it is.
A fascinating mix of political and social history of this intriguing city during World War II.
I listened to the audiobook, read by David Thorpe. Thorpe is an able narrator. Anyone familiar with Hungary and eastern Europe knows how difficult it can be to pronounce personal and place names correctly. It’s clear that Thorpe did some prep work on pronunciation, though there are still quite a few slip-ups that one often hears with native English speakers, like pronouncing Jerzy as if it’s a homophone with jersey. But if you don’t take offense at some mispronunciations, this book doesn’t suffer from being in audiobook form.
August 5, 2025
Planning a trip to Budapest, I wanted to read something about the city. This new book promised to provide an extensive review of the history of the city in World War II, which has continued to affect the current city, both in architecture and in population. (There were few elderly men when the author lived there in the 1990s – they had mostly died in the war 50 years earlier).
The book largely focuses on the fate of Budapest's Jews, and by extension those of all Hungary. Hungary was in an unusual situation, allied with Nazi Germany and technically at war with the Allies, but uneasily so. The persecution of Jews was episodic, depending on the situation between Germany and Hungary. Although the Nazis deported thousands of Jews including almost all in the rural areas, some of the worst atrocities were perpetrated towards the end of the war by the native militias, especially the Arrow Cross people. It's an example, documented elsewhere, where the country's own citizens practiced heavy persecution and violence on their own citizens who were Jewish (or Roma, which also happened in Hungary).
The last fifty pages or so are pretty hard to read, but the author doesn't shy away from the evidence.
The main challenge to the reader is to keep track of the voluminous number of people described. The research was exhaustive, but that means there are hundreds of named characters, sometimes mentioned only briefly or sometimes mentioned at widely different parts of the book. This is not the fault of the author, he's simply using everything he can find documented to paint a full story of the fate of the city and its people. It does, however, mean that the reader may struggle to keep track of who's who in the book.
When you walk in a city, you are not just walking in the city of that time. You are walking the streets of the city's history. I intend to see Budapest in a different way now when I walk its streets.
The book largely focuses on the fate of Budapest's Jews, and by extension those of all Hungary. Hungary was in an unusual situation, allied with Nazi Germany and technically at war with the Allies, but uneasily so. The persecution of Jews was episodic, depending on the situation between Germany and Hungary. Although the Nazis deported thousands of Jews including almost all in the rural areas, some of the worst atrocities were perpetrated towards the end of the war by the native militias, especially the Arrow Cross people. It's an example, documented elsewhere, where the country's own citizens practiced heavy persecution and violence on their own citizens who were Jewish (or Roma, which also happened in Hungary).
The last fifty pages or so are pretty hard to read, but the author doesn't shy away from the evidence.
The main challenge to the reader is to keep track of the voluminous number of people described. The research was exhaustive, but that means there are hundreds of named characters, sometimes mentioned only briefly or sometimes mentioned at widely different parts of the book. This is not the fault of the author, he's simply using everything he can find documented to paint a full story of the fate of the city and its people. It does, however, mean that the reader may struggle to keep track of who's who in the book.
When you walk in a city, you are not just walking in the city of that time. You are walking the streets of the city's history. I intend to see Budapest in a different way now when I walk its streets.
July 30, 2025
This is not an easy read, emotionally. Like so many other books on the theme of European countries that have been coming to terms with their collective actions relative to the Jews and other minorities during the second world war, this is raw reading. The themes of smoldering grievance from the terms imposed on the losers by the winners of WW I ring through in this detailed and well documented assessment. The once proud Hungarian nation, humbled in their loss of land and status in Europe. The lingering and underlying antisemitism within segments of the Hungarian people that boils up and is fueled by the sense of grievance and loss. What also emerges is the devastating impact of weak political leadership that seeks to pander to the fringe and rogue elements within their own parties and society as a whole. They fail to rally and galvanize their people towards their "stronger angels" and allow the resentment and fear to smolder into hatred and anger. The "winners" think they have tamed the "losers" but have only provided the fuel for their fall into darkness.
As a eager student of history and geopolitics, I look for parallels to our current experience. The weakening of democracy in the western world is fueling a similar sense of grievance and discontent within society. People who felt left behind, economically or socially, rally to common cause, seeking redress. This can be helpful, when it is done responsibly and respectfully. Power does seek a vacuum and beware of emerging leaders who feed off the fear and anger of the masses. Beware of political deadlock that stalls democratic progress towards a common good.
For those who are not prepared to learn from the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them.
As a eager student of history and geopolitics, I look for parallels to our current experience. The weakening of democracy in the western world is fueling a similar sense of grievance and discontent within society. People who felt left behind, economically or socially, rally to common cause, seeking redress. This can be helpful, when it is done responsibly and respectfully. Power does seek a vacuum and beware of emerging leaders who feed off the fear and anger of the masses. Beware of political deadlock that stalls democratic progress towards a common good.
For those who are not prepared to learn from the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them.
April 24, 2025
*Thanks to NetGalley for an ALC of this book*
The Last Days of Budapest is an excellent example of accessible history. LeBor does an amazing job laying out the timeline of the history of Budapest during World War II and even with all the names and titles I did not find myself confused about the events.
Before reading this book, I must say that I knew very little about the Hungarian-specific experience of the war beyond the basics. This book does an excellent job of narrating the history without getting bogged down in the minutiae that can sometimes happen in war history. He also does an excellent job balancing discussing the gruesome details with the need to not be overwhelmingly graphic. I feel after reading this that I know about what happened and what the protagonists went through without being so inundated with gory detail that might feel gratutitous or for shock value only.
The audiobook narrator does an excellent job with the pronunciation of the Hungarian people and place names and has an easy voice to listen to.
I really enjoyed my time reading this book, even though the content was not enjoyable at all, and I heartily recommed this history to any and all who want to learn more about the Hungarian experience that has been less well known due to the historical events after the war.
The Last Days of Budapest is an excellent example of accessible history. LeBor does an amazing job laying out the timeline of the history of Budapest during World War II and even with all the names and titles I did not find myself confused about the events.
Before reading this book, I must say that I knew very little about the Hungarian-specific experience of the war beyond the basics. This book does an excellent job of narrating the history without getting bogged down in the minutiae that can sometimes happen in war history. He also does an excellent job balancing discussing the gruesome details with the need to not be overwhelmingly graphic. I feel after reading this that I know about what happened and what the protagonists went through without being so inundated with gory detail that might feel gratutitous or for shock value only.
The audiobook narrator does an excellent job with the pronunciation of the Hungarian people and place names and has an easy voice to listen to.
I really enjoyed my time reading this book, even though the content was not enjoyable at all, and I heartily recommed this history to any and all who want to learn more about the Hungarian experience that has been less well known due to the historical events after the war.
September 21, 2025
In The Last Days of Budapest, LeBor examines the period leading up to Hungary's official entry into the war on the side of Germany through the invasion by Russia in the final years of the war. I had not read much about WWII on the Eastern European front and I learned a great deal from this work. It's a heartbreaking read - approximately 550,000 - 600,000 Hungarian Jews were killed, along with hundreds of thousands of Hungarian soldiers, citizens, and Roma people. As the Allied forces were closing in - and then the Russians, the race to murder as many as possible is hard to stomach, but it was very true. From a writing perspective, while an incredibly important read, it was a bit disjointed and I think a little more editing would have helped it to have more of a narrative style.
I've read three books recently on Fascist regimes/authoritarian take overs -- two related to WWII with one in Austria and this one in Hungary, and the other about Argentina in the 1970's. There are very clear similarities -- demonizing a population, building a perception that "they" don't deserve the same rights, creating chaos and blame, removing civil liberties and protections, an increased use of military in civilian spaces, a populace that thinks surely this can't happen here -- there's a reason you hear the phrase "Those that don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it"
I've read three books recently on Fascist regimes/authoritarian take overs -- two related to WWII with one in Austria and this one in Hungary, and the other about Argentina in the 1970's. There are very clear similarities -- demonizing a population, building a perception that "they" don't deserve the same rights, creating chaos and blame, removing civil liberties and protections, an increased use of military in civilian spaces, a populace that thinks surely this can't happen here -- there's a reason you hear the phrase "Those that don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it"
December 4, 2025
The novel Cold Crematorium sparked my interest in learning more about Hungary's involvement in the cataclysm that was WWII. This book does a very good job at describing the governing apparatus before and during the war and the conflicted value (or lack thereof) among leaders and Budapest's residents regarding the nation's Jewish population. This book delivered on helping my understanding of events.
Still, this is a very tough read due to the excruciating detail of the treatment and slaughter of Hungary's Jews. The last quarter of the book alone narrates the time from November 1944 to the Soviets' arrival in January 1945--a 3-month span of immense terror and slaughter. Reader beware.
This book is also somewhat difficult to navigate as the author brings in so many different characters to the story. At several points, I found myself reading about an individual only to have the story abruptly shift to a new person. Helpfully, the author includes a section of notes in the back which tells the fates of the persons whose stories he shares.
The author also provides information on the pre-war culture and architecture of what was a cosmopolitan Budapest, now largely replaced by something more austere and brutalistic. He also points to online resources to view old photos of magnificent buildings and structures long gone.
Still, this is a very tough read due to the excruciating detail of the treatment and slaughter of Hungary's Jews. The last quarter of the book alone narrates the time from November 1944 to the Soviets' arrival in January 1945--a 3-month span of immense terror and slaughter. Reader beware.
This book is also somewhat difficult to navigate as the author brings in so many different characters to the story. At several points, I found myself reading about an individual only to have the story abruptly shift to a new person. Helpfully, the author includes a section of notes in the back which tells the fates of the persons whose stories he shares.
The author also provides information on the pre-war culture and architecture of what was a cosmopolitan Budapest, now largely replaced by something more austere and brutalistic. He also points to online resources to view old photos of magnificent buildings and structures long gone.
April 11, 2025
Adam LeBor’s The Last Days of Budapest is an extraordinary piece of nonfiction that brings to life one of the most turbulent and harrowing moments in Hungary’s history. With the precision of a seasoned journalist and the storytelling skill of a novelist, LeBor reconstructs the story of Budapest in 1944–45 with unflinching detail and deep humanity.
Drawing on eyewitness testimonies, archival documents, and personal accounts, LeBor exposes the suffering endured by ordinary civilians, the political betrayals, and the staggering violence that unfolded as the city became a battleground between Nazi forces, Soviet troops, and Hungary’s own fascist Arrow Cross regime. What makes this book especially compelling is LeBor’s ability to balance the big picture—military strategy, political intrigue—with intimate, heartbreaking stories of survival and loss.
This is history at its most vivid and vital. The Last Days of Budapest is not just a chronicle of destruction, but also a tribute to resilience.
Drawing on eyewitness testimonies, archival documents, and personal accounts, LeBor exposes the suffering endured by ordinary civilians, the political betrayals, and the staggering violence that unfolded as the city became a battleground between Nazi forces, Soviet troops, and Hungary’s own fascist Arrow Cross regime. What makes this book especially compelling is LeBor’s ability to balance the big picture—military strategy, political intrigue—with intimate, heartbreaking stories of survival and loss.
This is history at its most vivid and vital. The Last Days of Budapest is not just a chronicle of destruction, but also a tribute to resilience.
June 12, 2025
An engrossing and tragic look at the horrors the Jewish people faced in Hungary in WW2. I have traveled to the country and visited Budapest and was amazed at the tributes made to the genocide of Jewish people that occurred. However, this book has shaken my beliefs and thoughts on the country. Whereas you would believe the country fought hard to protect them, the reality was the country was part of the Axis forces and did their upmost to support and carry out the genocide. It was not only the leaders but many of the common people that supported and even cheered when the genocide took place. This is tragic turnaround from the views I saw in the country. The story is dark and tragic but needs to be told so all can understand and learn what hatred can lead to. A must read for all.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
September 6, 2025
An excellent history of the last days of this cosmopolitan city during the Nazi period.Hungary produced many brilliant minds in every possible field .Many of those were Jews.Most Hungarians were notorious anti-Semites, with some exceptions. Their leader,Horthy, who became an ardent ally of Hitler, later regretted it . Lebor show the magnitute of the Hungarian Jewry annihilation in Auschwitz and other death camps as well as the dicriminatory steps taken against them. The Danube ws full of Jewish blood especially towards the end of 1944, where wholesale massacres were perpetrated against the Hungarian Jewry. He also describes in great details those who tried to make a deal with the nefarious Eichmann and the famous "Trucks for Jews", which came to no fruition.
This book is superbly reseaarched and merits to be found in everyman's library.
This book is superbly reseaarched and merits to be found in everyman's library.
April 21, 2025
The Last Days of Budapest: The Destruction of Europe's Most Cosmopolitan Capital in World War II by Adam LeBor is scheduled to be published on April 22, 2025.
I feel like I need to bifurcate this review because I was given the audiobook, but let me start with the actual content. The content of this book gets five stars and I would recommend it unreservedly. It takes a great deal of care with the subject and is obviously very well researched, including from primary sources. I also like that it focuses not just on the political realities of the time, but also the economic and social ones.
Despite the heavy and sometimes devastating material, the writing style is approachable, clear and concise. The author also includes Hungarian names, words and phrases when appropriate and tries to give as much social and political context as possible to the historical events.
As an audiobook, this was much less successful for me. If I was rating this just on the audiobook, it would only get three stars from me. David Thorpe is objectively a fine audiobook narrator. He has an engaging style and seems interested in the material. I think I would enjoy any other book narrated by him. However, because Hungarian names, places and phrases are such an integral part of this book, it was important to have a narrator who could pronounce these words accurately. While a noticeable and commendable effort was obviously made, in my opinion it fell far short. I was constantly frustrated by having to go back to try to understand what was being said. All this being said, the pronunciation issues may not bother others as much as they bothered me.
I highly recommend this book because it provides a perspective on the events of World War II that is not seen as often. It is well researched and balanced. If accurate pronunciation is important to you, I would suggest the ebook version instead.
Thank you to Hachette Audio via NetGalley for providing an early audio copy for review consideration.
I feel like I need to bifurcate this review because I was given the audiobook, but let me start with the actual content. The content of this book gets five stars and I would recommend it unreservedly. It takes a great deal of care with the subject and is obviously very well researched, including from primary sources. I also like that it focuses not just on the political realities of the time, but also the economic and social ones.
Despite the heavy and sometimes devastating material, the writing style is approachable, clear and concise. The author also includes Hungarian names, words and phrases when appropriate and tries to give as much social and political context as possible to the historical events.
As an audiobook, this was much less successful for me. If I was rating this just on the audiobook, it would only get three stars from me. David Thorpe is objectively a fine audiobook narrator. He has an engaging style and seems interested in the material. I think I would enjoy any other book narrated by him. However, because Hungarian names, places and phrases are such an integral part of this book, it was important to have a narrator who could pronounce these words accurately. While a noticeable and commendable effort was obviously made, in my opinion it fell far short. I was constantly frustrated by having to go back to try to understand what was being said. All this being said, the pronunciation issues may not bother others as much as they bothered me.
I highly recommend this book because it provides a perspective on the events of World War II that is not seen as often. It is well researched and balanced. If accurate pronunciation is important to you, I would suggest the ebook version instead.
Thank you to Hachette Audio via NetGalley for providing an early audio copy for review consideration.
August 24, 2025
Adam LeBor's The Last Days of Budapest is a masterful and gripping account of a city's final, brutal moments during World War II. LeBor's research and vivid storytelling bring to life the desperate struggles of both civilians and soldiers caught in the siege. He expertly weaves together a narrative of heroism, betrayal, and immense tragedy, painting a powerful picture of a society on the brink of collapse. The book's strength lies in its ability to humanize the historical events, making the reader feel the weight of each decision and the desperation of the final days. It's a compelling and essential read for anyone interested in the complex and often overlooked history of the Eastern Front. LeBor has created a poignant and unforgettable tribute to the city and its people.
September 28, 2025
Fascinating and moving deep-dive into the descent of a great city and country into madness and collapse, told through a mix of high-level politics and the street-level battles for survival. I lived in Budapest for 15 years and much in the book was new to me, in part because of the author's striving to add new, previously unpublished sources. I had some trouble keeping track of all the different character-driven bits; later editions should for sure include a "cast of characters" so readers can toggle back to. Otherwise a must-read for anyone interested in 20th century history, and especially Jewish history, as well as the relations--and functional differences--between the Third Reich and some of its allies.
August 11, 2025
De geschiedenis van Hongarije en de vervolging van Joden/Roma in de periode 1918-1945. Een verschrikkelijk verhaal waarin helder wordt gemaakt wat voor kwalijke rol de regent Horthy en de Pijlkruisers in het hele proces speelden, en hoe tegelijk Hongaren ook weer heel veel Joden wisten te redden. Uiteindelijk wisten alleen in Hongarije relatief veel Joden te overleven, maar de wijze waarop was een idiote mix van opportunisme, heldendaden, intriges en toeval.
Ik was onder de indruk van de verhalen, maar het boek lijdt wel onder veel te veel namen en anekdotes. Ik raakte geregeld de weg kwijt. Toch 4 sterren omdat de auteur gelukkig dit onderwerp heeft aangepakt.
Ik was onder de indruk van de verhalen, maar het boek lijdt wel onder veel te veel namen en anekdotes. Ik raakte geregeld de weg kwijt. Toch 4 sterren omdat de auteur gelukkig dit onderwerp heeft aangepakt.
August 20, 2025
This is an epic read. Not just because of the length but because of the subject matter, which is unremittingly awful. I appreciate the depth of research involved, the use of unpublished diaries, and the complexity of the end of the war. I think it would have been helpful to provide a map showing the ghettos and other disputed areas of the city. I also would have welcomed a listing of key characters as many shared similar first or last names. It was difficult to keep track of who was fighting with whom. All that said, the appalling tragedy of a destroyed city, of the indiscriminate slaughter of Jewish and Roma people, is important to witness, especially for a generation so distant from WW2.
January 15, 2025
A forensic review and examination of the fate of Budapest and the who lived there in the second world war written by an acknowledged expert on Hungary and its historical context.
Relying upon papers, documents and interviews LeBor builds a detailed picture of the former glories of a wonderful city and how it was devastated by the effects of the war. The Jewish population of the city were of course particularly hard hot and their fate is examined in great detail.
Sometimes a hard read but an important one.
Relying upon papers, documents and interviews LeBor builds a detailed picture of the former glories of a wonderful city and how it was devastated by the effects of the war. The Jewish population of the city were of course particularly hard hot and their fate is examined in great detail.
Sometimes a hard read but an important one.
May 25, 2025
Wow, what an incredible listening experience! I was completely hooked from start to finish. The amount of detail was amazing—there were so many historical facts and stories I had totally forgotten. It really brought history to life in a way that kept me engaged the entire time. I’m so glad I gave it a chance because it reignited my interest and made learning feel fun again. Highly recommend to anyone who loves history or just wants to discover fascinating stories they didn’t know before!
June 21, 2025
well researched incredible accounting of the last years and weeks of this beautiful city. troubling, scary, and disturbing. the stories of survival are inspiring. this is an amazing work of nonfiction. I've read historical fiction using experiences from those times but after reading this...having been to Budapest I can really see it through the author's writing. this is a must read for anyone interested in WWII history.
June 29, 2025
A fascinating history the thriving city of Budapest from 1910-1950. The social elite, the political machines, the impact of WWI, Russia, Italy , spies and counter espionage depending on who was in control at the time. I found it fascinating to read but there were so very many names that it got a bit confusing at times.
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