Compared to its neighbouring countries in Europe,
Hungary was a relatively safe place for Jews up
until March of 1944. Jews fleeing genocide in
Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia sought refuge
within Hungary's borders. Horthy had managed to
maintain Hungary's autonomy to some degree, and
had resisted German demands to deport Hungarian
Jews to concentration camps. But after the Germans
invaded Hungary in March of 1944, the situation
deteriorated drastically.