In April 1941, in the occupation of Yugoslavia, Hitler claimed the participation of the Hungarian army. The Hungarian Government first of all agreed to military collaboration because of the possibility of the reannexation of areas that were earlier under Hungary’s control. However, this area was occupied by German troops as a result of the Romanian protestation against Hungarian invasion and the local German minority’s request. During the German–Italian negotiations deciding about splitting up Yugoslavia, this territory was awarded to Hungary in theory, but for the time being the region on the left bank of the River Tisza remained under German control. The Hungarian Government urged the handing over of the territory several times. Prime Minister László Bárdossy held talks with Berlin to provide economic benefits to Germany in exchange for handing over the area. The Hungarian Government tried to send officials and teachers to the Banat in order to strengthen the position of the Hungarians living there. However, the Germans prevented this. In the meantime, the Germans had settled down in this area, and the Western Banat was administratively proclaimed as part of the Serbian satellite state being under German control
