Béla Horváth graduated in 1903 from the Reformed Church College in Szászváros (now Orăștie, Romania), where he was a classmate and friend of Petru Groza.

[3] In that capacity, Horváth collaborated with Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg to save the lives of many Jews in Budapest.

Horváth also ordered Hungarian gendarmes to prevent the deportation from Hungary of any Jewish person, using force if necessary.

[3] After the war, the new socialist Hungarian government asked Béla Horváth to serve as Interior Minister, but he declined the offer.

[3] In 1951, Béla Horváth and family were exiled for several years to Hajdúdorog (Hajdú-Bihar County), but then returned to Budapest.