Operation Margarethe was the restricted occupation of Hungary by Nazi German forces during World War II. The codename "Margarethe I" referred to the occupation by German forces alone as it was ordered by Hitler on 12 March 1944, while the term "Margarethe II" was reserved for a full-scale occupation by German forces in conjunction with those of Croatia, Romania and Slovakia. The latter was never carried out. At the time of the occupation, Hungary was threatened by Soviet invasion.