Z každodenného života maďarskej menšiny na Slovensku v rokoch 1938 – 1945 (propaganda a jej formy)
From the Everyday Life of the Hungarian Minority in Slovakia in the Years 1938 – 1945 (Propaganda and its Forms)

Summary/Abstract: The development of cultural life and the effort to increase the education of Hungarian minority in Slovakia were negatively determined mostly by critical Slovak – Hungarian state relations as well as gradual liquidation of plural democracy and proper relation to minorities within political life after Vienna arbitration. Occasional increasing tendencies of cultural activities have something to do with short time thawing of relations between Slovakia and Hungary. From this study we can see that cultural-social activities of Hungarian minority, Radio broadcasts, cinematography, theatrical performances, sport, libraries and periodic press included, succumbed to repressive pressure power-repressive machinery of totalitarian Slovak Populist Party treatment which precluded the work in this feld despite developed tradition. It was a reciprocal principle of owning between Slovak and Hungarian diplomacy. The results of this study are based on the research of archive funds of certain political and security offices.Hitler made a decision to destroy ČSR gradually and the development of the foreign policy made it easier for him. Political changes in Slovakia after 6th October 1938 called into existence the authoritative-totalitarian regime. Foreign policy of Nazi Germany brought Slovakia and its neighbour – Horthy´s Hungary, into vassalage.The political system of the Slovak State fostered the creation of differentiated condition for the existence of ethnic minorities. The position of the Hungarian minority was specific in a number of aspects. Its development was connected with the overall development of society, particularly with the gradual elimination of pluralist democracy and a proper regard to minorities in political life. Undemocratic steps against the Hungarian minority fell into the area of political nationalism of HSĽS, however, they were mainly affected by a tense SlovakHungarian interstate interaction. The development of cultural life and the effort to increase the education of Hungarian minority in Slovakia were negatively determined mostly by critical Slovak-Hungarian state relations as well as gradual liquidation of plural democracy and proper relation to minorities within political life after Vienna arbitration. More problems (mostly expressed by reciprocal actions) rose when the Slovaks lost the southern part, Hungarian administration adopted some steps on an arbitration ground and population had to strike against continued problems happening on mutual borders. It was mainly about the reciprocal principle of harmful owning between Slovak and Hungarian diplomacy. Except hypocritical Berlin just only the reciprocal principle restrained catastrophical effects of mutual malignity. Since the position of Slovaks in Hungary was drastically deteriorated, the Slovak government began taking retaliatory measures against the 67,000 Hungarian minority in Slovakia. Occasional increasing tendencies of cultural activities have something to do with short time thawing of relations between Slovakia and Hungary.Nearly all Hungarian cultural, sport and social associations were related to Hungarian Party in Slovakia. Most Hungarians agreed with its policy and/or endorsed it. In September 1940, the Party adopted a new program. It was based on the traditional pre-Munich postulates; however, greater emphasis was placed on education, cultural, linguistic and social issues. The Party had around 30 000 registered members, 12 regional organizations, 104 local organizations, 28 Hungarian houses, which became the cultural, social and political centres of the Hungarians. Special sections appeared in the Party over time - cultural, sports, social, financial, educational, merchant and craftsmen, agricultural. The social section secured the benefits for the poorest Hungarians. The sports section organized sports competitions for clubs from the Hungarian villages. In the feld of culture, the Party used mainly theatrical performances as a means of agitation. The educational level was sought to be risen through the dissemination of printed materials and literary works (among them even those from banned Hungarian authors). The Party was strongly focusing on various methods to support the Hungarian families. From 1940 on, the Hungarian Party even ran a funeral department, which covered some of the funeral costs of the Party members. The creation of worker section was rejected by the Interior Ministry. The committees of local Hungarian Party organizations, i.e. the driving organizational force, were dominated by traders, farmers, lawyers, private officials and retired private intelligentsia. The Party was also significantly supported by the local clergy and teachers of Hungarian schools. Many activities of the Hungarian Party ended up with riots of the Guardists and Freiwillige Schutzstaffel members, damaging many private and public houses. Physical attacks were also quite frequent.Radio broadcasts, cinematography, local libraries were there to educate the citizens of Hungarian minority. Authorities tried to eliminate and put under control the literature which was incongruous with regime of totalitarian Slovak Populist Party treatment. Hungarian minority was also educated via press. Hungarian press had not only various information aims, but it also had the function of defence against anti - Hungarian attacks. Power bodies actually restricted the in?uence of Hungarian press very often – restriction of Hungarian press distribution, strong police censorship, prohibition of import of periodic magazines published in Hungary, seizing of Hungarian nationality journalists’ identity cards, domestic inspection. From this study we can see that cultural-social activities of Hungarian minority, libraries and periodic press included, succumbed to repressive pressure of power-repressive machinery of Slovak Populist Party treatment which precluded the work in this feld despite developed tradition.More than 160 small frontier connections were mainly used by peasants, farmers of the frontier region. In November 1939 first common Treaty between the Slovak republic and Hungarian kingdom was restricted. It was about reorganization of mutual interchange of goods. So the mutual trade could have been developed naturally in the Slovak-Hungarian boundary-line during another period. Hungary imported agricultural, industrial products and raw materials into Slovakia, and Slovakia mostly exported industrial goods, wood, wood coal and lime. On the arbitral area, at the end of year 1938, Hungarian civil administration took over the powers of Hungarian military members and at the same time on a local level took the lead in deliberations with Slovak partners. The aim of deliberations was the elimination of the frontier problem. Despite the deliberation there had always been administrational and personal problems related to crossing the borders on both sides - Slovak and Hungarian.Opinions of population of Slovak-Hungarian border-line were affected by the fact that they were neighbouring with the country honoured as their home land. Hungarian propaganda helped to consolidate that Hungary is close not as a zone but also spiritually. The same thing happened on the other side too and it caused interesting propaganda´s fights. Propaganda was able to raise the passion as well as the apathy. The most common forms of propaganda were handing-out lea?ets, propagating of tendentious maps and photographic material, ostentatious decoration of Hungarian train transporters but mostly the verbal propaganda. Its main topics were land profits, comparing the standards of living, analysis of political problems, and governmental relations with Berlin. They were many times seen as irreal or absurd. Until year 1944 some rumours were resounded (that Hungary will occupy more parts of Slovakia) and this happened mostly inter motive power parts of propaganda – The Hungarians in Slovakia. Slovak antipropaganda had enough intensity not to be behind in its effort what is clearly seen in articles in the press of that period. History of this issue finishes with liberation of the country and with annulation of Munich and Viennese decreases. After May 1945 begun another difficult period of Slovak-Hungarian relations that were being solved in the context of events of pre-war and war years.

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