This book is dedicated to the memory of all Hungarian men and women, victims of Stalinist tyranny in Transcarpathia. G E N O C I D E THE TRAGEDY OF THE HUNGARIANS OF TRANSCARPATHIA They were born Hunqarian: that vas their only crime! A BOOK OF RECOLLECTION OF THE VICTIMS OF STALINISM IN TRANSCARPATHIA (1944 - 1946) Edited by Dupka Gyorgy Published by PATENT - INTERMIX UNGVAR - BUDAPEST HUNGARIAN BOOKS ON TRANS-CARPATHIA Editors of the series: Dupka Gyorgy, Fejes Janos, Tirkanics Gabriella Artistic Director: Ivaskovics Jozsef The Ministry of Culture and Education supported publication of this volume. Edited and annotated by Dupka Gyorgy Cover by Jankovics Maria Copyright: Dupka Gyorgy, 1993 Published by INTERMIX EDITIONS Managing editor: Dupka Gyorgy ISBN 963 8129 08 5 Printed 1993 in Ungvar by the PATENT Printing and Publishing Company Managing Director: Kovacs Dezso Technical director: Negre Viktor # 2368 CONTENTS: FOREWORD TO THE ENGLISH EDITION RESOLUTION #036 THE TRAGEDY: BEREGSZASZ DISTRICT UPPER TISZA REGION THE DISTRICT OF MUNKACS DISTRICT OF NAGYSZOLOS DISTRICT OF UNGVAR THE LIST OF THE DEAD A P P E N D I X CHRONICLE OF EVENTS: E P I L O G U E FOREWORD TO THE ENGLISH VERSION: It seems, there was an open season on the Hungarians, behind the front lines during the last year of W.W. II, and for years afterwards: The Yugoslav partizans of Tito murdered in cold blood approximately 40,000 Hungarian boys and men (see the Cseres book on this Home Page). Eduard Benes of Czechoslovakia expelled, forcibly relocated, exchanged, and stripped of their citizenship hundreds of thousands (see the Janics book also on this Home Page). The Rumanians killed many of us outright and tens of thousands have perished, or were maimed, ruined for life at the Danube Delta megaproject (see the White Book and the Kincses book on this Home Page). This book sheds light on some of the crimes the Soviets committed against Hungarians. There were many reasons for this attempted genocide.: 1. Imaginary, embellished and exaggerated national histories taught in their schools and the resulting hatred. 2. War propaganda. 3. Collective bad conscience, the direct result of obtaining land with indigenous Hungarian population, thanks to the basically flawed, discriminatory and plainly punitive Peace Treaties of Trianon (1920) and Paris, (1947). 4. The claim of the apostles of Pan-Slavism, that "this Asiatic horde" (the Hungarians) is a wedge between the northern and southern Slavic peoples, thwarting their unity aspirations, thus hindering the formation of a dominant Slavic Empire. All of these points are discussed in great detail in the books and essays on this Home Page. Up to the late eighties, no one was allowed in Hungary to mention this on-going genocide. On the contrary, we had to hear, see and read about our "war crimes" endlessly. The crimes of other nations could not be mentioned. We were not even allowed to raise our voices for the oppressed fellow Hungarians over the Trianon borders. This is the time for confessions, apologies, compensations. Without "coming clean" no lasting peace and friendship is possible. We have done a lot of confessions, apologies, compensations for the past fifty years. It is now the turn of others. Now, that the Republic of Ukraine is the successor to the Soviet Union in Transcarpathia-Karpatalja, we have reason to hope for friendly relations in this area. It was not surprising, that Hungary was the first state to extend full diplomatic recognition to the young Republic and signed the first "Basic Treaty" with them. We fervently hope, that they will live up to their obligations toward the indigenous Hungarian minority. It is interesting to note, that close to the end of WW II, there was truce and some cooperation between the Hungarian Army and the UPA (the Ukrainian Liberation Army). We have transferred some captured Soviet arms, ammunition and medical supplies to them, and received their badly wounded in our field hospitals. We have even flown their high level negotiators out of the German airfield in Lwow (Lemberg) to Budapest. Since they have fought both the German and Soviet armies, with equal determination, the Germans were quite upset about the arrangement. More details could be found in: Litopys UPA (Annals of UPA) Volume 5, Toronto 1984. S.J. Magyarody *********************** NOTE: to the English language Home Page and CD-ROM editions: In the original Hungarian edition the names of the local victims are printed at the end of the articles of each of the villages and towns. On the English language Home Page and CD-ROM they are collected in one Chapter and placed at the end of the articles-section. The names appear in the "Hungarian way", that is the last name (Family) first, then the given name(s). The (Hungarian) diacritical marks are omitted. *********************** Joe Stalin, you hangman Keep turning in your grave, We shower curses on your name And won't let you enjoy your fame. You turned the head of many a man With your lying, cheating words And countless Hungarians suffered From your power and evil works. Resolution #036 of the 4th Ukrainian Front (of the Soviet Army, Ed.) November 13, 1944 Excerpts from the document: ...There are rows of houses where German and Hungarian nationals of draft age live. These individuals must be arrested and sent to POW camps as if they were enemy combatants... ...Those German and Hungarian nationals who are subject to military service and live in the liberated territory of Trans-Carpathian Ukraine must be sent to POW camps, in separate groups, in convoys and according to prepared lists. The 2nd Order of the Military Commandant November 13, 1944 1.- All officers and soldiers who used to belong to German and Hungarian military units and who remain on the newly liberated territory of Trans-Carpathia must report to and register at the nearest Commandant's Office within three days from November 14, 1944. Equally, all German and Hungarian nationals between the ages of 18 and 50 who are subject to military service must report to and register at the Commandant's Office. 2.- Furthermore all individuals who served in the police force and the gendarmerie during the Hungarian occupation must also report to and register at the Commandant's Office within the prescribed three days. 3.- Registration at the Commandant's Office will take place only between the hours of 9 AM to 7 PM The last day of reporting/registering is November 16, 1944. 4. - Those who do not report/register will be subject to arrest and court-martial THE COMMANDANT THE TRAGEDY Beregszasz district ASZTELY Situated on the road to Beregsurany and at the border crossing, this village contained in 1944, 573 souls. According to a list of the local authorities, dated July 3, 1945, during the indicated period,106 people (born hetween 1896 and 1926) were in various POW camps. Of these, 70 men were deported to Szolyva, the rest were drafted into the military and became prisoners. The activists of the base organization of KMKSZ (President: Olasz Miklos ))together with the survivors, compiled the lists: 61 men were carried off, 23 survived and returned, 43 perished, and 5 died in action in World War II. On October 27, 1991, the inhabitants of the village erected a wooden memorial and tombstone in their cemetery to the memory of the victims. BADALO From this settlement, which lies along the (river) Tisza and had 1248 inhabitants in 1944, 200 people were carried off. Of these, more than 89 became victims of Stalinist terror. The deportees were taken to concentration camps in Belorussia and the Ukraine. Only 11 people lost their lives in action during WWII. The lists of the deportees were compiled by the organization of the KMKSZ and the Local Council;. They erected a wooden memorial in the cemetery and, in 1992, a monument in the village center as a memorial to the victims. BALAZSER In 1944, there were 785 inhabitants in this hamlet which was joined to the village of Makkosjanosi. We can tell exactly how many were deported under duress thanks to the lists of August 3, 1945 compiled by the local authority (president: Medvigy Ivan; the secretary's name is illegible): According to list No. 1, of the 88 deported men, 42 were civilians (born between 1896 and 1926) carried off to the Szolyva concentration camps purely on the basis of their nationality. The 2nd lists the names of those 46 men born between 1904 and 1923 who were inducted in the army and wore its uniform. Their whereabouts was unknown in August 1945. Balogh Istvan and Hapak Janos, leaders of the KMKSZ in this hamlet, together with some of the survivors compiled a list of the victims of Stalinism. They were unable to determine the final resting place of 23 men from Balazser. Upon the initiative of the KMKSZ, on August 10, 1991, a monument was erected jointly by Balazser and Makkosjanosi to the victims of Stalinism. The dedication ceremony was attended by Geza Jeszenszky, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hungarian Republic. BATYU In 1944, this town, which was a trade and railroad centre, counted 1898 inhabitants. W.W.II took a great toll: 18 people died in action. According to Bagu Balazs, President of the local base organisation of the KMKSZ, in November-December 1944, the district's collection centre was located in the Lonyay manor-house in Batyu. The men of Batyu, Botragy, Szernye, Haranglab, Beregsom, Eszeny, Szaloka, Lonya, and Hetyen were transported from there to the deathcamps. The first group left the Lonyay manor on November 18, 1944 for Szolyva; from there, they were dispersed among the concentration camps of Szambor, Orsa, Nevianszk, Boriszov, and Stalino.