A Hajdú-Bihar Megyei Levéltár évkönyve 7. 1980 (Debrecen, 1980)
Tanulmányok - Kahler Frigyes: Réczei Sándor naplója. Adalékok a Tiszántúl 1919-1920-as román megszállásának történetéhez
The Diary of Sándor Réczei To the History of the Roumanian Occupation of the Trans-Tisza Region in 1919-1920 Frigyes Kahler The military preparations of the Roumanian occupation from April 23, 1919 to March 11, 1920 have been explored in detail by the research of László Fogarassy. Roumania, which was neutral at the time of the Padua armistice (3rd November, 1919) declared war on Germany. At a mass meeting in Gyulafehérvár on December 1, 1918 the National Council of Roumania made a unilateral announcement of annexing Transylvania and Hast -Hungary as far as the Tisza to the Kingdom of Roumania. The invasion, that was decided by the Roumaniaa Military Headquarters on April 10, 1919 was declared by the King to be aimed at maintaining public security and defending private property against the Hungarian Republic of Councils. After marching in the army began the restoration of the bourgeois order, but in the interest of the Roumanian state, not of the Hungarian burgeoisie. To this end they also restrainted the want for revenge from the part of the extreme right. On the occupied territory the military authorities appointed the leaders of administration and performed police duties. The Roumanian-Hungarian Liaison Office was established under unequal conditions. The public’s reaction to the occupation is reflected in Sándor Réczei’s diary, where not only this reaction of the different social layers is expressed, but some hints on the attitude of the burgeoisie towards the proletariat and the peasantry. The occupants sent to exile not only the communists and other leftists, but all those democratic and right-wing persons as well, whom they thought to be dangerous. Public security became intolerably bad because of the conduct of the occupants. Requisitionings and atrocities destroyed production forces. Monetary life was also overthrown. The measures aimed at “restoring the bourgeois order” embittered the inhabitants of Debrecen so much, that prominent citizens began plotting in August 1919 to receive protection from the British Royal Family. This diplomacy, however, which was based on the British-French controversy took a tragic (and comic) ending. The citizens were severely fined by the occupying authorities and had to realize their unability to influence the decisions of the victorious Powers. 45
