A Hajdú-Bihar Megyei Levéltár évkönyve 13. 1986 (Debrecen, 1986)

Tanulmányok - Bényei Miklós: A "Margit". Adalékok a Debreceni Munkásotthon történetéhez

'Margit's"

Contributions to the history of the Workers’ Home in Debrecen Miklós Bényei

The Workers’ Home of Debrecen opened on the 3rd of October 1909. The local organ of the Social Democratic Party and the trade union groups got the restaurant in the plant of the Margit-bath for permanent lease. The building soon became the political and cultural centre of organized workers in Debrecen.

After the victory of bourgeois democratic revolution, the plan of a new, impressive workers’ palace was elaborated. This plan remained at the surface during the times of the Republic of Councils, but could not be realized.

Organizations in the workers’ Home was also reopened. Organized workers had the opportunity to take hold of the building, and to buy it. The formed a society to obtain the sum of money needed by subscribing shares. The Workers’ Home Cooperative Society of Debrecen that was formed held its statutory meeting on the 2nd of April, 1922. The shares were subscribed by trade union centres, by the Social Democratic Party and by the journals “trade Union Bulletin” and “Typographia”. The central support also included the members’ fee from workers in Debrecen; hence this help also proved the generosity of workers in Debrecen and in Hungary in general.

The building and the ground-plot were possessed by the Cooperative, while the premises and installations were rented by trade union groups. “Margit’s”, as it was called by the workers, was the real home of workers’movement in Debrecen, in the 1920’s and 30’s. Members of the SDP and trade unions held their meetings in it; the activists, groups of the illegal Communists’ Party of Hungary gathered there; educational unions of the workmen functioned and cultural meetings were organized there; strikes, protests and fights against unemployment were also directed from there. Prosperous life was going on in the Workers’ Home until the end of the 1930’s.

In autumn 1938, however, soldiers were bilietted in the building, consequently the activities or the SDP and trade unions gradually narrowed. Financial troubles were also increasing, and the club-house could only be saved by great efforts. German occupation deprived workers’ organizations even of their narrowest possibilities.

During the time of war serious damage was caused to “Margit’s”. The workmen of Debrecen tried to save their former home, but the postmen’s trade union could only restore a part of it in 1949. Then pioneers, and between 1957-1964 workers’ militiamen owned it. Then the building was pulled down.

The history of the Workers’ Home is an important political and intellectual heritage, its name, “Margit’s” grew into one of the symbols of progressive traditions.

«Маргит»

Добавления к истории дебреценского Дома Рабочих Миклош Беньеи

Дебреценский Дом Рабочих был открыт 3 октября 1909 года. В форме постоянной аренды метная организация Социал-демократической Партии и профессиональные союзы заполучили под Дом Рабочих расположенный на территории бассейнов Маргит гостиный двор. За короткое время это здание стало центром политической и культурной жизни организованного рабочего класса.

После победы гражданской демократической революции был разработан проект строительства нового импозантного дворца рабочих. Эта мысль жила и дальше и во времена Республики Советов, однако в жизнь претворена не была.

Организация рабочего движения в городе началась снова летом 1920 года и снова открылся Дом Рабочих. Появилась возможность и для того, чтобы организованные рабочие стали полными хозяевами этого здания и закупили его. Необходимая для этого сумма была создана на основе обществ с записью коммерческой сделки. Созданный таким образом Кооператив дебреценского Дома Рабочих 2 апреля 1922 года провел свое организационное собрание. Большая часть акций была закуплена профсоюзными центрами, Социал-демократической Партией, а также издательствами журналов «Профсоюзный бюллетень» и «Типография». В оказываемой центром поддержке были и взносы дебреценских рабочих, поэтому и эта материальная поддержка также свидетельствует о готовности дебреценских, в основном венгерских рабочих идти на пожертвование.

Здание и принадлежащая к нему территория были собственностью Кооператива, а поме107