A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve: Studia Historica 7. (Szeged, 2004)

ORBÁN Imre: Egyházi beszámolók az 1918-1919-es forradalmak makói eseményeiről és a város megszállásáról

IMRE ORBÁN CHURCH REPORTS ON THE EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTIONS OF 1918-1919 IN MAKÓ AND THE INVASION OF THE TOWN These documents are of basic significance among the sources revealing the history of Makó and Csanád between autumn 1918 and spring 1920. Witnesses report on the confused months of the revolution, and the horrible 37 days of the Communist terror as well as on the foreign invasion. József Bezdán's (dean of Makó) four letters, Ferenc Szabó's (chaplain of Makó-Újváros) report, together with József Bodor's (Roman Catholic teacher of religion) report can be found in the material preserved at the Archives of the Diocese of Temesvár (today Timisoara, in Romania) in the material called Archívum Dioecesanum Temesváriensis / Hungarica Dioeceseos Csanádiensis / Makó. János Székely's (deputy rector) report is preserved in the Archives of the Eastern (Tiszántúli) Diocese of the Hungarian Calvinist Church numbered I.29.Í.121. The collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy resulted in a chaotic situation also in Makó in autumn 1918. The National Council wielded power. The inhabitants of Makó suffered from insufficient food supply. Winter was approaching and unemployment was high. Also looting disturbed the citizens. On the opposite bank of the river Maros Serbian troops were stationed. József Bezdán wrote in his report sent to Temesvár to Gyula Glattfelder, bishop of Csanád: demagogy is dominating the town, and democratic rule here means, "1000 men are intimidating 35000 in Makó" The years 1919-1920 meant the most difficult period in the history of Hungary and Makó. The so-called Workers' Council took power. "We lived through terrible days"

, as Brezdán described the rule of the proletariat. In April Romanian troops invaded the town, "extremely terrifying times" arrived. From the isolated town it was almost impossible to keep up connections with the outer world. Vicar Bezdán's report in 1920 was already filled with hope. The invading Romanian troops had already started to draw back from certain Hungarian territories. The inhabitants of Makó truly hoped that Makó would not get under Romanian control. This hope was indicated by the vicar's words: "It seems this is the last week. Release has come, " "we look forward to liberation. "