S. Perémi Ágota (szerk.): A Laczkó Dezső Múzeum Közleményei 28. (Veszprém, 2014)

Molnár Jenő: Adalékok a szovjet csapatkivonás és a veszprémi volt szovjet laktanya történetéhez

SOVIET ARMY WITHDRAWAL FROM HUNGARY, CONCERNING VESZPRÉM

During the WW II the Soviet Army, which entered Hungary at Battonya on the 23rd September in 1944, occupied the country in a three level operation. Finally the last Soviet soldier left our country on the 19th June, 1991 after lengthy diplomatic and military arrangements. Hungary was occupied for 17071 days, which had a grave impact on the history of Veszprém as well.

The Red Army garrisoned in Veszprém for 46 years on the site of the previous sergeant-major academy.

Veszprém was one of the first towns in Hungary from where the Soviet troops had been relocated and withdrawn. The Soviet troops remaining in the country have been relocated in Veszprém county in June and August, 1989 according to the one sided withdrawal plan. The last Soviet train left Hajmáskér on the 3rd November, 1990 accompanied by church bells.

Different councils, the Hungarian National Army (Magyar Néphadsereg) and the previous owners gained the ownership of the buildings left unoccupied after the partial reduction and withdrawal of the Soviet troops. The majority of these buildings deteriorated substantially over time because of lack of guarding and regular maintenance.

On the 1st January, 1989 an institute (Zárolt Állami Vagyont Kezelő és Hasznosító Intézmény) was established with the purpose of handling and managing the now abandoned buildings and sites left behind after the Soviet withdrawal. Before the ownership change it was necessary to get an objective view on the state and the value of the sites, therefore site assessments were carried out.

According to the official procedure, the Soviet partner handed the sites over empty and clean to the Hungarian Army, which later gave the managing responsibilities to the ZÁVKI.

The Soviet barracks in Veszprém became state property since the Hungarian Army had no further plans with it. An article published in Napló (Veszprém) on the 5th of June 1990 informs the readers about the change in the ownership, which had happened on the 4th June, 1990.

The site had been assessed for chemicals between the 14th and 16th of June 1990, soon after the ceremonial change of owners.

Track of chemical weapons and ammunition has been found during the site assessments.

By November, 1990 AGROTERV has finished the site assessment and the utilisation plan for the barracks.

The previous Soviet barracks in Veszprém are listed under topographical number 3018, which is the same for the Hungarian Kossuth Lajos barracks too. The two sites altogether measure up to 42 ha (approximately 3938 m2).

The value of the buildings on the sites was approximately 700 million forints calculated on the basis of 1990’s market prices. The estimated renovation costs summed up to 634 million forints at the same time. There were several requests and offers for the utilisation of the buildings.

The rehabilitation of the site has finished and it has become an integral part of town by now. Our museum is housed on the forementioned grounds too, a fact that triggered my interest and urged me to research it’s history furhter and to publish the revealed data.

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