Popély Gyula: Népfogyatkozás – A csehszlovákiai magyarság a népszámlálások tükrében 1918-1945

Resumé

189 ABSTRACT In this study, the author examines the trends in the number of Hungarian inhabitants in Northern Hungary that became part of the Czechoslovakian Republic in 1918—1919. In the introductory part of the study, the author points to some power-politics-related circumstances of the take-over, as well as to its tragic implications for the Hungarian inhabitants. Presenting figures for the heterogeneous ethnic composition of the Northern territories detached from Hungary, the author reviews the data on nationalities of the 1910 census for this particular area so that the reader might be given an idea of the major changes that subsequently were taking place in this respect The study provides a thoroughgoing and detailed analysis of problems involved in the professional and political preparatory works for two Chechoslovakian censuses in the years 1921 and 1930, and deals with the method of their carrying through in practice, as well as with the findings, consequences and lessons derived from them. It pays particular attention to various expert opinions connected with the survey of data, describes the legally prescribed order of surveying and its implementation. However, the contemporaneous practice of surveying data on nationalities left much to be desired. Through referring to some concrete cases, the author illustrates the actual violations of law committed by the census-takers (commissioners) and their supervising higher political authorities which resulted in a considerable ousting of Hungarians either in a harsh and abusive or in a more sophisticated manner. The study also touches upon the political significance of censuses in Chechoslovakia, analyses their impact on the rights of Hungarian nationals in that country to use their mother tongue. Furthermore, it deals with the strenuous efforts the society of Hungarian minorities made to defend itself under the circumstances of political and national ordeals. The study also discusses the attitude of the press of Hungarian parties before and during the censuses. The study analyses — in detail — data on nationalities of the two censuses, establishing that the Czechoslovakian census of 1921 already indicated a very significant decrease in the number and percentage of the Hungarian national minority while the subsequent census data in 1930 confirmed this tendency.