Fraternity-Testvériség, 1950 (28. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1950-03-01 / 3. szám
TESTVÉRISÉG 9 attack the character of our noble thinking people. This is the cause of our disunity, of disputes, and both use up our strength and will inevitably lead to complete annihilation, which I fear the most. The education of our children is a special difficult unsolved problem. Partly by cooperation of some parents, partly by our own efforts, we sustain schools for 500—600 children, though we do not see it further possible after January 1, 1950. Most of our children attend German schools, where, in spite of their language difficulties, they grow little by little into the line of the best pupils. But most of our children, due partly to lack of shoes and warm clothing, and partly to the long distances, cannot attend any school at all. So it will happen that in today’s century, some of our children will grow up without having received even a basic education. People are continually swarming from Hungary. The fifth camp was already established for the new immigrants. These people arrive only with the clothes they have on their bodies and nothing else. Their last money was used for blackmail to pass the well guarded Hungarian border. It does not have to be mentioned, therefore, in what condition they arrive, and what is the destiny awaiting them. Family life and marriages are under severe trial. The number of divorces, illegal marriages and illegitimate children is incredibly high. Marriages with Germans are frequent, and in most cases we have one more person to care for; only in very few cases do we find the lucky reciprocity. Our poverty and misery is burdening. Uncomprehensible for those to whom the Lord gave the opportunity to keep their homes. Our wömen are still cooking in tins and bathing their children in gasoline cans; their furniture is trunks; all this today, five years after the end of the war. Sick people need better alimentation. Lard, sugar, meat and bread should be brought in sufficient quantities, but there are no means to get them. There is no employment and no earnings. Their clothing is the worst of all. Even if we do obtain a few clothes from overseas sometimes, they are mostly summer clothes for women. Nothing has arrived for the male population for many years. Penicillin, streptomycin and insulin, although urgently needed in many cases, cannot be bought, for there is nobody with money to pay for it. Some people already have heavy debts without having the faintest hope of ever paying for them. Doctor bills, hospital fees and even rent for billeting are unpaid. The HRA is unable to help; our treasury is empty and no cash as yet in sight. Even our own rent, electric bill and telephone are unpaid. Our employees, men with large families among them, are working without salaries, just for the love of their people, against the social misery and annihilation, with all their strained efforts. Until the present Hungarians were not allowed to participate in the IRO vocational training courses. The HRA has organized such courses to facilitate emigration to professional soldiers and other white collar workers who have little chance to emigrate or to get a job within the Germany economy. On several examinations of these courses, the representatives of the IRO, of the Landesarbeitsamt and the German Trade Unions were present and admired the results of the courses of this short duration. This was not admirable to us. Hungarians have brought along their education, culture, natural fitness and their readiness and ability to work. Unfortunately, the best qualities and willingness of these people are perishing without being used. They are eagerly awaiting the moment to utilize their talents for the restoration in any country for civilized manhood. The majority of the Hungarian people are universal craftsmen and inventors. What a gain it would be to use them in the economy of a new country. This is the only solution to our social problem. We see the rate of unemployment increasing here in Germany. We see that the returning German PWs add to this rate, and we also understand that German employers favor their own unemployed. I must repeat that the povery, misery and nakedness of our people are beyond the general. We have reached a standard below the deepest. Total annihilation and mental disorders are threatening the small Hungarian refugee groups in Germany. Therefore, as the official social leader of the Hungarian refugees in Germany for 5 years already, I am sending my most urgent SOS signals to the whole world. Let us have that small group of people who have not deserved this misery. Let us save them, because the time will come when they will have to fulfill a mission. We beg everybody who still is in the fortunate position to possess his own home and property to think of the Hungarian refugee group in Germany, to think of the innocent children, and the old and sick. The good Lord has saved countries and people perhaps for the reason to remain and to save and sustain the others. I appeal to the conscience of the world, saying: Let them give whom our Lord has given to. Let us save children, mothers and families. It will not be difficult for mothers to clasp foreign children to their hearts; to dry their tears; and I am sure that all rescued Hungarians will be happy to repay their debt with honest work in a new country.
