Horváth M. Ferenc (szerk.): Vác The heart of the Danube Bend. A historical guide for residents and globetrotters (Vác, 2009)
Tartalom
VÁC IN THE 20TH CENTURY 177 consideration. Sugar beet and sunflower had to be grown not only in areas suitable for these plants but also on the poor sandy soil where corn, rye, crops and melon would have given better yields. The Second World War caused the most severe damage to the industrial factories of the town. The Kodak Factory was one of the bombing targets. Hardly had they re-started production when they were nationalized in 1949. Production was controlled centrally, the objectives defined by three- and later five-year plans. Out of the nine factories in the town the knitwear factory had the largest number of employees, followed by the Danube Shipyard. After nationalization the zinc rolling mill was transformed into the Aluminium and Zinc nationalization was intensified from the middle of 1947.1948 was the year of change: the communist takeover. Trade associations were closed and their duties taken over by the National Association of Craftsmen which had been formed in 1946.The first five-year plan determined the scope of activity for craftsmen (who continued to be self-employed individuals). The main goal was to reduce small-scale industry considerably and to urge the forming of co-operatives. In 1950184 craftsmen and 126 retailers stopped working in Vác. The rate of the shortages in public supply could be measured by the length of the queues winding outside the shops. In 1950, with the separation of state and church, a new educational system was formed in-Forte - “This factory belongs to the workers!" Processing Company that started to make hulls on its premises on the Danube bank. In 1954 the independent Danube Shipyard was built on the grounds of the former Hamerli leather factory. Financial losses afflicting craftsmen due to the Second World War were even bigger than the nationwide average. However, in 1947 signs of development appeared: the membership of the Vác and Region Trade Association started to increase. Also, recruitment seemed to be ensured: 200 apprenticeship contracts were signed during the year. But eluding the eight-grade elementary school and the four-grade secondary school. In that year the town had five elementary and three secondary schools. By the mid-fifties the number of the secondary schools had grown: besides the four secondary schools - Secondary Grammar School, Secretarial and Accounting Secondary Technical School, Secondary Technical School of Engineering, Secondary Technical School of Agriculture - there were other secondary school-like institutions as well, the so-called "workers' secondary schools". The large THE SECOND HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY 15 August 1950 23 October-14 November 1956 1957-1989 1988 30 September 1990 1990-The Soviet-modelled town council is formed Revolution and War of Independence The Kádár era/regime The first western company, Zöllner Ltd comes to Vác The democratically elected town council is formed Most of the old factories are closed down, some of them are privatised. Some of the church institutions are re-established
