Lakos János: A Magyar Országos Levéltár története (Budapest, 2006)
A képek jegyzéke
potential publications. Finally, the war and the approaching front line upset these plans. Preventive measures against the danger of air raid and other expectable military operations became unavoidable. Security microfilming of the most valuable records started and transferring the archival material to the repository of the basement. Jánossy did not carry out a command to vacate the premises at the beginning of December 1944, therefore the records were still in the building at the time of the siege. In parallel with it, the elaboration of an archives act continued. Manoeuvres during the siege, a German ambulance station moved in caused serious damages both in the building and the archival material. Almost 3 100 shelf metres of documents perished. At the beginning of 1945, it offered a sorrowful image for the spectators. Rescue operations started immediately, but the restoration could begin only in 1947. In that year the workshop of microfilming developed, and it was supplied with the first automatic camera in 1948. The plan of equipping the workshop of restoration was made as well, and it could start operating at the end of 1949. From the end of March 1946, performing researches became possible, and the transfers of records occurred again. In 1946 Jánossy worked out a plan of issuing publications in four series. (They still exist!) The Archives participated in the rescue operations of the endangered private archives, and promoted the creation of the first Hungarian archives act which also planned to establish the institution of regional state archives subordinated to the National Archives, on the basis of civil states. In fact, the act could not go through, because the Soviet army occupied the country in 1948, the communists seized power and began immediately the liquidation of constitutionality and democracy. The local communist party organization and the group of trade union were set up in the Archives, too. Soon after, the director-general and other leaders appointed during the old regime were removed, whereas people giving themselves up to the new ideas were placed into their positions. Jánossy, who was also the head of the Hungarian National Museum, was arrested with unfounded accusation. In the spring of 1949, Győző Ember was appointed head of the institution. This qualified expert had been working for the Archives since 1934, and was a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. At the end of 1949, the Hungarian National Museum was dissolved, and the National Archives became legally independent again. The fifth chapter reveals the achievements and conditions under which the Archives operated during the centralized socialist archival 527
