Virag, Paula (szerk.): Satu Mare. Studii şi comunicări. Seria istorie-etnografie-artă 26/2. (2010)
A. Istorie
Sárándi Tamás State and Church. Strategies and means of „re-germanization” of the Schwabs of Satu Mare Abstract As a result of the ethnical changes of the 19th century and until 1918, the assimilation of the Schwabs was the most intense and most successful in the area of Satu Mare. The “re-germanization” process that followed in the period between the two World Wars was organized and supported by the upper authorities. The movement started at the initiative of the Schwabs of Banat and was afterwards sustained by the Romanian Government and Hitler’s Germany. Therefore, the events that took place in Satu Mare in the period between the two World Wars can be considered “re-germanization” attempts, rather than national rebirth. In the period between the two World Wars, the key element of the Schwab movement, and also of the “re-germanization” tendency was, in our opinion, the school matter. Therefore, this paper is attempting to recreate the history of the schools of Cămin, Ardud, Turulung and Tiream in a case study, using the História Domus of the local Parishes. In each of these four selected settlements, the German school has a different evolution. Nevertheless, the history of each school in these villages can be retraced. Following the presentation of the German school’s evolution, we are attempting to analyze the means of persuasion and coercion used on one hand by the Romanian Government and by Gaiiamt (the organization of the Schwabs), and on the other hand by the Roman- Catholic Bishopric of Satu Mare and the village priests, in their attempt to control the local educational system. 100
