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 175 FROM THE END OFTHE WAR TO THE CHANGES OF REGIMES From 1941 Hungary took part in the Second World War on Germany's side. The political climate of the country had an impact on Vác, too, although political extremes could not really affect the citizens who insisted on their traditional civil values. In May 1944 the Jewish population of the town and the neighbouring settlements, about 1800 people in all, were forced to move into ghettos, and a month later they were transported to Auschwitz. Only 10% of them survived the war, mainly those who did forced labour. From July 1943 to late May 1944 the town took Polish refugee orphans. Unlike the First World War, the Second World War inflicted serious damage on the town: several buildings were damaged in the bombings, and the equipment of the factories was carried away on barges by the German army. Forty-nine bombs fell on the Kodak Factory in Vác, and the air-raid on 5 December 1944 caused casualties too. After the war not only the ruins but also poor public supply and health conditions caused serious troubles. Due to the lack of power supply the water and sewerage works stopped working, and the water of the polluted wells, together with malnutrition, caused epidemics. Shops were broken into and plundered. Whatever had not been taken by the withdrawing German forces was seized by the invading Soviet army. Two monuments were erected in memory of the Soviet soldiers who fell in combat. The first, cigar-shaped one, was set up at the northern end of the Main Square in 1945. Soon after another one was planned for the officers, which the Soviet military government sited in the middle of the square in front of the cathedral. In spite of Bishop József Pétery's protests the monument was built there. Duetothe Soviet military occupation in 1944/45 followed by the communist takeover in 1948 there were such radical changes in the life of the country and the town that for long decades traditional civil values seemed to have perished for good. The first Ceremony of 4 April or 7 November in Konstantin Square at the Soviet Heroes' Monument
