1948
1948
22-24 Jan. Romanian premier Petru Groza makes an official visit to Hungary. On 24 Jan. they sign the Hungarian-Romanian friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance agreement.
13-23 Feb. Under the leadership of president of the republic Zoltán Tildy and prime minister Lajos Dinnyés, a government delegation leaves for Moscow. On 18 Feb, they sign an agreement on Hungarian-Soviet friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance.
5-7 March The Social Democrats hold their 36th congress in Budapest. They condemn the attitude of right-wing Social Democrats and expel Anna Kéthly, Ferenc Szeder, Imre Szélig and associates from the party. The party leadership receives authorization to conduct negotiations with the Hungarian Communist Party about the establishment of a unified workers’ party. Árpád Szakasits is elected president of the party.
10 March The liaison ‘committee of the Hungarian Communist Party and Social Democratic Party brings a resolution on the merger of the two parties by 1 July.
14 March Kossuth prizes awarded for the first time.
22 March The People’s Association of Hungarian Youth (MINSZ) established.
31 March Budapest Commodity and Stock Exchange ceases activities.
10 Apr. The repatriation between Hungary and Czechoslovakia ends. In all about 200,000 persons are transferred.
29 Apr. Parliament accepts decree XXV of the 1945 law about the nationalization of factories employing more than 100 persons.
8 July At the request of the Hungarian government, the Soviet Union wipes out the remaining part of Hungarian reparations i.e. USD 65 million.
12 June The 4th congress of the Communist Party and the 37th congress of the Social Democrats declare the merger of the two parties under the name Hungarian Workers’ Party (MDP).
12-14 June The first congress of the Hungarian Workers’ Party in Budapest accepts the party’s programme and rules of organization. The congress elects a 66-member central leadership and a 14-member party committee (Antal Apró, Mihály Farkas, Ernő Gerő, József Harustyák, János Kádár, lstván Kossa, György Marosán, Imre Nagy, László Rajk, Mátyás Rákosi, József Révai, Sándor Rónai, Árpád Szakasits, Imre Vajda) as well as a 10-member Central Control Committee, and an Organizational Committee. President of the party: Árpád Szakasits, general secretary: Mátyás Rákosi, deputy secretaries: Mihály Farkas, János Kádár and György Marosán.
16 June Parliament accepts decree XXXIII of the 1948 law about the nationalization of schools. The measure affects 6505 church schools.
16 June-1 Under the leadership of prime minister Lajos Dinnyés a government delegation leaves for Warsaw. On the 18 June they sign a Hungarian-Polish agreement on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance.
14 July Under the leadership of prime minister Lajos Dinnyés a government delegation leaves for Sofia. On the 16 July they sign a HungarianBulgarian agreement on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance.
3 Aug. Parliament accepts the resignation of Zol-tán Tildy from the post of president of the republic, and elects Árpád Szakasits as his successor.
5 Aug. The government is reshuffled. New ministers: interior: János Kádár, foreign affairs: László Rajk, industry: István Kossa (all three are members of the Hungarian Workers’ Party).
20 Aug. In his speech at Kecskemét Mátyás Rákosi outlines the Hungarian Workers’ Party programme on the socialist reorganization of agriculture.
6 Sept With decree 288009/1948, the ministry of the interior sets up the State Security Authority, and appoints Gábor Péter, police lieutenant general, as its head.
9 Sept. The president of the republic appoints Ferenc Erdei (National Peasant Party) as state minister. In place of Péter Veres (Peasant Party) he appoints Mihály Farkas (Hungarian Workers’ Party) as minister of defence.
7 Oct. Agreement reached between the government and the Reformed and Unitarian churches. In accordance with the agreement, the state pays priests and the Reformed church is permitted to keep four theological colleges and four secondary schools.
10 Dec. The president of the republic appoints István Dobi (Smallholders) as prime minister. Deputy prime minister-state minister: Mátyás Rákosi. State minister: Ferenc Erdei (Peasant Party).
14 Dec. The government concludes an agreement with the Evangelical church: priests receive state salaries, and the church may maintain one theological college and one secondary school.
18 Dec. Government decree 14000/1948 is published about the organization and operational rides of agricultural cooperatives.
23 Dec. Under a charge of treason, attempt to overthrow the republic, spying and currency speculation, József Mindszenty, archbishop of Esztergom, is arrested.
