polski pycckn slovenská deutsch magyar
Miskolc in the Second Half of the 20TH century
Main Page »
History
  • The Prehistoric Age
  • The Age of the Migration of Nations
  • The Time of the Hungarian Conquest
  • Miskolc and Diósgyőr in the Middle Ages
  • The Flourishing and Decline of the Castle of Diósgyőr
  • The Time of Dual Power
  • Kuruts Times
  • Miskolc in the 18TH Century
  • Miskolc in the 19TH Century
  • Miskolc in the First Half of the 20TH Century
  • Miskolc in the Second Half of the 20TH century
    		•

    From the end of World War II to 1989 the most characteristic feature of the history of Miskolc was obviously the communist-socialist order.

    The forced role of becoming one of the centres of heavy industry in the first half of the 1950s led to the collapse of the economic structure of the city and the crisis of large-scale industry four decades later.

    The place of Miskolc in the ranking of the largest Hungarian cities has changed significantly a couple of times since the end of the 19Th century. With the decision of Trianon, six cities fell out from before Miskolc: Szabadka, Pozsony, Nagyvárad, Temesvár, Arad, and Kolozsvár. In this manner, our city became the sixth largest in population. In 1949 it was already the second biggest city in Hungary. Its population grew by more than 40,000 people between 1950 and 1960. In 1960, 144,217 was the number of the inhabitants of Miskolc and by 1964-65 it had increased to 163,600. Between 1950 and 1965 the natural growth of population was 17,000, and the increase caused by migration was exactly the double of it.

    This stream towards Miskolc caused a change not only in the social and political situation of the city, but also caused a drastic shift in the structure of occupations. From a traditional agricultural-trading city, Miskolc changed into a city of large-scale industry.
    In 1956 Hungary fought its war for independence against a dictatorship, oppression, and the Soviet occupation. The leaders of the days of the revolution were the university students and the workers in Miskolc. In accordance with the changes in the whole country, on October 31ST the prohibited parties re-established themselves and took part in the birth of the National Committee of Miskolc. However, before the Committee could start its work, Soviet troops occupied Miskolc on November 4Th. The last volley went off on December 10Th, demanding five victims.

    The first Worker's Council formed in Miskolc, which then started to ‘restore order' after the revolution here as well. The reprisals lasted for four years. Beside political trials, the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party broadened and strengthened its leading position by forming party- and social organisations. With them, a new chapter began in the history of Hungarian society. The forced increase of living standards between 1960s-1980s led the country into economic failure.

    On 29 October 1989 there was a peaceful easing of tensions. Remembering the events of 1956, they proclaimed the (third) Republic of Hungary. Free, democratic, and multi-party parliamentary elections were held in March-April 1990.

    Since then 4-5 parties have been able to get into the Parliament after the elections held every four years. The coalitions have always changed with the new elections and with them the leadership of Miskolc has changed as well.