URBAN AREA OF CITY OF BEKESCSABA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000600010093-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 23, 2004
• Sequence Number: 93
• Publication Date: November 2, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2004/02/10 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600010093-4
25X1A
25X1X
CENTRAL INTELUCENCE AGEfd
INFORMATION REPORT
SUBJECT Urban Area of City of Bekesczaba
25X1A
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
1. The population of Bekes,;saba in 1951 was between 200,000 -
300,000. Although the city had textile mills, brick
factories, flour mills and a railroad repair shop, its
economic life woo almost completely dependent upon the
farming activities of the surrounding area. A commercial
airport w,,.s l ec.ated a,rrrcxirnat el y 15 kilometers northwest.
of 13eker3cc.aba. Two 1Irotitarian military unit: were stationed
in the city; a :;elf-propelled artillery ,snit and a frontier
guard unit. Each of these two units was approximately of
regimental strength.
Point //1. ROPE FACTORY. Known as the "Merkuri FonogyAx"._,
(No details availaol.e)
#2. THE CITY POWER STATION. Powered by Diesel
englr.=s. The station consisted of one building
with a flat roof covered w_th gray slate.
//3. THE CITY HOSPITAL. (Varoei Korhaz). The hospital
comprised two separate three-etory buildings,
with low gabled, red tile roofs,
CLASSIFICATION SECRET SECRET
DI
~STRIBUTION
R AM EV Af
Approved For Release 2004/02/10 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600010093-4
25X1X
25X1A
25X1A
25X1A
25X1
25X1
 Approved For Release 2004/02/10: CIA-RDP80-00809A0006000100995 (1 A
SECRET `EGRET
-2-
0
#4 . FLOUR MILL, Known as the Rosenthal Mill
(Rosenthal Malom) Steam operated';' Trapezium-
shaped building, four suoriee high. It was a,
gray brick building with a flat, 'red-tile roof.
#5. HIGH SCHOOL (Gr,1NnsiuM) BUILDING. A three-story
brown building with a low gabled, red tile roof.
#6. THE CITY HALL. Two yellow buildings, each two
stories high with low gabled, gray slate roofs.
#7. FLOUR MILL. Known as the Kova3s Mill (Kovace
Malom). Steam operated. Composed of two separate
unpainted two-story rectangular-shaped buildings.
Each was concrete and had low gabled, gray slate
roofs.
#8. BUCKSHOT CARTRIDGE FACTORY. Known as the
Hubertus Factory (Hubertus Gyar). A two-story,
white unpainted building with a red tile roof. A
number of brick smoke stacks protruded about
five meters above the roof.
#9. SILK FACTORY. Known as the State .othing Factory
(Alomi Ruha Gyar) . The factory comprised two
buildings. One was about 100 meters long,
70 -meters wide of gray concrete with a gray slate
covered roof. This building, which was four
stories high, housed the manufacturing installations
and had, a red brick smoke stack approximately
50 meters high. The other building, which served
as a storage place, was about 40 meters long,
25 meters ride, a single storied structure of gray
concrete with a low gabled., gray slate roof.
About 600 peroens. mostly Zrcjmen, were employed at
thin factorZI-p which operated in three shifts.
Parachute canopies were among the articles
-manufactured here
#10. AGRILULTURAL SCHOOL. Known as the Mezogazdabagi
Iskola. Composed of two buildings. The larger
one, constructed of red brick, was about 50 meters
long, 10 meters wide and two stories high, with a
low gabled, red tile roof.. The other red brick
building was single-storied, about 20 meters long
and seven meters wide, with a low gabled, red tile
roof, The surrounding area was covered with tree
saplings and orchards.
#11. TEXTII1: (ROPE) FACTORY. Known as the Rokka Rope
Factory (Rokka Fonogyar). The factory was a gray,
brick building about 70 meters long-and 30 meters
wide. It was three stories high, with a barrel
vault, light gray, corrugated metal roof, This
factory was operated by electrical equipment and
employed about 200 persona working in three shifts
SECRET g
SECRET
Approved For Release 2004/02/10 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600010093-4
 SECRET
j112FIVE .'ACKS l? IL;)I;1.3. All fivo ,ere of the
sine dircensions; three stores iii,gh, ubo~.rt
70 mcterr long and 30i"tern *.,:.de, .ith low
?abled, red the roofs. The buildin s were
camouflage painted in 1951 A self-propelled
artilL-ry unit, pr ably rci)i:n n:t, ra,d ono
frontier 5uards w it , approxi,a ttel roairirutal
strcnrnth, .rare ^.uartr.rod here, a
1]flhr f' nti-tn.,l: duns in ... urtyard.
It. -.1.: r'; ardin. the
with a to ;ailed, red ale roof.. The middle
section of the bz.ildin?, uboat 30 .peters square,
wo.s slightly hi5her nun had a pyra,m.L ienl n. aped,
red the roof, The station, drmai;ed by bobs
d ;ring te war, was subsequently rcneired.
strength of these units in Fabrunry 1951 from
a in:aber? of t,~ self-propellod artillery unit.
Ii :Jill) 3TA'TI0N. A dark brown, two story
building about 10) ui trs lon;; and 30 ,inters ride
SJa Pisrliu ;Im J,L AJCi ;AIL cuAt) .'tLlCkS, There were
eight tracks in the station area, The rnilroad
connected dekesesabs with i3u'.apest1 Arad and
iv'a~:yvalad?
jr15. LOCO.:;?IVk AND lALL:?J.:U 0AO .~.;Yii~i:i 3.')P., Thir. vie a
)lack concrete b.r:ridin: about GO :meters long,
35 :netcre wide (two railroad lracle ran into
bhe building), rind 10 ost re h.i~?h, incluiil::,-? the
roof, T..~ roof eras barrel va it ,1,apCCi, )Jar]:
gray, and ;)f corr;;uted :natal, each end of the
boildin? h, s two black aura; atecl :u?tal dmors
about eii;lit uretars high. A number of mnmually-
oo?ratcd cranes wore in this shop.
G? ,Li i;
rt,. .-d br_ch a._..:i:, n... .. cl, .. 4
about 10 meters ion; cud 2.) vt- rs:ride? The
roofs ,.ere arrel vault shurd an. coverc:i ;i th
?ray slate, A red brirrc smoke stack, about
d0 .meters Lih, war; located bets:ee:, tli two
buildir:;s,
diY M~10;2I: L, A white concret- neioriul
20-25 meters high, 10 m-ters wide, and two rectors
thick, A five-pointed red glass star, aanroxi:nately
two :meters in dianv+tcr, was located on top
of the ;nonument, mt Ito base tray a bronze plaque
with the nines of Jovict Army person,i^l rho were
killed in Lhe, battle ('or tb' city. The ;ionu::rrnt,
irol:din;; he red star, was illumirmai;ed by red
neon lights during; th^ nitht. It ins built in
1 udh.
x/-1.3. STALIfl ;T:bmET. I'or:uerly kortmy iiklo Street,
d19,
i20, T'h..hid. .T PLACL. It was open very Thursday.
akC'kET
Approved For Release 200410Q : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600010093-4
D
.00
(a) The surrounding area of Bekeacsaba is level and
under cultivation, with the principal crops being
wheat, hemp and sugar beets. The basic
manufacturing enterprises were connected with the
agricultural products of the reg1or. There were
also metallurgical factories and/or mimes in this
area.
h>>
THE PIGS BATHING LAKE
THE RACE TRACK.
ST. ISTVAN STREET
BAHOSS STREET'.
BI ENY 8TREET.
AJI AL STRE1sT.
OROSIIAZI STREET,
SAINT LOUIS ST11aET
The collectivization program in the Bekescsaba
Region as well advanced. Some private land
owners still remained (maximum farm area, 15 acree)j
however, these individual ta.vuers xere compelled
to sell half their producte to the state at lpw
prices. The great majority of the farmers were
dissatisfied with the collectivization program,
(I am not able to give any specific i.irstanoes of
active resistance to the collectivization program
by the farmer's .) Al though violaters were inanediately
arrested and the prices of products fixed by the
authorities, black market activities were
extensive among the farmers
c) All manufacturing enterp'iseo in Bekesceaba were
ctale-Awned, with the norm system in effect in
the en erprises, A mimim:).u norm would be
establ shed whicn had. ti) be met by every worker in
order to receive the t- is pay, If 'a certain
,1 rsi; N iii,i
ECjiE1
Approved For Release 2004100 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600010093-4
SECIiE'L'
SECREI
#21 HOTEL BUILDING, Known a.s the Hotel Csaba (Csaba
Szaloda),. A grown, thcee'd orgy brick building
with a low gakied, Led t;ile root', located at
the corners of St, Istvan acrd Andrassy Streets.
It had 58 rn.cros and wah the main hotel in
Bekesc-aba,.
#22, CSABA MOVIE THEATER, (Csrta Mozgo), The capacity
of the theater was approximately 200 person
sa
#23, PETOF'l MOVIE T?IEATEEC (PEtofI Mozgo), Its
capacity was approximately 200 persons.
#24, TIIEATER BUIIi INi# , Known as the Bartok Theater
(Bartok Szinhaz). A white, two story building
about 100 meters lnn~S and 30 meters wide. It bad
a metal cupola type roof and was located in
Szechenyi Park (Szechenyi Liget),
#25.
#26,
#27,
#28?
#29,
#30,
#31.
#32.
(Dino Pureszto).
( ] en t.
l as:zlo Ut),
25X1,
 Approved For Release 2004/02/10 : CIA-RDP80-00809AOOQ400010093-4
SECHirr SECRET
-5-
two forinte per kilogrr
1.60 fox-into per kilogram
six. seven forints per
kilogram
four forinte per kilogram
fo7ar-five forints per
percentage of the workers exceeded their narA11,
the back porn. we" then --aired for all workers.
The basic pay rate wen increased, but not at the
same rate at which the norm was increased. Due
to thi e type>ed? up sy:, te:n, the accident rate was
hith...
(d) The Stakbanovit:e syatam was also used. These
n
(a)
(r)
(g)
"sharp workers (Elmunkas) received bonuses
aaedala and considerable newspaper publicity.
The individual worker had to obtain an official
release from his employment in order to move
from one job to another. In the event maxnagsment
considered that a worker wc-u1d be more v 17Xab1e
in another enterprise, he could be ordered'tc
change jobs. If he refused, the worker was dis-
charged and risked being declared unacceptable for
employment by other enterprises.
The average weekly wage for industrial workers
(February 1951) was 160 forints for skilled and
90 forints for unskilled workers. The official
rate of exchange was eight forints to the dollar.
Specialists, such as chief mechanics, reoeiYe4
approximately 200 forints weekly; engineers
received 2,000-3,000 forinte per month. Women
constituted the majority of white-collar workers,
since white-collar positions were classified as
"light category". The average wage for these
workers was 150-160 forints weekly. There Was a
tendency to assign women to all categories of
"light" work: e.g., barbers, taxi drivers, train
and street conductors, etc.
The following ii a list of consumer goods prices
in Bekescsaba, established by'the authorities in
the January-February 1951 period:
(1) Monthly rent for two rooms, k_ehen,
bathroom, and one small storer~.om was
160 forints.
(2) Monthly rent for one room and kitchen
was 80 forints.
(3:
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
Bread (white)
Bread (brown.)
Meat (pork)
Meat (beet')
Meat (Vc_i)
(8) Pair or
( ) t, ur
(.iu) Lard
kilogram
25X1A
0
chh1ckert'5 :) forints
,90 forints
(90 fillers)
.k -20 forints per
kilogram
UllliFil
Approved For Release 209110 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600010093-4
ti+-.vu~.~
 Approved For Release 2004/02/10 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600010093 4 `,,,~f . 6
SECRET
_6-
SECRET
II
(12)
Milk
1050 forints per
11 ".-r
(13).
Sugar (lump)
6.50 - seven forints
per kilogram .
(14)
Sugar (granu-
lated)
six forinte pe
r kilogram
(15)
Coffee (not
ground)
90 forints per
(seldom availa
kilogram
ble)
(16)
Potatoes
1.60 .- two for
kilogram
ints per
(17)
Wine (red)
nine-11 forint
s per liter
(1L~-
Wine (white)
eight-nine for
liter
ints per
(19)
Beer (glass)
1040 forints
(2'0)
(PI),
Shoes ( ood
quality)
Suit (good
quality wool)
240-300 forint
1,600 forints
s
(22)
Shirt
42-50 forints
(23)
Overcoat (long)
2,400 forints
(24).
Soap (laundry)
16 forints per
kilogram
St)ap (toilet,
2
-_? -A - ,..
per cake.
(h) Lard, butter, sugar, and soap were rationed, with
the plees on all of the above-mentioned it :p
eatabliehed by the go ernmento The black market
prices were higher. I am not familiar with the
rationing system.
4. Political and Social Characteristics:
(a; The pcapulatl4n of Bekesceaba was about 80% Slovak
(Toth) origin; the remainder were of Magyar
.ncestry. The Slovaks were primarily engaged in
agriculture while the Magyars &.enerally worked
In the various industrial establishments. About 70%
of the population was Protestant. The Communists
apparently hesitatedtto take any drastic measures
against the churches here and there did not seem
to be any fri.ction between the various national
and relleious croups in the region.
(b) Politically, the large majority of the population
was anti-communist. There were not more than
200 convinced Cemrn*niats in Bekeacea ra.
SECRET
SECRET
Approved For Release 2004/02/10 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600010093-4
 Approved For Release 2004/02/10 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600010093-4
o"". Wp))eti , tztfor ti',n
~i.'d mainly Lora Andrassy Gtr-et
to ot. Istvar, ..A,-.et rend ;.ncl?zdcd :iuross, :Jerenyi
atnd fuljnal :%treets. ,7vi housiu,, .?roj-ct9 >:rr- b-in{
planned i'or t,i:^ ooutharn outskirts At' L t- city in
the area A' tl;t t r;nar rece tr?.ick, --ad in ':,> north-
eastern outskirts across the "Pigs path irg s'ooi".
'iitese pr'o jt cts rill pr'?swnably b' ',or.core'
apart:Msents. The 3tr?-eta were sith-r? concrete
or of granlt- stones :wl were lir;hted '.ith olr ctrieity.
.: in Rtr^.etc n-rc 1-)-lb :nrters ,,idc, ..:3.1^ s-con:''.rf
strheta were. [about 10 tn:?ters wider.
J _( 110',. Lon--df t:nn 1 h ?rrt
calls co?ild ue mn.:e only from n, n t.-1cihona
etc.Lion, tor::xtcc, in U.,0 ??ost-Office. T=:1cf;rsns c;.T
b-: sent only- from t;nc wort-orrice. (::o id-:nti''ication
necessary when rcndin?r lthorrrh
n;fu'stir. :nail woe no'( encored, it:conin? and o t,^?oin;
foreign wail was srsot-checked.
(e) r.Dij, Th'_r'c ':Jar :!,Out one radio -t-t. -',tr --*-y V tYJO
houses in the. city. ',iany of the ?cople did not
brlieve t};-t6r' t 21:)0-2300 hours t,ec + s
wuse . ,aY~..r rabic
ltrrce was than aiva.l:;hle. 7opt _>r --.1v! r u?lo Sts
25X1A
 Approved For Release 2004/02/10 : CIA-RDP80-00809A00060001009360
2..a r
SECIFfST P. Cfk j
ava.ilable-to the population were "popu7.ar"
radio sets on which only the Budapest- stations
could be heard,, People c ugh?. : t stenirng to the
Voice of America or the B13C had, their sets con-
fiscated grid were liable to arrent-o
(f) N `~"~DICAL FACILITIES, There was one hospital in
Bekescsaba, -which provided medical and surgical
services., Free medical service vms granted to
members of the Public Medical Help ASeociation
(Orszagos Tarsadalnii Irtezet),. All government
employees (including coliective farm members') had
to belong to this organization. only resid~ts of
the city and county were adrrl~-*ed to the hospital,.
with exceptions being made ir. emergency - castes-. The
prospective patient was otherwise obliged to o to
the hospital at his place of 'residence for treatment,
(g) NB14$ PA,PXRS , Daily newspaper. published in
Bekeeesaba were the Vihar_ ar-~)c (Storm Corner) and the. .
Biharnepe (Bihar Count;! Both were Comaginiut
publications,
SECRET
Approved For Release 2004/02/10 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600010093-4