THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY IN BUDAPEST/CHEMICAL RESEARCH AND INDUSTRY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000300660009-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 18, 2013
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: January 4, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000300660009-6
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFIC)FrIVIAlrIC)14 FIE:PC)FIT
COUNTRY
Hungary
SUBJECT
The Technical University in Budapest/Chemical
Research and
Industry
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PLACE
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ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED
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DATE OF INF QR,MAT I ON 8
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATInNAL DEFENSE
OF TUE UNITED STATE!, WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE IC. SUCTIONS 793
AND 794, OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS AAAAA MISSION OR REVE-
LATION OF ITS CONTENT, To DR RECEIPT ST AN UNAuTHOSIGEO PERSON Is
PROHISITED SY LAW. TUE REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHISITED,
DATE DISTR.I+ --)454-47....T Lti
NO. OF PAGES 5
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
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SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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1.
In the department of inorganic chemistry at the Technical University,
Budapest, lectures were given in general and inorganic chemistry. In
addition/ the chemical engineering students received instruction in theo-
retical and practical chemi,7!a1 analysis. Instruction at the University
required the major portion of the faculty memberst time because during
the 1930g the number of students tripled without a enrrespondiny.Lncrease
in the number of instructors.
I also systematically followed analytical procedures published incurrent
literactical annlicatinn nf nAw mpithnrIR
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The chemistry department also published, in the studentslhandbooks, material
on general and inorganic chemistry. 50X1
2. In applied research the following were the more important topics pro-
duction of certain silica gels, quantitative and qualitative analysis
of their sorption, electrochemical production of bauxite, wet treatment
of bauxite for the production of silicic bauxite, enamel research, and
problems of glass manufacture. Papers on these topics were published, in
part, in Hungarian and in German.
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Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 50-Yr2014/11/04 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000300660009-6
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4.
Research work was considerably handicapped by the inadequacy of laboratory
equipment. The equipment was not only insufficient, but also largely obsolete.
A large portion of energy and time was devoted to the procurement of laboratorRpo
equipment, which sometimes required several years. We were finally able to
obtain a modemlautoclave, thermostat, milling equipment, a large microscope, and
modern scales. We lacked optical instruments such as a rspedtrophotometer, etc;
smelting furnace, etc. The small allowance appropriated to the department was
used primarily for the purposes of instruction. The laboratory, built to our
own plans, was equipped with:direct current, central vacuum and compressed air,
evaporating vats, central gas generators, electric drying and heating furnaces,
a reading room, a library, and the necessary chemicals. By comparison, the
equipment of the Munich Technical University Laboratory, both in quantity and
quality, was very inferior to that of the Budapest Technical University. I
understand little of this equipment survived the siege of Budapest.
Most of the equipment was imported from Germany. However, prior to World War II,
Hungary had precision scsle and instrument factories as well as chemical-glass
manufacturers whose products equaled those of the American Pyrex or the German
Schott and Gen. Jena.
Chemicals for the most part were received from. the German Merck and Kahlbaum
enterprises. Just prior to World War II Hungarian firms began to co/pete
successfuliyin this field. The "Hungarian and the Bayer Chemical Works produced
chemicals of adequate purity for analytical purposes primarily, from domestic
raw materials. Certain basic chemicals, which were consumed in quantity by all
chemical laboratories, could be obtained from Hungarian producers. These chemicals
included: sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, ammonium hydroxide,
liquid air, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, liquid ammonia, and hydrogen peroxide.
Compressed gases were also available such as: oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen.
The Budapest Technical University was the only technical university in Hungary.
A few years prior to World War II, the Budapest Economic University, and the
Sopron Mining, Metallurgical, and Forestry Engineering University were consolidated
with the Budapest Technical University. After World War II, the three universities
were again separated.
The Technical University was composed of two schools: the school of engineering
and architectural engineering, and the school of mechanical and chemical engineering.
In addition there was a separate school of economics. Each school was headed
by a dean who was elected for a period of one year by the faculty of the rank of the
full professor. The outgoing dean became the chairman of his faculty and supervised
Its activities. The Technical University was headed by a rector who was elected
for a period of one year and who exercised the traditional autonomous privileges
of the university. The privileges included the election of professors And the
preparation of the curricula. They also ensured the freedom of instruction and
the independence of the faculties from the political course of the government.
It may be assumed, of course, that this independence has been destroyed by the
present regime.
At the end of 1944 the departments and the heads were as follows:
General Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Chemical Technology
Agricultural Chemical Technology
Soil Science
Electrochemistry
Physics and Physical Chemistry
Mineralogy
Food Chemistry
Textile Chemistry
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Jeno Plank
Laszlo Putnoky
Geza Zemplen
Jotsef Varga
Geza Binder-Kotsba
Laszlo Kotzmann
Bela Lanyi
Istvan Nary-Szabo
Aladar Vendl
Mihaly VUk
Zoltan Csuros
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Other subjects such as mathematics, chemical industrial engineering, drafting,
economics, and law were taught by professors from other faculties. Numerous
special, non-mandatory subjects were taught by docents. 50X1
Chemical engineering students received both theoretical and practical instruction.
Each laboratory was, as a rule, headed by an assistant professor. In addition
there was a staff of instructors and assistant instructors. Until the end of World
War II, diplomas issued by the faculty of chemical engineering were comprehensive;
that is, the course of instruction was not specialized as in the faculty of
mechanical engineering where students specialized in electrical engineering, heat
engineering, or agricultural engineering fields of mechanical engineering. This
was due to the fact that the undeveloped state of Hungary's chemical industry
made excessive specializatioe unnecessary. The chemical engineers left the
Technical University with e. Lood foundation in theory and practice and acquired
specialized knowledge witheut difficulty in the industry in which they found jobs.
10. The students were required to take tests in all mandatory subjects and, after
performing the required laboratory experiments, a test had to be taken in that
field also. In addition to the tests, comprehensive examinations were mandatory
at the end of the fourth, sixth, and ninth semesters. The chemical engineering
course was divided into nine semesters (14 years). Comprehensive examinations
in chemistry, chemical analysis, physics, and physical chemistry were taken after
the fourth semester; organic chemistry, manufacture of organic products, and
mineralogy after the sixth; and chemical technology, agricultural chemical technology
and electrochemistry after the ninth. Prior to the third comprehensive
examination, each student was required to prepare a dissertation in the field of
one of the subjects of the last comprehensive examination. After the examination,
the student received a diploma in Chemical Engineering. The student was under the
guidance of a professor assigned by the department head during his course of study.
11. The course was rigid. The lectures and laboratory exercises were scheduled for
the entire semester and deviations were not permitted. Attendance at the lectures
were checked by frequent roll calls, and a student who missed several laboratory
exercises was usually dropped. If the student did not complete the prescribed
laboratory ev-ercles, he had to r,.!peat the entire semester.
a.
)3.
14.
Students were admitted to the Technology University only after the completion of
four classes of elementary and eight classes of high school. They also had to
produce a certificate of Regent'S'examinationIMUSW�The d@fflAnds4ade on the
Students were very great. No ones could acquirrit&TOlom4tOitA&M?syeteiiiatic,
diligent, and devoted work. The'Technology*V0sYV EidsenetdrielisLrepatation
for the discipline and diligence ofitOstiide#ild retwgkimiiillekfi4Vnofer the high
level of instruction and the thoroughtraining-e itelrdauates. 50X1
Diplomas In ehemistry, but not in chemical eigne4icifig171Wiih'IsAued'also by the
universities of science through9ut Runeary'l tehgUCh dEgemas were also
employed in industry but primarily in 1abbri4oAri6u624othr&PrOrluction
!3. diploma ITil,hol?,
My knowledge of the department heads, based. 'gvri the following
I was well
sketches:
/. mule ne
'_:xatton and J-q: -
.,:od!!n't to the dai.ver,::
cCid s:J.ve "Juncary freLi ,
1-1,? Lent his professo:
COMMENT Mi.,'
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000300660009-6
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2014/11/04 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000300660009-6
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and equipment of the Western industries. It was impossible to undertake large- 50X1
scale research projects because Western industries had vastly superior capital
resources, The large chemical concerns, resulting from consolidation or realignment
of smaller firms set up research laboratories, but they did not compare with the
large research laboratories of the Western world. Examples are: the HUngaria Chemical
Works, Budapest; the Nitro Chemical Works, Pet; and the Hydroxygen Works, Budafok.
The large chemical concerns were largely occupied with the problems of their
respective plants and failed to publish their discoveries.
1�7 The research work conducted at the scientific institutes, universities, state
experimental stations, and other laboratories was of practical vslue primarily in
those cases in which the sites of laboratory and plant coincided. For example:
pharmaceutical, fermentation, and food industries, and in certain organic products.
le. State or industrial subsidiaries (the Szechenyi Scientific Society, the National
Scientific Fund, etc.) enabled the scientific institutions to undertake research
projects which required larger capital expenditures. In the field of inorganic
chemistry, such projects were designed primarily to promote the processing and
utilization of domestic raw materials and the subsidies were continued only as
long as the respective institute reported satisfactory research results. Projects
undertaken in the field of inorganic chemistry concerned: bauxite processing,
aluminum production, manganese ores, crude oil, natural gas, glass and porcelain
products, Hungarian iron ores, and the flotation treatment of ores, etc. Such
research activity had a promising beginning but its development was checked by
World War II.
Theoretical research activity conducted in the scientific institutions required
relatively smaller expenditures. In this field, the Hungarian scientists maintained
close contacts with the foremost foreign researchers. This was evidenced by the
numerous Hungarian papers published in major US, German and English scientific
journals. These papers dealt with a multitude of topics.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000300660009-6