On Sunday, the deportation of ethnic Germans was remembered in Hungary for the second time. It was on this day in 1946 that the first wagon set out from Budaörs, marking the beginning of the deportation of the German minorities living in Hungary.
Minister of State for Church and Minority Affairs György Hölvényi spoke at the event in Budaörs, stating that minorities in Hungary contributed significantly to the country’s culture, economy, art and science, adding that Hungary's Government feels it has a duty to preserve and develop the cultural values of these ethnic groups.
At the event, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s statement, which he issued to emphasise the irreplaceable loss suffered by the nation because of the deportation of ethnic Germans 68 years ago, was also read, The Prime Minister stated that Hungary needs to adopt a "culture of remembering", which helps reconciliation, adding that an element of this could be realised in 2014 when ethnic Germans, through their duly elected representative according to the new parliamentary system, will have the opportunity to address the Hungarian Parliament in their first language.
Prime Minister Orbán recalled that on 19 January 1946, German Hungarians being deported in cattle wagons to Germany hoisted the Hungarian flag with the words, "Farewell, our homeland!".
Minister of State Hölvényi underlined that any past or present deed that results in people – or even an entire ethnic group – being disinherited by the nation, can be regarded as self-mutilation. All the sacrifices they made for the sake of the country’s revival and their outstanding actions were reduced to nothing by this deed, he added, referring to the events that happened 68 years ago.
Chairman of the Self-administration of Ethnic Germans in Hungary Ottó Heinek pointed out that genuine confrontation with the past and the issue of responsibility would help present and future generations to live in this country in a truly European manner.
The Memorial Day was established in 2012.
(Ministry of Human Resources)
