Student revolt in Timișoara in 1956

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The student revolt in Timișoara ( German  Timișoara ) was a reform movement of the student body in the western Romanian city ​​of Timișoara with the aim of renewing Romanian society. It began on October 30, 1956 with a gathering of students from the Mechanical Engineering Department and ended on November 1 with the arrest of 2,000 students. A week after the start of the Hungarian People's Uprising , Romanian, Hungarian, German and other students from Timișoara took to the streets. Initially, their concern was the poor canteen food and the overcrowded dormitories , but at the gathering of around 2000 students, the distressed situation of the farmers, the exploitation of Romanian raw materials by the Soviet Union and similar grievances were addressed. After many students were arrested at the demonstration, there was no support from the workforce .

Similar protests took place in Bucharest and Cluj ( German:  Klausenburg ), which the communist regime brutally suppressed and punished. There was also unrest within the student body in Târgu Mureș and Iași . Of the student movements in Romania, the Timișoara movement was the best organized.

prehistory

After Stalin's death in March 1953, a so-called political thaw began in the Soviet Union , which the leadership in Romania only hesitantly accepted . The signals of liberalization from Moscow provoked a chain of unrest in East Central European countries , initially the uprising of June 17, 1953 in the GDR . In 1956, the Poznan uprising in Poland triggered far-reaching socio-political changes, which became a model for the reformers in Hungary on an independent path to socialism . From the perspective of the Soviet Union, the developments in Hungary resulted in a counter-revolution , which prompted them to intervene militarily.

The events in Hungary sparked a strong echo in all the states of the Eastern Bloc . Due to its location on the border with Hungary, with a multiethnic population characterized by humanistic values, the western Romanian region of Banat was very receptive to the ideals of the Hungarian Revolution . The events in the neighboring country influenced the mood of the Banat population, but did not directly trigger the outbreak of the student revolt in Timișoara in autumn 1956. The 1956 revolt was preceded by the protest rallies in November 1945 and June 1946, at which students called for the end of the Soviet occupation of the country and democratic reforms. In the years that followed, the resistance manifested itself in the destruction of propaganda material, support for the families of political prisoners, and the distribution of leaflets with content critical of the regime.

Already in spring / summer, after Khrushchev's secret speech to the delegates of the XX. At party congresses of the CPSU , at which Stalin heavily criticized Stalin, there was a rumble among the student body of Timisoara. In September, beginning with the new university year, the crisis intensified. Students openly addressed problems and expressed criticism of the politics of the state and party leadership. Alarmed by the events in Hungary, the state authorities began to take preventive measures.

procedure

  • Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

  • Agricultural and Veterinary University of the Banat

  • Victor Babes Medical and Pharmaceutical University

Prime Minister Ilie Verdeț
Deputy Prime Minister Emil Bodnăraș

On October 26, 1956, the university lecturers in Timisoara were instructed in meetings with the students to fathom their attitudes and to identify potential troublemakers. 5th year students from the Mechanical Engineering Faculty of the Timișoara Polytechnic University found out about this and met that evening to discuss measures to prevent these maneuvers. At the meeting chaired by assistant Stefan Rosinger on October 27th, over 100 5th year mechanical engineering students appeared instead of just the group specializing in steam engines. They criticized the position of the state and party leadership towards developments in Hungary and declared their solidarity with the ideals of the Hungarian youth. In addition to student-specific topics, the discussions touched the entire socio-political spectrum of Romanian society. The initiative group around Caius Muțiu , Teodor Stanca , Aurel Baghiu and Friedrich Barth used the next two days to prepare a powerful gathering of the entire Timișoara student body as well as rallies and strikes by the students. The protests were planned to be extended to include workers, peasants, intellectuals and the military. Teodor Stanca edited a memorandum with the students' demands.

The protest actions consisted mainly of four events:

Meeting of the students in the auditorium of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering on the evening of October 30, 1956

On the evening of October 30, 1956, a meeting of the rebellious students took place in the auditorium of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in front of a full hall . This session was chaired by students from this faculty. The vast majority of the participants were male. In this meeting, particularly political and administrative demands were formulated to the rulers and a street demonstration in Timișoara was decided for the next day , and the Faculty of Agronomy (Agriculture) agreed as the meeting point .

At the meeting were also Alexandru Rogojan , rector of the Polytechnic University, and Coriolanus DRAGULESCU , Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education invited. Later the party leadership's special envoy Petre Lupu , secretary of the Uniunea Tineretului Muncitoresc (UTM) ( German  Association of Working Youth ), and Prime Minister Ilie Verdeț also appeared .

The demands of the students were summarized in a memorandum. The three students who wrote the memorandum were Teodor Stanca from the Polytechnic University, Aurel Baghiu from the Medical and Pharmaceutical University, and Gheorghe Tamas from the Agricultural and Veterinary University. Soldiers surrounded the campus during the session .

Street demonstration on October 31, 1956

Solidarity rallies were held in Timișoara on October 31, 1956. After 10 a.m., a demonstration from the Agronomy department consisting of around 800 to 1000 students started moving. The participants demanded the release of their imprisoned fellow students and shouted political slogans. The way of the train went over the Begabrücke towards the center. When the train arrived at the Cathedral of the Three Holy Hierarchs , civilian Securitate employees shot guns in the air, which stopped the train. Afterwards soldiers came running with rifles and fixed bayonets and drove the participants of the demonstration onto open army trucks, in which they were brought to Becicherecu Mic ( German  Kleinbetschkerek ) and most of them were held in dormitories by soldiers for at least three days.

The military presence in Timisoara was strengthened and a politico-military command, led by Deputy Prime Minister Emil Bodnăraş, took on the task of suppressing the student revolt.

Barracks from October 31 to November 3, 1956 in Becicherecu Mic

In total, around 2000 students were arrested during the student riots in Timisoara and held in the barracks in Becicherecu Mic and in Calea Lipovei in Timisoara, where they had to renounce the movement's demands and actions in writing and demand the organizers to be punished. They were detained in the barracks (soldiers' bedroom) for three days and released on November 3rd. For most of the students, prior to their release, a local professor of Marxism gave verbal warnings in one-on-one conversations , with content such as "Ingratitude to the party and the state" etc. Then everyone detained had to sign a declaration in which he undertook to to refrain from such actions in the future. After that, most of the students were returned to Timisoara and released.

The ringleaders were sentenced to long imprisonment and forced labor

The students of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering who chaired the original session were later sentenced to long prison terms as ringleaders . Around 300 people were arrested in Timisoara and 50 were sentenced to prison terms. The writer Nikolaus Pietsch , who was sentenced to several years imprisonment and forced labor , was also affected by this . Among the students was Ioan Holender , who later became director of the Vienna State Opera .

868 students were interrogated intensively by the Securitate. Ultimately, 29 were charged with "conspiracy against social order" - an offense punishable by at least 15 years in prison but also with the death penalty. In November and December 1956 the Temeswar Military Court sentenced 26 leaders of the revolt for "public incitement" to a total of 78 years in prison, such as Caius Muțiu , Teodor Stanca and Aurel Baghiu to eight years each, Valentin Rusu to seven, Heinrich Drobny and Friedrich Barth to each six years. 81 students were de-registered, 126 received lower fines. The convicts were sent to Gherla Prison and to labor camps in the Balta Brăilei and the Danube Delta . For some students, after their release, they were forced to stay in Bărăgan , mainly in Lăteşti , for one to five years . They lived in the abandoned houses built by the Banat people who were deported to the Bărăgan Steppe between 1951 and 1956 . Several professors were dismissed or warned.

In the course of countermeasures by the Romanian authorities, student residences were cordoned off and groups of train travelers of the appropriate age groups were detained. There were around 2,000 arrests in total. Some of the students were also de-registered as a result . In addition to arresting students, the authorities reacted by interrupting lectures, dismissing professors, and establishing state student organizations to monitor their activities.

requirements

Memorandum of the Timisoara students

I. With regard to ensuring the further development of economic life in our country and stimulating the interest of the working people in the construction of socialism, we demand:

a) Final abolition of the personality cult , ensuring the self-government of the working class . Every working person should be given the opportunity to express his opinion openly on the internal problems of the country without endangering his or her personal integrity.
b) Abolition of the current system of norms which do not correspond to the factors of production that our economy possesses and which are beyond the physical capabilities of workers.
c) Substantial reduction in the duties and taxes that are ruining private farm farmers . No taxes.
d) Raising the wages of all categories of wage earners in accordance with the price level of industrial products and food. For example, since 310 lei are considered to be the subsistence level of a student, a wage of less than 600 lei cannot be accepted for a simple livelihood.
e) For the further development of education in our country, the material existence of every pupil and student should be secured by the award of scholarships - regardless of the professional orientation - and the award of special educational scholarships.

II. For the further consolidation of friendship, cooperation and mutual help between all states - relationships that must be based on the principle of equality of rights and respect for the sovereignty of each state - we demand:

a) Immediate withdrawal of the Russian troops stationed on the territory of our fatherland . Since there is no danger of capitalist encirclement and possible aggression, their presence is unfounded.
b) For a just economic policy of our state we demand the conclusion of economic agreements with all states, including the capitalist ones, which do not contain any special obligations of one state towards another, but are based on equality. These agreements should be published with full details so that the working people are informed of the conditions under which they were concluded.

III. We ask the Romanian Workers' Party and the government of the Romanian People's Republic to be guided in building socialism according to the specific situation in our country, without copying other systems.

Assuming that the above-mentioned demands have the approval of the working people of our country whose children we are, we demand that the party and government take note of them and try to meet them in order to avoid a situation like the one that arose in the Hungarian People's Republic is to avoid.

We also demand that no coercive measures be taken against those who drafted this memorandum . On the contrary, free discussions should be initiated in the institutions and factories, in which the working people can openly express their opinions on the problems that concern them. The proposals should find their expression in the decisions of the party and the government, which should lead to a happy life in our fatherland.

October 30, 1956 The Timisoara students

Memorandum (continued)

1) Cancel Russian lessons or elective

2) Open lectures

3) Two years of compulsory tuition in Marxism and Political Economy should be taken in middle school education.

4) Physical education only elective

5) The rural students should be granted scholarships regardless of their material situation.

6) Freedom of the press and expression

7) Reduction of the canteen price to 150 lei

8) If we do not receive an answer within three days of Saturday, then from Monday and further on we will not go to the lectures

Further demands

Not included in the memorandum, but concerns expressed publicly by the students during the general meeting were:

  1. The students should be allowed to have their own weekly newspaper or magazine, which they manage themselves and in which every student can express himself freely.
  2. The right to criticize should be possible.
  3. Self-determination: The autonomy of the universities and the right of students to have a say in their own cause.
  4. The right to found an association : The right of students to found their own association.
  5. Redesign of curricula: rationalization of courses.
  6. Real voluntariness: Patriotic work should be done outside of the curriculum; no lessons should be canceled in favor of patriotic missions.
  7. Discipline of the militia: The right to file a complaint against the arbitrariness of the militia should be guaranteed.
  8. Free sale of main foodstuffs: Abolition of ration cards
  9. Freedom of travel : Travel to countries of the Eastern Bloc and the possibility of exchanging Eastern currencies should be made possible.
  10. The right to document oneself: Access to technical reports, technical journals and specialist books from the West should be secured.

consequences

At first sight, the student uprising in Timisoara was suppressed, but the consequences were far-reaching. The leadership of the Ministry of Education was changed. The student union gained in importance and soon brought out its own magazine. The compulsory Russian lessons were removed from the curriculum and were henceforth only an optional subject. Air defense exercises were suspended for a year and student paramilitary training was reduced. From 1957 Ion Gheorghe Maurer initiated profound changes in Romania's domestic and foreign policy - first as Foreign Minister and Head of State, from 1961 as Prime Minister. After the economic expert Alexandru Bârlădeanu was commissioned to coordinate the economy, the material situation of the population improved noticeably in the following years. It was decided to increase wages by 15 percent and in January 1957 the farmers were exempted from compulsory levies on agricultural products. In the summer of 1958, the Soviet troops left the country. Romania experienced a period of political thaw between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s .

Commemoration

At the end of October 2006, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the demonstrations, a commemorative event in the University of the West Timișoara and a scientific symposium in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering on the subject of anti-communist resistance in Romania from 1945 to 1989 took place in Timișoara .

literature

Fiction :

  • Nikolaus Pietsch: Silver thistle . Contemporary witness report, autobiographical novel, Pietsch took part in the uprising of the Timisoara students and was sentenced to several years imprisonment and forced labor.

Web links

  • Freitag.de , Uwe Detemple: 1956. The Temeswar student movement and the vision of a third way
  • banaterra.eu , Uwe Detemple: The Temeswar student revolt of 1956
  • banaterra.eu , Uwe Detemple: "To avoid a situation like in Hungary." The catalog of demands of the Timisoara student movement from 1956.
  • romanialibera.ro , Trei mii de studenti timisoreni, arestati si torturati , Romậnia Liberặ, October 25, 2007 (Romanian)
  • bihoreanul.ro , Raluca Avram: Capul Rặzvrặtiṭilor , Bihoreanul, November 14, 2006 (Romanian)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b hsozkult.geschichte.hu-berlin.de , Institute for German Culture and History of Southeast Europe at the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich in cooperation with the Faculty of History of the Babeș-Bolyai University Cluj , Ioana Florea: Timişoara riots in autumn 1956 , in: Mariana Hausleitner : From thaw to frost. German and other minorities in Southeastern Europe 1953–1963 , November 2007
  2. ↑ a b sevenbuerger.de , focus on contemporary history: "Hungary 1956", from February 3, 2007
  3. ↑ Johanna Granville, (in English) If Hope is Sin, Then We Are All Guilty: Romanian Students' Reactions to the Hungarian Revolution and Soviet Intervention, 1956-1958 , Carl Beck Paper, no.1905 (April 2008): 1- 78.
  4. ↑ a b memorialsighet.ro , Museum: Room 49 - 1956 - Student Movement in Romania
  5. ↑ a b c d e f g h banaterra.eu ( Memento from March 2, 2014 in the Internet Archive ), Uwe Detemple : The Temeswarer student revolt of 1956 , October 20, 2011
  6. ↑ a b romanialibera.ro ( Memento of October 3, 2012 in the Internet Archive ), Trei mii de studenti timisoreni, arestati si torturati , Romậnia Liberặ, October 25, 2007 (Romanian)
  7. ↑ nauy.de ( Memento from June 22, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 3.1 MB), Dieter Michelbach: Dr. Hans Gehl - 50 years chair of German language and literature in Temeswar
  8. ↑ sevenbuerger.de , Dieter Wiume: Hardly any Germans in the uprising in Timișoara 1956 , from May 3, 2007
  9. ^ Halbjahresschrift.homepage.t-online.de , Mariana Hausleitner : Political Resistance in Romania before 1989 , 1996
  10. ↑ sevenbuerger.de , Walter Klemm: Effects of the Hungarian Uprising in 1956 on the Banat , from November 1, 2006
  11. ↑ Memoriu din partea studenţilor din Timişoara ( memorandum of Timisoara students ). Original in the archive of the Military Court of Timişoara (Arhiva Tribunalului Militar Timişoara, dosar 3624, vol. I / Tm, f. 4), translation from Romanian: Uwe Detemple
  12. ↑ banaterra.eu , Karl Ludwig Lupşiasca: Was the student movement of 1956 anti-Communist?
  13. ↑ Ziua de Vest , October 27, 2006
  14. ↑ Siebenbuerger Zeitung, Volume 4 of March 15, 2007, p. 9