Bonyhád
Encyclopedia
Bonyhád is a town in Tolna County in Southwestern Hungary
. It is governed by a city council and a mayor. The current mayor of Bonyhád is Arpad Potapi who has served in this capacity since 2002.
Bonyhád is home to the Völgység Museum. The town's population is served by a Roman Catholic church and a Lutheran church. The remains of the town's two Synagogues are still visible. Various sporting facilities and three high school/college compounds along with the City Hospital currently serve the residents. Telephone service is provided by Bonicom Kft. Gas service is provided by Futomu Kft and water by Vizmu Reszleg.
The town's ethnic composition includes Hungarians, Germans
, Szekely
and Roma. In the years leading to World War II
, Bonyhád had a sizable Jewish population. In 1941, Jews
constituted approximately 14% of the total population. The community was divided between Orthodox
and Reform
traditions and Aaron Pressburger was the chief Orthodox rabbi. After the occupation of Hungary
by the German army in March 1944, Jews were isolated and their property was confiscated. In May 1944, the Jewish population was estimated at around 1,300. In June 1944, the Jewish communities of Bonyhád and surrounding villages were moved to the two ghettos in Bonyhád and in July 1944, these communities were deported to Auschwitz. In October 1944, approximately 1,200 Jewish labor servicemen were massacred by the SS in Bonyhád. While efforts were made to reestablish the two Jewish communities after the war, there were only 4 Jewish families left in the town by 1963.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. It is governed by a city council and a mayor. The current mayor of Bonyhád is Arpad Potapi who has served in this capacity since 2002.
Bonyhád is home to the Völgység Museum. The town's population is served by a Roman Catholic church and a Lutheran church. The remains of the town's two Synagogues are still visible. Various sporting facilities and three high school/college compounds along with the City Hospital currently serve the residents. Telephone service is provided by Bonicom Kft. Gas service is provided by Futomu Kft and water by Vizmu Reszleg.
The town's ethnic composition includes Hungarians, Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, Szekely
Székely
The Székelys or Székely , sometimes also referred to as Szeklers , are a subgroup of the Hungarian people living mostly in the Székely Land, an ethno-cultural region in eastern Transylvania, Romania...
and Roma. In the years leading to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Bonyhád had a sizable Jewish population. In 1941, Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
constituted approximately 14% of the total population. The community was divided between Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
and Reform
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
traditions and Aaron Pressburger was the chief Orthodox rabbi. After the occupation of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
by the German army in March 1944, Jews were isolated and their property was confiscated. In May 1944, the Jewish population was estimated at around 1,300. In June 1944, the Jewish communities of Bonyhád and surrounding villages were moved to the two ghettos in Bonyhád and in July 1944, these communities were deported to Auschwitz. In October 1944, approximately 1,200 Jewish labor servicemen were massacred by the SS in Bonyhád. While efforts were made to reestablish the two Jewish communities after the war, there were only 4 Jewish families left in the town by 1963.