Hungarians in Austria
Encyclopedia
The Hungarian community in Austria numbers 25,884 according to the 2001 Census. Of these, 10,686 were in Vienna
and 4,704 in Burgenland
. The total number of Hungarian-speakers
is estimated at around 40,000, with 6,600 in Burgenland. Most of the Burgenland Hungarians live near the two district capitals of Oberwart
/Felsőőr and Oberpullendorf
/Felsőpulya. The Hungarian Group Advisory Council is the oldest of the official minority advisory councils in Austria.
. Burgenland place names contain the elements 'Schutzen' or 'Wart' ( as in Obserschutzen, Unterwart etc.) constituting the linguistic testimony of that historic period. (In the following centuries many of these early inhabitants assimilated into the German-speaking
population of Western Hungary.) Hungarians had maintained their privileged status until 1848. Burgenland was under Hungarian rule until the 1920 Treaty of Trianon
. Hungarian education continued in the interwar period in a number of municipalities. Economic decline in Burgenland after World War II
led to emigration. The negative image (see Iron Curtain
) of the Hungarian language
by this time led to assimilation.
As a result of the recognition of the Viennese Hungarians (1992) as a part of the Hungarian minority, the Hungarian minority is composed of two parts, namely the Burgenland Hungarians and the Hungarians living in the Vienna region.
. Towards the end of the 17th century the city became a key cultural center for Hungarians. Hungarian students graduated from the Vienna University and from the 17th century onwards there was an increasing influx of Hungarian craftsmen into Vienna. The first cultural associations were set up in Vienna in the 1860s, and the community numbered as many as 100,000. After World War I
the population sharply decreased, but refugees from Hungary increased the numbers again in 1945
, 1948 and 1956.
The first two groups were largely absorbed after World War II
, especially as a result of industrialisation
after 1955. When German was introduced as the official language, Hungarian was only used on a rather restricted level, mostly spoken within the family. In the post-war school system Hungarian was taught as a foreign language for 2–3 hours per week even in communities with a Hungarian majority.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and 4,704 in Burgenland
Burgenland
Burgenland is the easternmost and least populous state or Land of Austria. It consists of two Statutarstädte and seven districts with in total 171 municipalities. It is 166 km long from north to south but much narrower from west to east...
. The total number of Hungarian-speakers
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
is estimated at around 40,000, with 6,600 in Burgenland. Most of the Burgenland Hungarians live near the two district capitals of Oberwart
Oberwart
Oberwart or Felsőőr is a town in Burgenland in southeast Austria on the banks of the Pinka River, and the capital of the district of the same name...
/Felsőőr and Oberpullendorf
Oberpullendorf
Oberpullendorf is a town in Burgenland, Austria. It is the administrative center of the district of Oberpullendorf.- Geography :Oberpullendorf is situated in the middle of the Burgenland, in the valley of the Stooberbach. The town is divided into Mitterpullendorf and Oberpullendorf.- History :The...
/Felsőpulya. The Hungarian Group Advisory Council is the oldest of the official minority advisory councils in Austria.
History
Hungarians of Burgenland are the descendants of frontier guards sent during the eleventh century to protect the Kingdom of HungaryKingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
. Burgenland place names contain the elements 'Schutzen' or 'Wart' ( as in Obserschutzen, Unterwart etc.) constituting the linguistic testimony of that historic period. (In the following centuries many of these early inhabitants assimilated into the German-speaking
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
population of Western Hungary.) Hungarians had maintained their privileged status until 1848. Burgenland was under Hungarian rule until the 1920 Treaty of Trianon
Treaty of Trianon
The Treaty of Trianon was the peace agreement signed in 1920, at the end of World War I, between the Allies of World War I and Hungary . The treaty greatly redefined and reduced Hungary's borders. From its borders before World War I, it lost 72% of its territory, which was reduced from to...
. Hungarian education continued in the interwar period in a number of municipalities. Economic decline in Burgenland after 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...
led to emigration. The negative image (see Iron Curtain
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
) of the Hungarian language
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
by this time led to assimilation.
As a result of the recognition of the Viennese Hungarians (1992) as a part of the Hungarian minority, the Hungarian minority is composed of two parts, namely the Burgenland Hungarians and the Hungarians living in the Vienna region.
Viennese Hungarians
Hungarians established a community in Vienna from 1541 following the 1526 battle of MohácsBattle of Mohács
The Battle of Mohács was fought on August 29, 1526 near Mohács, Hungary. In the battle, forces of the Kingdom of Hungary led by King Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia were defeated by forces of the Ottoman Empire led by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent....
. Towards the end of the 17th century the city became a key cultural center for Hungarians. Hungarian students graduated from the Vienna University and from the 17th century onwards there was an increasing influx of Hungarian craftsmen into Vienna. The first cultural associations were set up in Vienna in the 1860s, and the community numbered as many as 100,000. After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the population sharply decreased, but refugees from Hungary increased the numbers again in 1945
Hungary during World War II
Hungary during World War II was a member of the Axis powers. In the 1930s, the Kingdom of Hungary relied on increased trade with Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany to pull itself out of the Great Depression. By 1938, Hungarian politics and foreign policy had become increasingly pro-Fascist Italian and...
, 1948 and 1956.
Burgenland Hungarians
The Hungarians of Burgenland were split into four groups prior to the 1921 annexation of Burgenland:- Seewinkel region (Neusiedl District)
- District municipalities including the future capital EisenstadtEisenstadt- Politics :The current mayor of Eisenstadt is Andrea Fraunschiel ÖVP.The district council is composed as follows :* ÖVP: 17 seats* SPÖ: 8 seats* Austrian Green Party: 2 seats* FPÖ: 2 seats- Castles and palaces :...
- Oberpullendorf and Mitterpullendorf
- The (Obere) Wart with the settlements of Oberwart and Unterwart as well as Siget in der Wart.
The first two groups were largely absorbed after 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...
, especially as a result of industrialisation
Industrialisation
Industrialization is the process of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agrarian society into an industrial one...
after 1955. When German was introduced as the official language, Hungarian was only used on a rather restricted level, mostly spoken within the family. In the post-war school system Hungarian was taught as a foreign language for 2–3 hours per week even in communities with a Hungarian majority.
Religion
Two-thirds of Hungarians in Burgenland were Roman Catholic in 2004, Lutheran and Calvinist communities are also notable.External links
- Hungarian Cultural Fellowship in Burgenland
- Bécsi Napló Magazine for Hungarians in Austria