Targeted by the Hungarian State Security : South Slavs and Ethnic Hungarians from Vojvodina in the Baja Triangle, 1948–1953

Vukman, Péter (2025) Targeted by the Hungarian State Security : South Slavs and Ethnic Hungarians from Vojvodina in the Baja Triangle, 1948–1953. Tokovi istorije, 33 (3). pp. 257-284. ISSN 0354-6497 (nyomtatott); 2560-547X (online)

Text 08 Vukman 257-284.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only until 31 December 2026. Download (181kB)

Abstract

The escalation of the Soviet–Yugoslav conflict had a fundamental impact on the South Slavic minorities in Hungary, too. They were generally regarded by the state security and law enforcement agencies as unreliable and as “Tito's fifth column.” The State Protection Authority (Államvédelmi Hatóság, ÁVH) began closely monitoring the villages of the Baja Triangle and the South Slavs living there. They were considered unreliable elements and it was assumed that because of their ethnicity, all of them would support Yugoslavia and the Yugoslav leaders in the conflict. However, their relations to the ÁVH were rather complex. This article highlights some aspects of this complex relationship in the so-called Baja Triangle border region, which had primary importance from a state security perspective. Based on Hungarian archival documents, this article attempts to reveal the criteria used and the tasks for which the South Slavs living here were to be recruited. Then, it examines the trials against South Slavs. It also focuses on those Hungarians who moved from Yugoslavia to Hungary in the final years of or shortly after World War II. As they originated from Yugoslavia, they were considered unreliable by the State Protection Authority just like the South Slavs. The article briefly touches upon their fate after 1953, too.

Actions (login required)

Edit Item