„…I Want to Be a Practical Civil Servant…” Letters of Endre Bajcsy-Zsilinszky to Parents from Alsókubin (1912–1914)

The documents published here and held in the Manuscript Archive of the National Széchényi Library in Budapest (Hungary), recall the first stage (1912–1914) of Endre Bajcsy-Zsilinszky´s public administration carrier spent in Alsókubin (today Dolný Kubín, Slovakia). The Hungarian politician and journalist was executed by the national socialist Nyilas (Arrow Cross) regime in 1944. Beyond reflecting the views and visions, the actual state of mind and everyday life of a young man—who would later become renowned, but who was at the time escaping repercussions of the Áchim-case—, his seven letters addressed to his parents allow an insight also into the troubled affairs of an assimilated gentry family. These sources—so far not published–bear witness to the pillars of the future politician´s racist ideology, show the operational mechanisms of the Hungarian public administration spending its last decade, its social-political life and internal affairs. The interpretation of the sources´ excerpts is supported by an introductory study.

Ákos Bartha   32-051

„…I Want to Be a Practical Civil Servant…” Letters of Endre        929 Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Endre

Bajcsy-Zsilinszky to Parents from Alsókubin (1912–1914)         94(437.6)”1912/1914”

Keywords: Endre Bajcsy-Zsilinszky, Alsókubin (Dolný Kubín), Árva (Orava) County, Békés County, assimilation, ethnic issue, racism, dualism, social history.