Debrecen
Encyclopedia
Debrecen (ˈdɛbrɛtsɛn, known by alternative names
), is the second largest city in Hungary
after Budapest
. Debrecen is the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain
region
and the seat of Hajdú-Bihar
county.
origin. In other languages the name of the city is the following : German
Debrezin, Serbian
Debr(e)cin Slovak
Debrecín, Romanian
Debreţin.
_downtown.jpg)
Debrecen is located on the Great Hungarian Plain, 220 km (137 mi) east of Budapest. Situated nearby is the Hortobágy
, a national park within Hungary .
The city used to be somewhat isolated from Budapest, Hungary's main transport hub. However, the completion of the motorway M35
means Budapest can now be reached in under two hours. Debrecen Airport
(the second largest in Hungary) has recently undergone modernisation in order to be able to handle more international flights, although almost all flights to and from Hungary still use Budapest's Ferihegy Airport
. There have also been improvements to some parts of the railway between the capital and Debrecen as part of Hungary's mainly EU
-funded National Development Plan for 2004 to 2006.
Debrecen's proximity to Ukraine
and Romania
enables it to develop as an important trade centre and transport hub for the wider international region.
Local transport in the city consists of buses, trolleybuses and trams. It is provided by the DKV
(Debreceni Közlekedési Vállalat). Nearby towns and villages are linked to the city by Hajdú Volán
bus services.
Before Hungarians founded Hungary a number of different tribes lived in the area. The town came into existence after some of the small villages of the area (Boldogasszonyfalva, Szentlászlófalva and Debreczun) merged. It experienced rapid development after the middle of the 13th century.
In 1361 Louis I of Hungary granted the citizens of Debrecen the right to choose the town's judge and council. This provided some opportunities for self-government for the town. By the early 16th century Debrecen was an important market town.
King Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
, as part of a treaty with Serbia
n ruler Stefan Lazarević
, gave him the opportunity to rule Debrecen in September of 1411. A year after Lazarević's death in 1426, his role was taken over by his successor, Đurađ Branković. Between 1450 and 1507, it was a domain of the Hunyadi
family.
During the Ottoman period, being close to the border and having no castle or city walls, Debrecen often found itself in difficult situations and the town was saved only by the diplomatic skills of its leaders. Sometimes the town was protected by the Ottoman empire, sometimes by the Catholic European rulers or by Francis II Rákóczi
, prince of Transylvania
. This led the town's citizens to be open-minded and Debrecen embraced the Protestant Reformation
quite early, earning the moniker "Calvinist Rome". At this period the inhabitants of the town were mainly Hungarian Calvinists
. Debrecen became sanjak between 1541 and 1693 and orderly bounded to eyalets of Budin (1541–1596), Eğri
(1596–1660) and Varat
(1660–1693) as "Debreçin".
In 1693 Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
elevated Debrecen to free royal town status. In 1715, the Roman Catholic Church
returned to Debrecen, and the town gave them a place to build a church, so the Piarist monks could build the St. Anna Cathedral. By this time the town was an important cultural, commercial and agricultural centre, and many future scholars and poets attended its Protestant College (a predecessor of today's University of Debrecen
and also of Debrecen Reformed Theological University
).
In 1849 Debrecen was the capital of Hungary for a short time when the Hungarian revolutionary government fled there from Pest-Buda (modern-day Budapest.) In April 1849, the dethronization of Habsburgs (neglected after the fall of the revolution) and the independence of Hungary was proclaimed here by Lajos Kossuth
at the Great (Calvinist) Church (Nagytemplom in Hungarian.) The last battle of the war of independence was also close to Debrecen. The Russians, allied to Habsburgs, defeated the Hungarian army close to the western part of the town.
After the war, Debrecen slowly began to prosper again. In 1857 the railway line between Budapest and Debrecen was completed, and Debrecen soon became a railway junction. New schools, hospitals, churches, factories, mills were built, banks and insurance companies settled in the city. The appearance of the city began to improve too: with new, taller buildings, parks and beautiful villas it no longer resembled a provincial town and began to look like a modern city. In 1884 Debrecen became the first Hungarian city to have a steam tramway.
After World War I
, Hungary lost a considerable portion of its eastern territory to Romania
, and Debrecen once again became situated close to the border of the country. It was occupied by the Romania
n army for a short time in 1919. Tourism provided a way for the city to begin to prosper again. Many buildings (among them an indoor swimming pool and Hungary's first stadium) were built in the central park, the Nagyerdő ("Big Forest"), providing recreational facilities. The building of the university was completed. Hortobágy, a large pasture owned by the city, became a tourist attraction.
During World War II
, Debrecen was almost completely destroyed, 70% of the buildings suffered damage, 50% of them were completely destroyed. A major battle involving combined arms, including several hundred tanks (Battle of Debrecen
), occurred near the city in October 1944. After 1944 the reconstruction began and Debrecen became the capital of Hungary for a short time once again. The citizens began to rebuild their city, trying to restore its pre-war status, but the new, Communist government of Hungary had other plans. The institutions and estates of the city were taken into public ownership, private property was taken away. This forced change of the old system brought new losses to Debrecen; half of its area was annexed to nearby towns, and the city also lost its rights over Hortobágy. In 1952 two new villages – Ebes
and Nagyhegyes
– were formed from former parts of Debrecen, while in 1981 the nearby village Józsa was annexed to the city. The newly built blocks of flats provided housing for those who lost their homes during the war. In the following decades Debrecen was the third largest city of Hungary (behind Budapest and Miskolc
), and became the second largest in the 1990s when the population of Miskolc decreased.
Only 20 years later were they allowed to purchase land and homes. By 1919 they were 10% of the population (with over 10,000 community members listed) and owning almost half of the large properties in and around the town.
The Hungarian antisemitic laws of 1938 caused many businesses to close, and in 1939 many Jews were drafted into forced labor groups and sent to the Ukraine, where many died in minefields.
In 1940 the Germans estimated that 12,000 Jews were left in the town. In 1941 Jews of Galician and Polish origin were expelled, reducing the number of Jews to 9142. In 1942 more Jews were drafted into the Hungarian forced labor groups and sent to the Ukraine.
German forces entered the city in March 20, 1944 (Two and a half weeks before Passover) ordering a Judenrat (Jewish Council) headed by Rabbi Pal (Meir) Weisz, and a Jewish police squad was formed, headed by former army captain Bela Lusztbaum. On March 30 (a week before Passover) the Jews were ordered to wear the Yellow star of David. Jewish cars were confiscated and phone lines cut. During the Passover week, many Jewish dignitaries were taken to a nearby prison camp, eventually reaching the number of 300 prisoners. A week later all Jewish stores were closed, and a public book-burning of Jewish books was presided by the antisemitic newspaper editor Mihaly Kalosvari Borska.
An order to erect a ghetto was issued on April 28, in the name of the town mayor Sandor Kolscey, who opposed the act, and was ousted by the Germans. Jews were forced to build the Ghetto walls, finishing it within less than a month on May 15.
On June 7, all movement in or out of the Ghetto was prohibited and a week later all Debrecen Jews were deported to the nearby Serly brickyards, and stripped of their belongings, joining Jews from other areas.
10 families of prominent Jews, including those of Rabbi Weisz and orthodox chief Rabbi Strasser, along with the heads of the Zionist (non orthodox) movement joined the Kasztner train. (According to some sources, the Strasshoff camps where filled with Jews for negotiations in case the Germans could receive something for releasing these Jews, among them 6841 from Debrecen.) 298 of these Debrecen Jews where shot by the SS in Bavaria, after being told they would reach Theresienstadt. Some young Debrecen Jews escaped the town, lead by the highschool principal Adoniyahu Billitzer and reached Budapest, joining resistance movements and partisans.
Most of the remaining Debrecen Jews where deported to Auschwitz, reaching there on July 3, 1944.
Debrecen was liberated by the Soviet Army on 20 October 1944. Some 4000 Jews of Debrecen and its surroundings survived the war, creating a community of 4640 in 1946 - the largest in the region. About 400 of those moved to Israel, and many others moved to the west by 1970, with 1200 Jews left in the town, using two synagogues, one of them established prior to WWI.
Religions
and Oradea
(Hu: Nagyvárad, now in Romania
). In 1949/1950 several departments of the University were shut down, due to Communist takeover, with many students and teachers being expelled. The University of Debrecen
, as it is now called is still widely recognized work of architecture (mostly thanks to its main building). The university has many departments and is a major research facility in Europe.
In the second half of the 19th century, the Debrecen press attracted several notable figures to the city. Endre Ady
, Gyula Krúdy
and Árpád Tóth
all began their journalistic careers in Debrecen. Prominent literary figures from the city have included Magda Szabó
, and Gábor Oláh. One of Hungary's best known poets, Mihály Csokonai Vitéz
, was born and lived in the city. The city's theatre, built in 1865, was named in his honour in 1916, but can trace its roots back to the National Theatre Company founded in Debrecen in 1789, which at first gave performances in the carthouse of an inn. Celebrated actress Lujza Blaha is amongst those to have performed there.
Debrecen has a flourishing music scene, and is home to Tankcsapda
, one of Hungary's most popular and successful rock bands. There is also a rock school in the city offer training and mentoring to young musicians. Classic media in the city include the newspaper Napló, two TV channels, a range of local radio stations and several companies and associations producing media material.
Debrecen is the site of an important choral competition, the Bela Bartok
International Choir Competition, and is a member city of the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing
. Every August the city plays host to a flower festival.
, which currently has the best recent record in Hungary. Its results include winning the national championship in the consecutive seasons of 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2006/2007, 2008/2009 and 2009/2010. The stadium
, which seats more than 10,000, is on Oláh Gábor street, in the City Park (Nagyerdő). The home color of the team is red, while the away color is white. There are currently plans for a large new stadium
to be built in the city, which will serve as Debrecen VSC's home ground.
The city has hosted several international sporting events in recent years, such as the second World Youth Championships in Athletics
in July 2001 and the first IAAF World Road Running Championships
in October 2006. The 2007 European SC Swimming Championships
and World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
of 2002 also took place in Debrecen. Most recently, the city hosted the 19th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship in October 2010.
The city was an official applicant to host the inaugural Youth Olympic Games
in 2010, but lost out to Singapore
.
with:
Names of European cities in different languages
Many cities in Europe have different names in different languages. Some cities have also undergone name changes for political or other reasons. This article attempts to give all known different names for all major cities that are geographically or historically and culturally in Europe...
), is the second largest city in 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...
after Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. Debrecen is the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain
Northern Great Plain
Northern Great Plain is a statistical region of Hungary. It is part of Great Plain and North region. Northern Great Plain includes the counties of Hajdú-Bihar, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg. It is also one of the largest plains in the world with an area of about 3000 square...
region
Regions of Hungary
There are seven statistical regions of Hungary created in 1999 by the Law 1999/XCII amending Law 1996/XXI. Regions are groupings of the 19 counties and the capital city....
and the seat of Hajdú-Bihar
Hajdú-Bihar
Hajdú-Bihar is an administrative county in eastern Hungary, on the border with Romania. It shares borders with the Hungarian counties Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok and Békés. The capital of Hajdú-Bihar county is Debrecen...
county.
Name
The city was first mentioned by the name "Debrezun" in 1235. Theories say the name is of CumanCumans
The Cumans were Turkic nomadic people comprising the western branch of the Cuman-Kipchak confederation. After Mongol invasion , they decided to seek asylum in Hungary, and subsequently to Bulgaria...
origin. In other languages the name of the city is the following : German
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....
Debrezin, Serbian
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
Debr(e)cin Slovak
Slovak language
Slovak , is an Indo-European language that belongs to the West Slavic languages .Slovak is the official language of Slovakia, where it is spoken by 5 million people...
Debrecín, Romanian
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
Debreţin.
Climate
Location and transport infrastructure
Hortobágy
Hortobágy is both the name of a village in Hajdú-Bihar county and an 800 km² national park in Eastern Hungary, rich with folklore and cultural history. The park, a part of the Alföld , was designated as a national park in 1973 , and elected among the World Heritage sites in 1999...
, a national park within Hungary .
The city used to be somewhat isolated from Budapest, Hungary's main transport hub. However, the completion of the motorway M35
M35 motorway (Hungary)
The 22 mile M35 motorway is a motorway in Eastern Hungary which connects the M3 motorway with the city of Debrecen, providing it with a direct motorway link to the capital, Budapest....
means Budapest can now be reached in under two hours. Debrecen Airport
Debrecen International Airport
Debrecen International Airport is one of the five international airports in Hungary, located south southwest of Debrecen.- History :The history of Debrecen Airport goes back to the early 20th Century. The first official regular flight carrying mail took off in 1930. Subsequently the Airport...
(the second largest in Hungary) has recently undergone modernisation in order to be able to handle more international flights, although almost all flights to and from Hungary still use Budapest's Ferihegy Airport
Budapest Ferihegy International Airport
Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport , formerly known as Budapest Ferihegy International Airport, is the international airport serving the Hungarian capital city of Budapest, and the largest of the country's five international airports. The airport offers international connections primarily...
. There have also been improvements to some parts of the railway between the capital and Debrecen as part of Hungary's mainly EU
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
-funded National Development Plan for 2004 to 2006.
Debrecen's proximity to Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
enables it to develop as an important trade centre and transport hub for the wider international region.
Local transport in the city consists of buses, trolleybuses and trams. It is provided by the DKV
Public transport in Debrecen
Public transport in Debrecen, Hungary, is provided by DKV...
(Debreceni Közlekedési Vállalat). Nearby towns and villages are linked to the city by Hajdú Volán
Public transport in Debrecen
Public transport in Debrecen, Hungary, is provided by DKV...
bus services.
History
In 1361 Louis I of Hungary granted the citizens of Debrecen the right to choose the town's judge and council. This provided some opportunities for self-government for the town. By the early 16th century Debrecen was an important market town.
King Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
, as part of a treaty with Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n ruler Stefan Lazarević
Stefan Lazarevic
Stefan Lazarević known also as Stevan the Tall was a Serbian Despot, ruler of the Serbian Despotate between 1389 and 1427. He was the son and heir to Prince Lazar, who died at the Battle of Kosovo against the Turks in 1389, and Princess Milica from the subordinate branch of the Nemanjić dynasty...
, gave him the opportunity to rule Debrecen in September of 1411. A year after Lazarević's death in 1426, his role was taken over by his successor, Đurađ Branković. Between 1450 and 1507, it was a domain of the Hunyadi
Hunyadi
Hunyadi may refer to:* Hunyadi family, a Hungarian noble family from the Middle Ages* John Hunyadi, a Hungarian general and Regent-Governor of the Kingdom of Hungary* Laszlo Hunyadi, a Hungarian statesman* Matthias Corvinus , King of Hungary...
family.
During the Ottoman period, being close to the border and having no castle or city walls, Debrecen often found itself in difficult situations and the town was saved only by the diplomatic skills of its leaders. Sometimes the town was protected by the Ottoman empire, sometimes by the Catholic European rulers or by Francis II Rákóczi
Francis II Rákóczi
Francis II Rákóczi Hungarian aristocrat, he was the leader of the Hungarian uprising against the Habsburgs in 1703-11 as the prince of the Estates Confederated for Liberty of the Kingdom of Hungary. He was also Prince of Transylvania, an Imperial Prince, and a member of the Order of the Golden...
, prince of Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
. This led the town's citizens to be open-minded and Debrecen embraced the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
quite early, earning the moniker "Calvinist Rome". At this period the inhabitants of the town were mainly Hungarian Calvinists
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
. Debrecen became sanjak between 1541 and 1693 and orderly bounded to eyalets of Budin (1541–1596), Eğri
Eger
Eger is the second largest city in Northern Hungary, the county seat of Heves, east of the Mátra Mountains. Eger is best known for its castle, thermal baths, historic buildings , and red and white wines.- Name :...
(1596–1660) and Varat
Oradea
Oradea is the capital city of Bihor County, in the Crișana region of north-western Romania. The city has a population of 204,477, according to the 2009 estimates. The wider Oradea metropolitan area has a total population of 245,832.-Geography:...
(1660–1693) as "Debreçin".
In 1693 Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
| style="float:right;" | Leopold I was a Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. A member of the Habsburg family, he was the second son of Emperor Ferdinand III and his first wife, Maria Anna of Spain. His maternal grandparents were Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria...
elevated Debrecen to free royal town status. In 1715, the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
returned to Debrecen, and the town gave them a place to build a church, so the Piarist monks could build the St. Anna Cathedral. By this time the town was an important cultural, commercial and agricultural centre, and many future scholars and poets attended its Protestant College (a predecessor of today's University of Debrecen
University of Debrecen
The University of Debrecen is a university located in Debrecen, Hungary. It is the oldest continuously operating institution of higher education in Hungary .-History:...
and also of Debrecen Reformed Theological University
Debrecen Reformed Theological University
The Debrecen Reformed Theological University , in English translation also known as Debrecen University of Reformed Theology is originated from the Debrecen Reformed College of historical importance...
).
In 1849 Debrecen was the capital of Hungary for a short time when the Hungarian revolutionary government fled there from Pest-Buda (modern-day Budapest.) In April 1849, the dethronization of Habsburgs (neglected after the fall of the revolution) and the independence of Hungary was proclaimed here by Lajos Kossuth
Lajos Kossuth
Lajos Kossuth de Udvard et Kossuthfalva was a Hungarian lawyer, journalist, politician and Regent-President of Hungary in 1849. He was widely honored during his lifetime, including in the United Kingdom and the United States, as a freedom fighter and bellwether of democracy in Europe.-Family:Lajos...
at the Great (Calvinist) Church (Nagytemplom in Hungarian.) The last battle of the war of independence was also close to Debrecen. The Russians, allied to Habsburgs, defeated the Hungarian army close to the western part of the town.
After the war, Debrecen slowly began to prosper again. In 1857 the railway line between Budapest and Debrecen was completed, and Debrecen soon became a railway junction. New schools, hospitals, churches, factories, mills were built, banks and insurance companies settled in the city. The appearance of the city began to improve too: with new, taller buildings, parks and beautiful villas it no longer resembled a provincial town and began to look like a modern city. In 1884 Debrecen became the first Hungarian city to have a steam tramway.
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...
, Hungary lost a considerable portion of its eastern territory to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, and Debrecen once again became situated close to the border of the country. It was occupied by the Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n army for a short time in 1919. Tourism provided a way for the city to begin to prosper again. Many buildings (among them an indoor swimming pool and Hungary's first stadium) were built in the central park, the Nagyerdő ("Big Forest"), providing recreational facilities. The building of the university was completed. Hortobágy, a large pasture owned by the city, became a tourist attraction.
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...
, Debrecen was almost completely destroyed, 70% of the buildings suffered damage, 50% of them were completely destroyed. A major battle involving combined arms, including several hundred tanks (Battle of Debrecen
Battle of Debrecen
The Battle of Debrecen, called by the Red Army the Debrecen Offensive Operation, was conducted by the 2nd Ukrainian Front on the Eastern Front of World War II...
), occurred near the city in October 1944. After 1944 the reconstruction began and Debrecen became the capital of Hungary for a short time once again. The citizens began to rebuild their city, trying to restore its pre-war status, but the new, Communist government of Hungary had other plans. The institutions and estates of the city were taken into public ownership, private property was taken away. This forced change of the old system brought new losses to Debrecen; half of its area was annexed to nearby towns, and the city also lost its rights over Hortobágy. In 1952 two new villages – Ebes
Ebes
Ebes is a village in Hajdú-Bihar county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of and has a population of 4473 people .-Twin towns — Sister cities:Ebes is twinned with:*Meilen, Switzerland...
and Nagyhegyes
Nagyhegyes
Nagyhegyes is a village in Hajdú-Bihar county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of and has a population of 2710 people ....
– were formed from former parts of Debrecen, while in 1981 the nearby village Józsa was annexed to the city. The newly built blocks of flats provided housing for those who lost their homes during the war. In the following decades Debrecen was the third largest city of Hungary (behind Budapest and Miskolc
Miskolc
Miskolc is a city in northeastern Hungary, mainly with heavy industrial background. With a population close to 170,000 Miskolc is the fourth largest city of Hungary It is also the county capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and the regional centre of Northern Hungary.- Geography :Miskolc is located...
), and became the second largest in the 1990s when the population of Miskolc decreased.
Jews of Debrecen
Jews were first allowed to settle in Debrecen until 1814, with an initial population count of 118 men within 4 years.Only 20 years later were they allowed to purchase land and homes. By 1919 they were 10% of the population (with over 10,000 community members listed) and owning almost half of the large properties in and around the town.
The Hungarian antisemitic laws of 1938 caused many businesses to close, and in 1939 many Jews were drafted into forced labor groups and sent to the Ukraine, where many died in minefields.
In 1940 the Germans estimated that 12,000 Jews were left in the town. In 1941 Jews of Galician and Polish origin were expelled, reducing the number of Jews to 9142. In 1942 more Jews were drafted into the Hungarian forced labor groups and sent to the Ukraine.
German forces entered the city in March 20, 1944 (Two and a half weeks before Passover) ordering a Judenrat (Jewish Council) headed by Rabbi Pal (Meir) Weisz, and a Jewish police squad was formed, headed by former army captain Bela Lusztbaum. On March 30 (a week before Passover) the Jews were ordered to wear the Yellow star of David. Jewish cars were confiscated and phone lines cut. During the Passover week, many Jewish dignitaries were taken to a nearby prison camp, eventually reaching the number of 300 prisoners. A week later all Jewish stores were closed, and a public book-burning of Jewish books was presided by the antisemitic newspaper editor Mihaly Kalosvari Borska.
An order to erect a ghetto was issued on April 28, in the name of the town mayor Sandor Kolscey, who opposed the act, and was ousted by the Germans. Jews were forced to build the Ghetto walls, finishing it within less than a month on May 15.
On June 7, all movement in or out of the Ghetto was prohibited and a week later all Debrecen Jews were deported to the nearby Serly brickyards, and stripped of their belongings, joining Jews from other areas.
10 families of prominent Jews, including those of Rabbi Weisz and orthodox chief Rabbi Strasser, along with the heads of the Zionist (non orthodox) movement joined the Kasztner train. (According to some sources, the Strasshoff camps where filled with Jews for negotiations in case the Germans could receive something for releasing these Jews, among them 6841 from Debrecen.) 298 of these Debrecen Jews where shot by the SS in Bavaria, after being told they would reach Theresienstadt. Some young Debrecen Jews escaped the town, lead by the highschool principal Adoniyahu Billitzer and reached Budapest, joining resistance movements and partisans.
Most of the remaining Debrecen Jews where deported to Auschwitz, reaching there on July 3, 1944.
Debrecen was liberated by the Soviet Army on 20 October 1944. Some 4000 Jews of Debrecen and its surroundings survived the war, creating a community of 4640 in 1946 - the largest in the region. About 400 of those moved to Israel, and many others moved to the west by 1970, with 1200 Jews left in the town, using two synagogues, one of them established prior to WWI.
Population
Ethnic groups (2001 census)- Magyars - 94.7%
- Roma - 0.5%
- Others - 0.8%
- No answer - 4%
Religions
- Calvinist - 38.7%
- Roman Catholic - 15.4%
- Greek Catholic - 8.2%
- Lutheran - 0.5%
- Others - 1.5%
- Atheist - 24.8%
- No answer - 10.9%
Culture
Chiefly thanks to the reformation and the prestigious Calvinist College, founded in 1538, Debrecen has been the intellectual and cultural centre of the surrounding area since the 16th century. Over the centuries the College was transformed into a University and its intellectual life developed a sphere of influence between EgerEger
Eger is the second largest city in Northern Hungary, the county seat of Heves, east of the Mátra Mountains. Eger is best known for its castle, thermal baths, historic buildings , and red and white wines.- Name :...
and Oradea
Oradea
Oradea is the capital city of Bihor County, in the Crișana region of north-western Romania. The city has a population of 204,477, according to the 2009 estimates. The wider Oradea metropolitan area has a total population of 245,832.-Geography:...
(Hu: Nagyvárad, now in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
). In 1949/1950 several departments of the University were shut down, due to Communist takeover, with many students and teachers being expelled. The University of Debrecen
University of Debrecen
The University of Debrecen is a university located in Debrecen, Hungary. It is the oldest continuously operating institution of higher education in Hungary .-History:...
, as it is now called is still widely recognized work of architecture (mostly thanks to its main building). The university has many departments and is a major research facility in Europe.
Endre Ady
Endre Ady was a Hungarian poet.-Biography:Ady was born in Érmindszent, Szilágy county . He belonged to an impoverished Calvinist noble family...
, Gyula Krúdy
Gyula Krúdy
Gyula Krúdy was a Hungarian writer and journalist.-Biography:Gyula Krúdy was born in Nyíregyháza, Hungary. His father was a lawyer and his mother was a maid working for the Krúdy family. His parents did not marry until Gyula was 17 years old.In his teens, Krúdy published newspaper pieces and began...
and Árpád Tóth
Árpád Tóth
Árpád Tóth was a Hungarian poet and translator.Tóth went to Gymnasium in Debrecen and then studied German and Hungarian at the University of Budapest. In 1907, he poems began to appear in the papers A Hét and Vasárnapi Újság and after 1908 in Nyugat...
all began their journalistic careers in Debrecen. Prominent literary figures from the city have included Magda Szabó
Magda Szabó
Magda Szabó was a Hungarian writer, arguably Hungary's foremost woman novelist. She also wrote dramas, essays, studies, memories and poetry....
, and Gábor Oláh. One of Hungary's best known poets, Mihály Csokonai Vitéz
Mihály Csokonai Vitéz
Mihály Csokonai Vitéz was a Hungarian poet.Having been educated in Debrecen, where he was born, Csokonai was appointed while still very young to the professorship of poetry there...
, was born and lived in the city. The city's theatre, built in 1865, was named in his honour in 1916, but can trace its roots back to the National Theatre Company founded in Debrecen in 1789, which at first gave performances in the carthouse of an inn. Celebrated actress Lujza Blaha is amongst those to have performed there.
Debrecen has a flourishing music scene, and is home to Tankcsapda
Tankcsapda
Tankcsapda is a Hungarian heavy metal and hard rock band.-History:Tankcsapda was formed in 1989, in Debrecen, Hungary. The group started off as a power trio with only drums, bass and guitar playing punk rock, but continuously expanded their repertoire with different elements of rock music. They...
, one of Hungary's most popular and successful rock bands. There is also a rock school in the city offer training and mentoring to young musicians. Classic media in the city include the newspaper Napló, two TV channels, a range of local radio stations and several companies and associations producing media material.
Debrecen is the site of an important choral competition, the Bela Bartok
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
International Choir Competition, and is a member city of the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing
European Grand Prix for Choral Singing
The European Grand Prix for Choral Singing is an annual choral competition between the winners of six European choral competitions...
. Every August the city plays host to a flower festival.
Sports
The city has a famous football club, Debreceni VSCDebreceni VSC
Debreceni VSC or just Debrecen or DVSC is a football club from the city of Debrecen in Hungary. They are best known for reaching the group stages of the UEFA Champions League 2009–10 season. Debreceni VSC has been the most successful Hungarian club since 2000. The club has won the Hungarian...
, which currently has the best recent record in Hungary. Its results include winning the national championship in the consecutive seasons of 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2006/2007, 2008/2009 and 2009/2010. The stadium
Stadion Oláh Gábor Út
Stadion Oláh Gábor Út is a multi-use stadium in Debrecen, Hungary. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Debreceni VSC. The stadium is able to hold 10,200 people. It is due to be replaced by Debrecen Stadion in 2012....
, which seats more than 10,000, is on Oláh Gábor street, in the City Park (Nagyerdő). The home color of the team is red, while the away color is white. There are currently plans for a large new stadium
Debrecen Stadion
Debrecen Stadion is a football stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, under construction as of 2010. Once completed in 2012, it will be used for football matches and will serve the home matches of Debreceni VSC. The stadium will have seating capacity for 35,000 people and will replace their current stadium...
to be built in the city, which will serve as Debrecen VSC's home ground.
The city has hosted several international sporting events in recent years, such as the second World Youth Championships in Athletics
2001 World Youth Championships in Athletics
The 2001 World Youth Championships in Athletics was the second edition of the World Youth Championships in Athletics. It was held in Debrecen, Hungary from July 12 to July 15, 2001. -Boys:-Girls:-Medals table:...
in July 2001 and the first IAAF World Road Running Championships
2006 IAAF World Road Running Championships
The 1st IAAF World Road Running Championships were held in Debrecen, Hungary on 8 October 2006, the women's race starting at 11:00 and the men's race at 13:00. This was the first time the title of World Road Running Champion had been competed for, with this competition replacing the IAAF World Half...
in October 2006. The 2007 European SC Swimming Championships
European Short Course Swimming Championships 2007
The European Short Course Swimming Championships 2007 was the fifteenth edition of the European Short Course Swimming Championships, held in Debrecen, Hungary between 13–16 December...
and World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The World Artistic Gymnastics Championships are the World Championships for artistic gymnastics. They have been held since 1903.* * First time track and field event fully disappeared from the sport of gymnastics.- All-time medal count :...
of 2002 also took place in Debrecen. Most recently, the city hosted the 19th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship in October 2010.
The city was an official applicant to host the inaugural Youth Olympic Games
Youth Olympic Games
The Youth Olympic Games is an international multi-sport event first held in Singapore from August 14 to August 26, 2010. The games are held every four years in staggered summer and winter events consistent with the current Olympic Games format. The age limitation of the athletes is between 14 to 18...
in 2010, but lost out to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
Main sights
- Protestant Great ChurchProtestant Great Church of DebrecenThe Protestant Great Church or Great Reformed Church is probably the most best known building in the city of Debrecen. It stands in the city centre, between Kossuth square and Calvin square. It is the symbol of the Protestant Church in Hungary, and it is because of this church that Debrecen is...
(Nagytemplom) - City Park (Nagyerdő) and spa
- Déri Museum (art collection including paintings of Mihály MunkácsyMihály MunkácsyMihály Munkácsy was a Hungarian painter, who lived in Paris and earned international reputation with his genre pictures and large scale biblical paintings.-Early Years of Munkácsy:...
; also has a collection of Ancient EgyptAncient EgyptAncient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
ian artifacts) - Flower Carnival of Debrecen held on 20 August every year
Born in Debrecen
- Ferenc BarnásFerenc Barnás- Biography :Ferenc Barnás was born in 1959 in Debrecen, Hungary. From 1982 until 1988 he takes university courses in Debrecen, Budapest, and München. In 1988 he graduates from Eötvös Loránd University with degrees in Hungarian language/literature and Aesthetics...
(born 1959), novelist - Zsolt BaumgartnerZsolt BaumgartnerZsolt Baumgartner is a former Formula One racing driver who raced for the Jordan and Minardi teams. He was the first Hungarian driver in Formula One.-Career:...
(born 1981), first Hungarian Formula One driver - Mihály FazekasMihály FazekasMihály Fazekas was a Hungarian writer from Debrecen. He was an army private for seven years before being commissioned as a Hussar officer. As a hobby, Fazekas studied the natural sciences and wrote poetry...
(1766–1828), writer - Mihály FlaskayMihály FlaskayMihály Flaskay is a breaststroke swimmer from Hungary, who was a silver medallist in the 50 m breaststroke at the 2002 European Swimming Championships. In the following year he captured bronze in the same event at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, Spain.Flaskay studied at...
(born 1982), breaststroke swimmer - Nóra GörbeNóra GörbeNóra Görbe is a Hungarian actress, singer and pop icon.-Life:She is the daughter of legendary film actor János Görbe.She considered becoming a ballet dancer before turning to acting....
, (born 1956), actress, singer and pop icon - Dr. George KarpatiGeorge KarpatiGeorge Karpati, was a Canadian neurologist and neuroscientist who was one of the leading experts on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders including muscular dystrophy research....
(1934–2009), physician, neurologist, surgeon, teacher, author - Rivka KerenRivka KerenRivka Keren is an Israeli writer.-Biography:Rivka Keren was born as Katalin Friedländer in Debrecen, Hungary. She immigrated with her parents and small brother to Israel in 1957. She has been writing since childhood, first in Hungarian, later in Hebrew...
(born 1946), Israeli writer - Orsi KocsisOrsi KocsisOrsi Kocsis is a Hungarian fashion, glamour, and art nude model and was 2005's Hungarian Playmate of the Year, which she won by audience election as a special prize...
(born 1984), fashion, glamour and art nude model - Imre LakatosImre LakatosImre Lakatos was a Hungarian philosopher of mathematics and science, known for his thesis of the fallibility of mathematics and its 'methodology of proofs and refutations' in its pre-axiomatic stages of development, and also for introducing the concept of the 'research programme' in his...
(1922–1974), philosopher of mathematics and of science - Paul LászlóPaul LászlóPaul László or Paul Laszlo was a Hungarian-born modern architect and interior designer whose work spanned eight decades and many countries...
(1900–1993), architect - Kocsár Miklós (born 1933), composer
- Magda SzabóMagda SzabóMagda Szabó was a Hungarian writer, arguably Hungary's foremost woman novelist. She also wrote dramas, essays, studies, memories and poetry....
(1917–2007), writer - Mihály Csokonai VitézMihály Csokonai VitézMihály Csokonai Vitéz was a Hungarian poet.Having been educated in Debrecen, where he was born, Csokonai was appointed while still very young to the professorship of poetry there...
(1773–1805) poet - Chaim Michael Dov WeissmandlChaim Michael Dov WeissmandlChaim Michael Dov Weissmandl was a rabbi and shtadlan...
(1903–1957), rabbi and Holocaust activist - Meshulam GrossMeshulam GrossMeshulam Fayish Tzvi Gross or Grosz was a businessman, inventor and learned layman, author of two sefarim of Torah novellae, Nachlas Tzvi and Ateres Tzvi.-Early life:...
(1863–1947), Hungarian-American entrepreneur
Lived in Debrecen
- Endre AdyEndre AdyEndre Ady was a Hungarian poet.-Biography:Ady was born in Érmindszent, Szilágy county . He belonged to an impoverished Calvinist noble family...
(1877–1919), poet - Julia BathoryJulia BathoryJúlia Báthory was a Hungarian glass designer.Júlia Báthory was born in 1901 in Budapest into an aristocratic family. She pursued her high school studies in Debrecen and Budapest...
(1901–2000), glass artist - Géza HofiGéza HofiGéza Hofi was a Hungarian actor and comedian. He is probably the most popular Hungarian parodist and had strong influence on Hungarian cabaret.-About Hofi:...
, (1936–2002) stand-up comedian - Sándor Szalay (physicist)Sándor Szalay (physicist)Sándor Szalay, Sr. was a pioneer of Hungarian nuclear physics.He discovered a natural mechanism for uranium enrichment, which led to the discovery of several uranium deposits including an enriched deposit in the Mecsek Mountains of Hungary. In 1955 he collaborated with Gyula Csikai to discover the...
(1909–1987), physicist, founder of ATOMKIATOMKIATOMKI is the Institute of Nuclear Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The institute was established in 1954 by Sándor Szalay the founder director.... - Árpád TóthÁrpád TóthÁrpád Tóth was a Hungarian poet and translator.Tóth went to Gymnasium in Debrecen and then studied German and Hungarian at the University of Budapest. In 1907, he poems began to appear in the papers A Hét and Vasárnapi Újság and after 1908 in Nyugat...
(1886–1928), poet
Twin towns - sister cities
Debrecen is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
| Cattolica Cattolica Cattolica is a town and comune in the Province of Rimini, Italy, with 16,233 inhabitants.-History:Archaeological excavations show that the area was already settled in Roman times.... , Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... Jyväskylä Jyväskylä Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded... , Finland Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... Klaipėda Klaipeda Klaipėda is a city in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Nemunas River where it flows into the Baltic Sea. It is the third largest city in Lithuania and the capital of Klaipėda County.... , Lithuania Lithuania Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark... Lublin Lublin Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river... , Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... New Brunswick New Brunswick, New Jersey New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of... , New Jersey New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... Oradea Oradea Oradea is the capital city of Bihor County, in the Crișana region of north-western Romania. The city has a population of 204,477, according to the 2009 estimates. The wider Oradea metropolitan area has a total population of 245,832.-Geography:... , Romania Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... Paderborn Paderborn Paderborn is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, capital of the Paderborn district. The name of the city derives from the river Pader, which originates in more than 200 springs near Paderborn Cathedral, where St. Liborius is buried.-History:... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
Patras Patras Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens... , Greece Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... Rishon LeZion, Israel Israel The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea... Setúbal Setúbal Setúbal is the main city in Setúbal Municipality in Portugal with a total area of 172.0 km² and a total population of 118,696 inhabitants in the municipality. The city proper has 89,303 inhabitants.... , Portugal Portugal Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the... Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea... , Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... Shumen Shumen Shumen is the tenth-largest city in Bulgaria and capital of Shumen Province. In the period 1950–1965 it was called Kolarovgrad, after the name of the communist leader Vasil Kolarov... , Bulgaria Bulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east... Syktyvkar Syktyvkar -Twin towns/sister cities:Syktyvkar is twinned with the following sister cities: Cullera, Spain Debrecen, Hungary Los Altos, United States Lovech, Bulgaria Taiyuan, China-External links:* * * *... , Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... Taitung City Taitung City Taitung City is the county seat of Taitung County, Taiwan. It lies on the southeast coast of Taiwan facing the Pacific Ocean.The city is served by Taitung Airport. Taitung is a gateway to Green Island and Orchid Island, both of which are very popular among Taiwanese tourists.-History:Taitung... , Republic of China (Taiwan) |