WW1-Trianon Treaty
Following World War 1 the threat of communism in Hungary caused widespread fear and apprehension. The 1920 Trianon Treaty provoked further turmoil when Hungary was stripped of 72% of its thousand-year-old territories, and 64% of its population. Overnight a multitude of Hungarians found themselves displaced minorities in countries that were no longer their motherland.
WW2
World War 2 brought its own unique upheavals, including Nazi occupation, and Soviet “liberation”. This was followed by the authoritarian Rákosi era, a regime based on Stalinist political and economic programs. It became one of the harshest dictatorships in Europe, notorious for its social purges and summary executions.
1956 Revolution
By 1956 the continuing Soviet presence and the worsening political situation led to a general state of dissatisfaction. Peaceful demonstrations in October 1956 soon escalated into mass protests until the Soviet Red Army troops were sent to quell the uprising, during which almost 3 000 Hungarians lost their lives.
Displaced Hungarians
The political upheavals of the 20th century, throughout greater Hungary displaced large numbers of Hungarians who left their homeland as immigrants, or political refugees. During the 1956 Hungarian uprising alone, as many as 250 000 refugees fled Hungary in the course of a few short weeks. The average age was 25. Hungarians were the product of a very strong academic system; most were educated intellectuals with higher learning and university degrees. The brain drain of the 20th Century cost Hungary dearly, who lost some of her brightest minds, and contributed in no small measure to the economic, social, and intellectual development of their adoptive countries.
There have been countless expatriate Hungarians who have flourished within their new homelands, and have become internationally prominent in many diverse fields. Even second and third generation offspring are making their mark in the world, and are rediscovering their Hungarian roots.
John von Neumann
Born in Budapest in 1903 as Neumann János, John von Neumann is generally regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians in modern history, and one of the most brilliant minds of the century. He was remarkably gifted, and is considered a founding figure in computing science. At the age of 29 he obtained one of the first of five professorships at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton New Jersey, alongside Albert Einstein. Neumann was a frequent consultant for some of the largest international corporations, as well as the CIA. He was also an influential figure in setting US scientific, and military policy. His accomplishments are impossible to list, however one cannot help wonder, how much more he could have achieved had he not died at the age of 54.
Josef Galamb
Hungarian born Josef Galamb joined the Ford Motor Company in 1905, and subsequently became the chief designer of the company. He subsequently designed many parts for the hugely popular Model T. Galamb visited Hungary regularly, and even lectured at the Association of Hungarian Engineers and Architects. In 1921 he founded a scholarship for underprivileged children in his native town, which encourages students to take up higher education at trade school.
George Soros
One of the world’s most influential men is investor, and business magnate, Hungarian born Schwartz György, better known as George Soros. He is listed amongst the top 10 wealthiest people in the USA. Soros is also believed to have ties to the Bilderberg group, an invitation only coterie of approximately 120 of the wealthiest, and most influential people in the world.
Despite his influential ties Sores is a well-known philanthropist, and has helped disadvantaged communities within Hungary. He founded the Central European University, which has its primary campus in Budapest. He also established the Open Society Institute that supports democracy and human rights in over 70 countries around the world. During the mid to late 1980’s he also played an important role in the transition from communism to capitalism within Hungary
Estée Lauder
Businesswoman extraordinaire, and the only woman to have been listed by TIME magazine (1998) as one of the 20 most influential business geniuses of the 20th Century, was cosmetic mogul Estée Lauder (née Josephine Esther Mentzer). The daughter of Hungarian immigrants, Estée was born in New York, although she always honoured her Hungarian heritage.
In the late 1980’s Lauder founded the Lauder Javne Jewish Community School in Budapest. The institute admits students from nursery school through to high school, and strives to develop academic, social, and artistic skills in all students. In the 1990’s Lauder also made a generous contribution toward the renovations of the Budapest Grand Synagogue.
Andrew Grove
Andrew Grove, co- founder of the Intel Corporation became president of the company in 1987, and Chairman & CEO 1997. He was born in Budapest, as András István Gróf, and escaped during the 1956 revolution at the age of 20. Grove transformed Intel into one of the world’s leading producers of microprocessors. Approximately 90% of the world’s computers are processed by Intel microprocessors. Grove is a recipient of many awards and was named TIME magazine’s man of the year in 1997.
Charles Simonyi
Software Architect, Charles Simonyi was born in Hungary, and moved to the USA in 1968. He joined Microsoft in 1981 and became the head of Microsoft’s application software group, and oversaw the development of its most profitable products, Word and Excel. He is also credited for inventing the Hungarian Notation. In 2007 he received the Hungarian Grand Cross Order of Merit, and in the same year Simonyi became the fifth space tourist in the world. He made a further trip to the International Space Station in 2009. Simonyi now heads Intentional Software that he co-founded with Gregor Kiczales.
Frank Lowy
Hungarian born Frank Lowy is co-founder of the Westfield Group, and operator of over 100 shopping centres in Australia, New Zealand, U.S.A and U.K. He was ranked #6 on the Australian BRW Rich 200 list in 2011.
Calvin Klein
The successful America Fashion Designer Calvin Klein is the son of Hungarian Immigrants. He founded the fashion house Calvin Klein Inc. in 1978. Klein was voted America’s Best Designer in 1993, and his brand name includes a top end designer line, sportswear, bedding, fragrances, and watches. Calvin Klein Incorporated was sold in 2002 to Phillips Van Heusen Corp.
Statesmen and Politicians of Hungarian Descent
The paternal grandfather of American politician and 53rd Governor of New York, George Pataki, was Hungarian born Pataki János.
Canadian Eve Adams (née Eve Horvát) is of Hungarian descent. She was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 2011, and represents the district of Mississauga-Brampton South as a Conservative Party Member.
Infamous Hungarian, Anna Elena Staller, became more popularly know as Italian porn star and politician, la Cicciolina. She was elected into the Italian Parliament in 1987, but following her four-year term she was not re-elected.
An elegant and polished statesman, born in France to a Hungarian aristocrat father, is Nicolas Paul Stéphane Sarközy de Nagy-Bocsa, commonly known as Nicolas Sarkozy, the charismatic President of the French Republic.
During his visit to Budapest in 2010 Prince Charles of England spoke of his Hungarian roots. He revealed that he has a special relationship with Hungary, and that he is proud to be one thirty-two parts Hungarian himself. Charles makes regular pilgrimages to the land of his great great great mother in Erdély, now known as Transylvania, which was part of the Kingdom of Hungary until 1920.
This is only the tip of the iceberg, there are countless names, too numerous to mention. Hungary, like any mother, still mourns the loss of so many of her brightest children, but remains proud of their achievements. They have certainly made their mark on the world. The recognition for their remarkable accomplishments has gone to their adoptive countries although, as their motherland, Hungary still takes some credit for their brilliance, and continues to bask in their reflected glory.
Sources:-
1/12/2011 Estée Lauder
1/12/2011 Soros Foundation
21/3/2010 Hungarian Origins of Prince Charles
1/12/2011 Famous Hungarians
1/12/2011 Hungarian Museum
1/12/2011 Josef Galamb
Erika Gösi - I was born in Hungary, but I have lived abroad all my life where I was fortunate to have experienced many wonders of Africa and Australia, ...
