Interview with Robert Patkai

Hungarian civilian in Hungary and Romania, 1930-1948; theological student in Hungarian People's Republic, 1949-1954; pastor with Lutheran Church in Albertirsa, Hungarian People's Republic, 1954-1956; President of Revolutionary Committee in Albertirsa, Hungarian People's Republic during Hungarian Uprising, 10/1956-11/1956; escaped from Hungarian People's to GB via Austria, 11/1956

REEL 1 Recollections of period as civilian in Hungary and Romania, 1930-1948: family; education; order from Hungarian Government that non-Germans should leave German schools; family move to Transylvania, Romania; religious background; national issue in Transylvania; Romanian take-over of Transylvania, 1944; family deportation from Transylvania, Romania, 9/1945; political and economic conditions in Hungary, 1945-1948; Communist take-over of Hungary, 1948. Aspects of period as theological student in Hungarian People's Republic, 1949-1954: background to becoming theological student at Sopron, 1949; Lutheran Church's orders to theology students to learn about Marxism-Leninism; living standards and lack of freedom; presence of informer in his theology class; sources of support for Hungarian People's Republic regime; situation of Lutheran Church under Communism. REEL 2 Continues: parcels sent from GB to help him live, 1950-1954; attempt of principal of his seminary to expel him because of his relatives living in GB, 1952; political changes after death of Soviet premier Joseph Stalin, 3/3/1953. Aspects of period as assistant pastor with Lutheran Church in Albertirsa, Hungarian People's Republic, 1954-1956: ordination, 1954; role as assistant pastor; reasons why he was summoned to a meeting by Communist Party of Hungary secretary, 1955. Aspects of period as President of Revolutionary Committee in Albertirsa, Hungarian People's Republic during Hungarian Uprising, 10/1956-11/1956: reads extracts from diary during period; influence of events in Poznań, Poland, 23/10/1956; giving blood for insurgents in Budapest, 24/10/1956; involvement in Revolutionary Committee from 26/10/1956; order and lack of violence in Albertirsa; decision to leave Hungarian People's Republic after Soviet invasion. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of escape from Hungarian People's Republic to GB via Austria, 11/1956: use of small boat in escape, 14/11/1956; arrival in GB, 30/11/1956; settling down in GB from 12/1956; memories of Dr George Bell, Bishop of Chichester, 1956-1957. Aspects of period as President of Revolutionary Committee in Albertirsa, Hungarian People's Republic during Hungarian Uprising, 10/1956-11/1956: reaction to events in Poznań, Poland, 23/10/1956; visit to Budapest, 24/10/1956; his hopes for political change, late 10/1956; contrast between Voice of America and British Broadcast Corporation radio output; passage of Soviet Army tanks through Albertirsa, 4/11/1956; advice to him to leave Hungarian People's Republic, 11/1956.