141Source: Zlocini okupatora u Vojvodini, Volume I., Novi Sad, 1946.We are obliged to disclose the total number of Yugoslavian casualties published in 1946.However, its figures do not correspond with the available Hungarian official data in everyrespect.On the other hand:The Hungarian casualties in the autumn of 1944, reach a total sum of 34,491.If we add the thousands executed in the uninvestigated, unexamined 4O villages toour deathlist, the number will certainly exceed forty thousand.Roman Catholic priests and friars executed in the end of 1944:1. Antal Berger, Tavank_t2. Balint Dupp, Curog3. Pal Goncol, Sirig4. Istvan Koves, Mosorin5. Jozsef Novotny, Plevna6. Ferenc Petrenyi, Becse7. Ferenc Plank, Sivac8. Denes Szabo, Totovo Selo9. Ferenc Takacs, B. Petr. Selo.1O. Lajos Varga, Mohol11. Istvan Virag, Horgos12. Mihaly Werner, MartonosFranciscan friars:1. Krizosztom Korosztos2. Kristof Kovacs, monastery of Novi Sad and3. Ferenc Fleisz, monastery of Szabadka142VERDICTS AFTER REVENGEThe relatives of the executed kept terrified silence about the bloody reprisals in Bacska inthe Autumn of 1944. Those who escaped to Hungary dared only to whisper in fear the horrorsthey had experienced in their own immediate environs.
The approximate summary of the massacres originates from brave priests, who turnedwith their experiences to the authority accessible to them, the Cardinal of Esztergom, the PrincePrimate Jozsef Mindszenty; they expected some help. The Cardinal addressed a letter to theHungarian Foreign Minister, who was making preparations for the peace negotiations, and wroteabout the massacre of 40,000-50,000 innocent Hungarians in Bacska.Foreign Minister Janos Gyongyosi, as far as I know, never took advantage of this reportin any of his speeches, memorandas, negotiations, though it is certain that he shared the contentsof the Cardinal's letter with at least his party and the significant persons of his coalitiongovernment.It is probable, that nobody dared to accuse the highly respected Josip Broz Tito. In theWest and in the East the guerilla leader was esteemed so highly, that it was impossible even tomention any of the genocides committed by his troops and gangs of partisans on Croatians,Slovenians, Germans or Hungarians.The grievances suffered by Hungarians in Bacska in 1944 did not even turn up during thetrials dealing with the atrocities of the Hungarian Counter Intelligence police at Novi Sad nor inthe peace negotiations.It is characteristic of the humiliating fear of the democratic Hungarian government, thatPrime Minister Ferenc Nagy in the beginning of 1947, was required to deliver about 3,5OOinhabitants of Bacska to the Yugoslavian authorities; they were regarded as fugitives. Inaddition, he gave opportunity and permission for a far reaching OZNA investigation onHungarian territory. The majority of the fugitives handed over to the Serbians were executed.Was Ferenc Szombathelyi, former chief of the general staff, aware of the annihilation ofmany thousands of Hungarians in Bacska? He wanted to deny his responsibility for the themassacre at Novi Sad in the 1945 autobio<strong>graphic</strong>al memoranda before being arrested, by theAmerican authorities for war crimes."In the bloody events at Novi Sad and Bacska, writes143Szombathelyi, a great many Hungarians, especially the right wingers and most of the staffofficers, saw a great national exploit. They thought of the events as strong arm measures,normal under special guerilla wartime conditions. Unfortunately, I could not alter the situation,because the events had been so horrible that I could not turn to the public with them nor could Irelease any propaganda statements. The public opinion of the country was entirely under theinfluence of right wing propaganda, and developed in accordance with it. I would not havethought that the events at Novi Sad had been so terrible, and for a long time I did not believe so,though I never made the mistake of regarding the events at Novi Sad as exploits. I had beenconvinced for a long time, that there had been a justified reprisal by the troops, which would putan end to Serbian atrocities committed against the Hungarian public security; the administrativeorganisations; and property damages.There would be peace at last on this land, which was disturbed by the Serbs and not us, becausethey did not intend to sympathize with our peaceful and tolerant administration based on theideas of St. Stephen. What is more they opposed it completely.In contrast with all the others, I believed the reports of the responsible commanders,namely Generals Feketehalmy-Czeydner and Grassy, who had led the events on the spot, andwhom I had known as honest, reliable soldiers up till now. They constantly denied in writing, as
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Mutilation of the hands or feet wit
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they wanted to belong. On the annex
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individuals, then shooting them by
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the Russians and under their protec
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22PEOPLE OF BEZDAN1.On a May aftern
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26that those people all fell victim
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ack a 13 year-old boy to the soccer
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Russian officers cursed and told th
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Jani was set free for he had been a
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There were some people who, in spit
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March 12, 1945. The relatives of th
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Ferenc Csapo, 33 Mihaly Miovacs, 18
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Having heard about the advance of t
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"On November 3, I got up at five in
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The vicar would come every night. H
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hand. Raising it to his mouth, he d
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"24th October, 1944. Yesterday was
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"I have only one chance to be sacri
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The data, which shows that on the s
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all the captured Serbs, as neither
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Before and during World War II, the
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would order fire in an instant. Wit
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Our house looked out over the main
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He had just arrived home after thre
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- Page 122 and 123: Recommended readingeRudolf Kiszlion
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