REMEMBRANCE IN TIME - Index of

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Remembrance in Time
represented by the “top workers” and the Stakhanovists in the 1950’s. On average they
were of their thirties, they earned more than an average worker and they lived among
better conditions, too. They meant a transition between the working class and the
intellectuals.
Hungarian Stakhanovists
The most famous Hungarian Stakhanovist was Ignác Pióker, a trimmer. He was born in
1907 in Temesrékás (Banat), and in 1929 he escaped to Hungary. He started working for
the General Electric as a trimmer. From 1945 he joined the Hungarian Communist Party.
In December, 1949 he achieved a new record of 1470% of his norm. In 1950 he became
the “top-worker” of Hungary – his had many personal initials on his workpieces, and he
worked almost without scrap.
By March, 1951 he executed his whole plan of 1952. By his activity he became one of
the most famous celebrities of Hungary, he could have a holiday in Galyatetı and got
really high wages. He was proud of his activity up to his death of 1988.
Ignác Pióker with his awards 6
Another very famous Hungarian Stakhanovist was Ede Horváth – a metal turner.
Thanks to his activity later he became the director of Rába (Hungarian Railway Carriage
and Machine Works Public Limited Company).
If we make a list of the most well-known Stakhanovists, it is worth to take a look at
their profession: drill-master, tool-maker, bricklayer, railway-workers. These professions
were advertised by the propaganda of the 50’s. The Hungarian political leaders – lead by
Mátyás Rákosi (who was directed by the Soviets) – wanted to “turn Hungary to the
country of iron and steel”, so the several branches of the heavy industry were developed
in an aggressive way.
6 http://www.168ora.hu/cikk.php?id=7976 (dd. 10th of November, 2012).