Hungarian interview - George Nagy

George Nagy talks about his childhood growing up on a farm in Hercegfalva, Hungary. He describes the unrest that followed the First World War. Dr. Nagy attended high school in Budapest, and then went on to law school, earning a Ph.D. in Law in 1933. Dr. Nagy talks about his time studying in Paris and also about the fear of Hitler at that time in France. He recalls his impressions of the international situation at that time from his position in Paris. After Paris, Dr. Nagy returned to Hungary and took a civil service examination. Dr. Nagy worked in the diplomatic service during regency of Miklós Horthy, during the interwar years, and gives an analysis of that regime. He talks about the political parties, elections, economic imbalance, the problems of migrant workers and the Russian dumping of wheat. Dr. Nagy transferred to the Hungarian consulate in Bratislava (Czechoslovakia). He recalls the revolution of the Slovaks against the Czechs in that city Dr. Nagy also shares his memories of Hitler's invasion of Poland. Dr. Nagy speaks in great detail about his experiences in war-time Europe, including the Second Vienna Conference, his transfer to Romania, the Hungarian reclamation of Transylvania, another transfer to Sweden, the German occupation of Hungary, deposition of Horthy, and finally the defeat of Germany and the end of war in Europe. After the war, the Russians occupied Hungary and Dr. Nagy moved back home from Sweden and rejoined the Hungarian diplomatic service. He talks about what the living conditions were like in Budapest after the war, in particular the gradual infiltration and penetration of Communist rule. Dr. Nagy eventually decided to leave Hungary with his family in 1947, and they moved to England and Paris before embarking for Canada. Dr. Nagy and his family arrived in Halifax in 1951, living for a while in Montreal before transferring to Toronto. Dr. Nagy provides information about the Hungarian community in Toronto. He also recalls the reaction to the 1956 Revolution, and the subsequent influx of Hungarian refugees. He talks about his personal life—his occupation, his homes, and his family life. Dr. Nagy recalls the visit of the exiled Cardinal Mindszenty to Toronto and the impact that it had on the Hungarian community in Canada. Dr. Nagy speaks about his involvement in the Canadian Hungarian Federation, the struggle for rights of the Hungarian minority in Transylvania, and the return of the Holy Crown of St. Stephen from the U.S. to Hungary. Dr. Nagy talks about some of the present problems of Hungarian community in Toronto, and compares the Hungarian immigrants who arrived post-WWI with those who arrived in 1956.