Békéscsaba, Hungary

Békéscsaba is in southeastern Hungary.

Background

Jews settled in the city in the 18th century. Before World War II, Békéscsaba had a significant Jewish population, estimated at around 3,000 or 6% of the total population. The town was a major agricultural centre, and Jewish residents were active in economic and cultural life.

After the 1920 Treaty of Trianon imposed territorial changes on Hungary, it lost its largest cities on the Tisza River, among them Arad, Timisoara and Oradea. Békéscsaba became one of the cities that had to take over their role. In the aftermath of World War I, levels of antisemitism increased. Laws dispossessed the Jewish community of their homes and property. Violence against Jewish people and property rose significantly.

From 1941, forced labour was imposed on the Jews.

1944

After the Germans occupied Hungary in March 1944, the Jews of Békéscsaba and the surrounding area were forced into a ghetto. They were then deported to the Auschwitz II-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp in occupied Poland in June 1944.

Aftermath

After the war, 60 survivors from Auschwitz and some 240 from forced labour camps returned to the town.

Present-day

The Jewish community in Békéscsaba is small but still active.