• Hungarian forint
  • Budapest
  • Police news
  • HelloMagyar
100th anniversary today: inhabitants of Sopron voted to remain part of Hungary100th anniversary today: inhabitants of Sopron voted to remain part of Hungary100th anniversary today: inhabitants of Sopron voted to remain part of Hungary100th anniversary today: inhabitants of Sopron voted to remain part of Hungary
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Society
  • Sport
  • Culture
  • Special Hungary
  • News To Go
  • World
  • Contact Us
  • About us
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
✕
Important
  • Huge success for PM Orbán? Tens of billions of euros may come to Hungary soon

  • Ryanair summer schedule out: flights to 51 cities from Budapest, great prices

Support us
Nóra Csécsei Nóra Csécsei · 14/12/2021
· Special Hungary

100th anniversary today: inhabitants of Sopron voted to remain part of Hungary

Sopron-Hungarian flag

Photo: overlayed image, "the Storno House, the Fire Tower and the Town Hall on the Main Square in Sopron" (Wikimedia Commons) + Hungarian flag (Pixabay)

14 December 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the referendum when 65% of the inhabitants of Sopron and the neighbouring settlements voted to remain part of Hungary. This was the only event that amended the Treaty of Trianon and consequently, Sopron was honoured with the title “Civitas Fidelissima” (The Most Loyal Town).

Sopron is located in western Hungary, near the Austrian border. It is best known for VOLT Festival, one of the largest music festivals in Hungary. But how did this beautiful town become “The Most Loyal Town” in Hungary?

Historical background

In the autumn of 1918, at the end of the First World War, Austria, which had previously formed a constitutional monarchy with Hungary, expressed its demand for the predominantly German-speaking settlements in Pozsony, Moson, Sopron and Vas County, writes Mandiner. At the Paris Peace Conference, Austria argued that after the dissolution of the economic unit of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy the country needed these areas for food supplies; otherwise, the country would be forced to form a union with Germany.

The Entente Powers opposed the unification of the two German-speaking countries so in the summer of 1919,

the predominantly German-speaking regions of the counties of Moson, Sopron and Vas were given to Austria. This led to an armed uprising in western Hungary.

The Ragged Guard

The “Rongyos Gárda” (Ragged Guard) was formed in 1919 by patriotic officers and soldiers, day laborers and the remnants of the Székely Hadosztály (Szekler Division) under the leadership of Pál Prónay. This volunteer force launched an attack on the invading Austrian gendarmerie units on 28 August 1921, at Ágfalva, marking the beginning of the above-mentioned uprising in western Hungary.

Rongyos Gárda Ragged Guard

The ‘Rongyos Gárda’ or Ragged Guard
Source: Wikimedia Commons

The Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs saw the insurgents as a means by which Hungary could retain at least parts of the areas. István Bethlen said that the Hungarian government had complied in all respects with the Entente’s will, but that the “local population” had revolted against the Austrians. It became clear to the Austrian leadership that they would be unable to take possession of the area and a compromise would be inevitable.

Read also: Why is Trianon still so devastating for Hungarians even after 100 years?

“Civitas Fidelissima”

According to the agreement, between 14 and 16 December 1921, the inhabitants of Sopron and eight neighbouring settlements − Fertőrákos, Balf, Kópháza, Fertőboz, Nagycenk, Harka, Bánfalva, Ágfalva – could take part in a referendum and decide the fate of their region. Here you can see the Hungarian and the Austrian propaganda posters of the referendum:

The following photo was taken in front of a polling station on the day of the referendum in Sopron. With their votes, these people contributed to a history-making decision.

You can also watch a short video with German subtitles following the events of the referendum below.

Out of the 23,561 voters, 15,334 (65.08%) voted to remain part of Hungary,

8,227 (34.92%) voted for Austria, and 502 (2.09%) votes were invalid. Although 54.5% of the inhabitants of the rural villages voted for Austria, in Sopron, Hungary won with a majority of 72.8%.

The National Assembly awarded Sopron with the honorary title of “Civitas Fidelissima” for the town’s loyalty to Hungary.

This title is even incorporated into the coat of arms of Sopron. The red, pointed crest bares the legend “Sopron Civitas Fidelissima” between two silver circles.

Sopron Civitas Fidelissima Coat of Arms Címer

The Coat of Arms of Sopron. Civitas Fidelissima is written in the circle
Source: Wikimedia Commons / Madboy74

In 2001, the government declared 14 December “Hűség Napja” (Loyalty Day).

Treaty of Trianon, Hungary, Versailles
Read also100th anniversary of Trianon: The memoir of the Hungarian delegation about signing the Treaty

Source: Daily News Hungary

If you would like to support the work of the Daily News Hungary staff and independent journalism,
please make a donation here
History Hungarian history Hungary Treaty of Trianon
Share

Hot news

  • What happened today in Hungary? – 1 December, 2023

  • On the trail of Hungarian memories in Türkiye

  • Why are more than a million Hungarians very sad today, while Romanians celebrate?

  • Former President: Budapest sustainability expo will be held

  • Germans, Slovakians, Chinese and Romanians buy up Hungarian property

  • Hungary’s economy will contract in 2023

3 Comments

  1. István says:
    15/12/2021 at 04:46

    Hungary honors and respects the people of Sopron.

  2. Edward says:
    15/12/2021 at 12:15

    The referendum should have been conducted in all parts of the Old Kingdom separated because of Trianon.

  3. A Horvath says:
    11/09/2022 at 04:26

    Edward is wrong. There should have been an armed uprising in all parts of the Old Kingdom, not a referendum. The uprising in Sopron worked.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SUPPORT US
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Must read

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to receive daily updates, news & stories about Hungary!

Select your location below or enter your country so we can deliver our morning newsletters to you in time.

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Contact us

About us

Copyright rules

Privacy policy

Advertise with us

© 2023 DailyNewsHungary. All rights reserved! | Server and development by Svigelj Levente E.V
What happened today in Hungary? – 1 December, 2023

What happened today in Hungary? – 1 December, 2023

Read More
On the trail of Hungarian memories in Türkiye

On the trail of Hungarian memories in Türkiye

Read More
Why are more than a million Hungarians very sad today, while Romanians celebrate?

Why are more than a million Hungarians very sad today, while Romanians celebrate?

Read More
Former President: Budapest sustainability expo will be held

Former President: Budapest sustainability expo will be held

Read More
Germans, Slovakians, Chinese and Romanians buy up Hungarian property

Germans, Slovakians, Chinese and Romanians buy up Hungarian property

Read More
Hungary’s economy will contract in 2023

Hungary’s economy will contract in 2023

Read More
Huge success for PM Orbán? Tens of billions of euros may come to Hungary soon

Huge success for PM Orbán? Tens of billions of euros may come to Hungary soon

Read More
PHOTOS: New Danube bridge opened between Hungary, Slovakia

PHOTOS: New Danube bridge opened between Hungary, Slovakia

Read More
PHOTOS: Hungary covered by snow, 20 cm will fall in this region tomorrow

PHOTOS: Hungary covered by snow, 20 cm will fall in this region tomorrow

Read More

US ambassador cried anti-Semitism due to the Soros billboards in Hungary

Read More
  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
Have you read it?