1956 Commemorative Plaque

Some of the Hungarians who fled their homeland for Yugoslavia during and after the revolution were housed in this building. Approximately 20,000 of the refugees left via the southern border, particularly after the Hungarian authorities closed the escape routes leading to Austria in January 1957. The Yugoslav authorities housed the Hungarians in several camps; in Croatia alone, there were 12 major camps, where some 6,000 refugees lived. The largest of these was Gerovo, near Rijeka (with 1,600 people), but many Hungarians found refuge in Osijek (1,300 people), Csáktornya (650 people), or Újlak (600 people). In the Hungarian camps along the border, including Osijek—where part of the local population was Hungarian—the refugees lived under good conditions. Each camp had a Hungarian self-governing body that managed its affairs. The refugees received Hungarian and Western newspapers, listened to the radio, and were allowed to go into town. They were free to decide whether to continue on to the West or remain in Yugoslavia.

The building on which the commemorative plaque is affixed is the Hermann Paulina villa. The residents of Osijek knew her as “Cat Mom,” and the house and its surroundings—such as the tram stop—are still referred to by that name today. Paulina Hermann was a wealthy citizen of the city, known for her philanthropy, her love of animals, and, not least, her extravagant lifestyle. After her death (1938), the villa became municipal property. It is currently awaiting renovation.