Hungary: Follow-up to HUN32547.E of 17 August 1999 on the Schwab ethnic group
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 6 October 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | HUN32961.E |
| Reference | 5 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Hungary: Follow-up to HUN32547.E of 17 August 1999 on the Schwab ethnic group, 6 October 1999, HUN32961.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad5f7c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A representative of the Central Self-Government of the Hungarian Germans provided the following information on the Schwab ethnic group in Hungary (21 Sept. 1999):
Although originally the real Schwab settled in Szatmár County only, the German people settled in the modern times has been identified as "Schwab" throughout the Carpathian Basin, including languages of the neighbouring countries. Today there are only three villages on the territory of Hungary where the true Schwab originally settled.
The majority of the first settlers arrived from Schawaben and Württemberg through Ulm, after a long journey along the River Danube. It was their tribal identification that became rooted in the languages of all peoples in the Danubian Basin. The name is still used in everyday speech (Schwabian ball, Schwabian music etc.), but the official terminology used for people belonging to this ethnic minority is "Hungarian German".
At the end of the 19th century the adjective "Schwabian" referred to peasants (burisch), so the Germans living in towns rejected their being identified as "Schwab". However, this pejortive side-meaning does not exist any more. On the contrary: the word has taken up a positive content, and has appeared in the names of firms and first-class products (e.g. Schwabian bread, Schwabian milk), referring to the excellent quality of these goods.
On the basis of statistical data and estimations the total number of ethnic Germans in Hungary is 200-220 thousand. This amounts to 2.5% of the entire population in Hungary.
The Hungarian Constitution describes minorities living in Hungary as "state-forming factors". Numerous acts assure their rights, such as Act LXXVII/1993 on the rights of national and ethnic minorities; Act LXXIX/1993 on general education; Act CXL/1997 on the protection of cultural goods, museums and cultural institutions; public access to libraries and general education. These acts create the grounds for cultural autonomy for the minorities. Of course, on the basis of experience many of the issues need to be revised. These issues are
regulation of minority elections
financial sponsoring of minority institutions and duties (cultural policy, general education)
in education: ethnic-minority education instead of pure language teaching to support identity.
Preparations for modification of the Minority Acts are now in progress with the help of experts and all those affected.
The German population in Hungary maintains several associations and civil groups. Most of them are traditional folklore groups (choirs, orchestras and dancing companies, the number of which is cca 400 altogether). A few of the organizations work on the area of education. To support these groups and organizations the state has endowed a general foundation that judges applications. The competent ministries together with the Committee for Minority Issues (which was formed by the Parliament) support ethnic civil groups and organizations.
The Germans in Hungary are a culturally active population. We organize local ceremonies, meetings with twin cities in Germany as well ceremonies on a regional level and minority conferences all over Hungary. Almost in each region of Hungary where there are ethnic Germans, the Hungarian German population contribute to Hungarian festivals as organizers of minority supplementary programmes.
According to the Hungarian Law, any person who identifies him/herself as a "Schwab" can be regarded as a Schwab. It is not determined by law what the criteria should be. Many of the Schwab, mainly those of the younger generation, do not speak the language any more. Appearance (folk costume) is typical only at festivals and traditional folklore events, except in a few villages in the country, where folk costume is worn more often. There are no registered data on ethnic identification.
In response to a question about whether the above information would be any different if it applied to a person of mixed Schwab-Roma identity, the representative stated:
In numerous settlements all over Hungary more than one ethnic group live together. Through mixed marriages it often happens that a person is attached to two or more nationalities. Today minorities usually live peacefully side-by-side. They take part in cultural festivals together and they harmonize their views and actions to assert their interests (ibid.)
This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Central Self-Government of the Hungarian Germans, Budapest, Hungary. 21 September 1999. Correspondence from Representative.