Hungarian Schools in Osijek in the Time of Austria-Hungary

Abstract

The paper encompasses the period of the First Elementary and Secondary School, founded in Osijek in the late 19th century, with the assistance from the Hungarian Royal State Railway when classes were conducted in Hungarian. The paper is based on Hungarian and Croatian archival records as well as newspaper articles reporting on the above-mentioned institution and its associated occurrences. Attention has been drawn to the role and significance of the school in promoting the Hungarian language and culture for the Hungarians of Osijek and the surrounding area. As the school operated during a period of unstable Hungarian–Croatian relations, the political and social impact of the school on the Croatian population has also been analysed. The paper endeavours to contribute to a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural context of the Hungarian minority in Osijek and to highlight the complex demands placed on the school. These expectations involved acting as the central Hungarian national institution while at the same time ensuring that its operation did not make the local Croatian population feel threatened.