Berettyóújfalu vármegyeszékhellyé alakulása 1920–1928

Abstract

This study is intended to present the biggest challenge in the history of Berettyóújfalu in the 20th century: the period of the settlement's transformation into a county seat after 1920. As a result of the catastrophic Trianon peace treaty for Hungary, a decisive part of Bihar County, including its ancient seat in Oradea, was annexed to Romania. Berettyóújfalu could then play a leading role in the recovery of the remaining Csonka-Bihar. The town, which cherished ambitions to become a city since the beginning of the period of dualism, achieved its goal, even if not in accordance with the original idea: although it remained a town in its status, mainly due to a forced trajectory due to a tragedy, it could become the centre of 61 settlements in the remaining Bihar County. The eight years immediately following the change of empire are presented, 1920–1928, which counted as the most eventful period in the history of the county centre, starting from the loss of Bihar through the reorganization of public administration to the handover of the public hospital.