Front of Ploughmen, Satu Mare county

Collection

Holding institution:: Satu Mare County division of the Romanian National Archives

Holding institution (official language):: Arhivele Naţionale Române. Direcţia Judeţeană Satu Mare

Postal address:: Satu Mare, Str. 1 Decembrie 1918, 13, Satu Mare, 440010, jud. Satu Mare

Title (official language):: Frontul Plugarilor Organizația Județeană Satu Mare

Scope and content:: This fonds comprises the records of the Satu Mare county branch of the Front of Ploughmen from 1945 to 1953. It includes reports of activity of the local organisations from the districts of Satu Mare, Carei and Negreşti, statements of individuals who joined the organisation, activity plans and records of meetings. The organisation was at the forefront of the fight for the implementation of the agrarian reform of 1945, which aimed for the total abolition of large estates over 50 hectares and the repartition of the expropriated properties to peasants with no, or insufficient, land. As member of the coalition around the Communist Party, the Front of Ploughmen played an important role in the installation of the Communist regime. The 54 files containing the personal data and motivation of the individuals who applied to be admitted as members include several Jews.

Archival history:: The fonds was transferred to the Satu Mare County division of the Romanian National Archives in 1996, where it was inventoried and made available to researchers.

Administrative/biographical history:: The Front of Ploughmen was founded in 1933 in Deva under the leadership of Dr. Petru Groza, with the main purpose of protecting the interests and rights of the peasants. It was close to the Communist Party, which was illegal at the time, and was always of antifascist standing. After the Second World War it became one of the main political allies of the Communist Party and on 6 March 1945 the first government with considerable Communist participation (imposed with the support of the Soviet Union) was led by Dr. Petru Groza. The role of the Front of Ploughmen increased after the agrarian reform of 1945 was decided and it had a central position in its implementation. At the parliamentary elections of 1946 the organisation was a part of the Bloc of Democratic Parties led by the Communists, which won a large majority by falsifying the results. The organisation was abolished in 1953 when the Communist regime considered that its role had been fulfilled.

System of arrangement:: The fonds is organised into thematic files which are arranged in chronological order, while the 54 files of persons who joined the organisation are in alphabetical order.

Finding aids:: Inventory No. 239, held by the Satu Mare County division of the Romanian National Archives.

Yerusha Network member:: Romanian Institute for the Research of National Minorities

Author of the description:: Attila Gidó (researcher, Institute for Study of National Minorities, Cluj-Napoca), Ladislau Gyémánt (emeritus professor), 2017