A magyar fogyasztói szocializmus zászlóshajói. Hadiipari vállalatok civil termelése, 1953–1963
Flagships of Hungarian Consumer Socialism: Civilian Production of the Armaments Industry, 1953–1963

Summary/Abstract: Imre Nagy’s 1953 government platform set targets to increase the production of articles for daily use and to improve nutrition and basic supplies for the population following the darkest years of the Rákosi-dictatorship. Converting military industry production posed an extraordinary challenge, as, except for carry-overs from the interwar years, these companies had scarcely dealt with civilian products, and the majority of their military products had been based on Soviet licences: hardly any of them undertook independent research and development. The companies had to find a new “secondary” profile and new consumer/exchange products, and put them into production, whilst maintaining military production capabilities and equipment. This shift toward consumer goods also signified diversification of production everywhere: in place of the manufacture of a few licensed products in bulk came production of many kinds of articles, partially constructed on the basis of independent development. The demand for washing machines, refrigerators, televisions and motorcycles, however, also points to the appearance and intensification of other social requirements and consumer expectations. Following the defeat of the 1956 revolution, the Kádár government, not wishing repeated confrontations with society, had to give in to “consumer pressure” in some way. Hungarian industrial management found a practical solution to this: the manufacture of durable consumer goods (1956–60) allocated to military industry companies struggling with the problem of utilising capacities. The decisive articulation of consumer demands and interests at the end of the 1950s, therefore, became a factor in shaping economic and industrial policies even inside the socialist system. Hungary’s political leadership, industrial managers, and workshops all displayed great adaptability; all in all, the construction of a dual profile (military and civilian) made a fundamental contribution to increasing the efficiency of the national economy.

• Details
• Contents