István Dobi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
István Dobi
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| 3rd Chairman of the Presidential Council of the People's Republic of Hungary | |
| In office 14 August 1952 – 14 April 1967 |
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| Preceded by | Sándor Rónai |
| Succeeded by | Pál Losonczi |
| Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the People's Republic of Hungary | |
| In office 20 August 1949 – 14 August 1952 |
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| President | Árpád Szakasits Sándor Rónai |
| Deputy | Mátyás Rákosi |
| Preceded by | Himself as Prime Minister |
| Succeeded by | Mátyás Rákosi |
| 42nd Prime Minister of Hungary 3rd Prime Minister of the Second Hungarian Republic |
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| In office 10 December 1948 – 20 August 1949 |
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| President | Árpád Szakasits |
| Deputy | Mátyás Rákosi |
| Preceded by | Lajos Dinnyés |
| Succeeded by | Himself as Chairman of the Council of Ministers |
| Minister of Agriculture | |
| In office 23 February 1946 – 20 November 1946 |
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| Prime Minister | Ferenc Nagy |
| Preceded by | Béla Kovács |
| Succeeded by | Károly Bárányos |
| In office 16 April 1948 – 10 December 1948 |
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| Prime Minister | Lajos Dinnyés |
| Preceded by | Árpád Szabó |
| Succeeded by | Istvan Csala |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 December 1898 Szőny, Kingdom of Hungary |
| Died | 24 November 1968 (aged 69) Budapest, Hungarian People's Republic |
| Political party | Independent Smallholders' Party (1916–1949) Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party (1959–1968) |
István Dobi (born December 31, 1898 – died November 24, 1968) was an important Hungarian politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Hungary from 1948 to 1952. Later, he became the Chairman of the Presidential Council of the Hungarian People's Republic from 1952 to 1967. He played a key role in Hungary's history during the mid-20th century.
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Early Life and Political Beginnings
István Dobi grew up in a poor farming family in Szőny, Kingdom of Hungary. He only went to primary school for six years. From a young age, he worked as a day laborer, doing odd jobs for daily pay.
In 1916, he started getting involved with groups that helped farm workers. After fighting in World War I, he supported the Hungarian Soviet Republic, a short-lived communist government. During the Hungarian–Romanian War in 1919, Romanian forces captured him.
After being released, Dobi continued working as a laborer. In the early 1920s, he became active in the farm workers' union. He also joined the Social Democratic Party of Hungary. Because of his political activities, the police watched him closely. In 1936, he joined the Independent Smallholders' Party. He became an official in the local Chamber of Agriculture. Even though he wasn't a Communist, he was arrested several times during the time when Miklós Horthy ruled Hungary.
World War II and Resistance
During World War II, István Dobi became a leader in the Hungarian resistance movement. This group worked against the government and foreign powers occupying Hungary. He was called to serve in the military, but he returned home in the summer of 1945.
Post-War Politics and Leadership
After World War II ended, Dobi became a top member of the Smallholders Party. This party won most votes in the 1945 elections. Dobi was part of the left-wing group within his party. He believed it was important to work with the Communists.
The Smallholders Party was part of Hungary's government after the war. Dobi served as the Minister of Agriculture twice. First, from February to November 1946, under Prime Minister Ferenc Nagy. Then again, from April to December 1948, under Prime Minister Lajos Dinnyés. As a leader of the Smallholders' left wing, Dobi helped make the government seem more legitimate. This was important as Communists gained more power.
After many members who opposed the Communists were removed or arrested, Dobi was chosen as the Smallholders Party chairman in June 1947. His party then formed an alliance with the Communists and other parties. This happened before the 1947 election, which was not entirely fair.
Becoming Prime Minister
In December 1948, István Dobi replaced Lajos Dinnyés as prime minister. This happened partly because Dobi strongly supported the Communists. As prime minister, he helped the Communists take full control of the country. He made sure that members of his own party who didn't agree with the Communists were removed. This left the party in the hands of those who supported the Communists. The same process happened with other non-Communist parties.
By the time of the 1949 elections, Hungary was mostly a one-party state. Voters could only approve or reject a list of candidates chosen by the Communists. One of the first things the new government did was approve a new constitution. This constitution was similar to the one in the Soviet Union. It officially marked the start of full Communist rule in Hungary. The Smallholders' Party was then effectively dissolved.
Historians describe Dobi's role in the Communist takeover. They say that after the Smallholders Party removed its right-wing members, Dobi became its president. Under his leadership, the party removed members who were seen as "reactionary." The party then became part of the Communist plan to build a "people's democracy."
Chairman of the Presidential Council
In 1952, Dobi stepped down as prime minister. This was because the Communist Party leader, Mátyás Rákosi, wanted that position for himself. Dobi was then given a new role. He became the Chairman of the Presidential Council. This was a ceremonial position, like a head of state. He held this role from 1952 until he retired in April 1967.
Dobi took on many other important roles. He became one of the most powerful people in Hungary. He supported the government's actions to stop the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Although he had supported the Communists for many years, Dobi officially joined the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party in 1959. He received the Lenin Peace Prize in 1962 for his work towards peace. István Dobi passed away in Budapest in 1968.
See also
In Spanish: István Dobi para niños
