Kitelepítik

Kitelepítik is a Hungarian term that translates to "deportation" or "resettlement" of a population, often against their will. Historically, the term is most closely associated with the forced expulsions and population transfers that occurred in Hungary and its surrounding territories during and after World War II.

Following the Treaty of Trianon after World War I, significant Hungarian populations found themselves living in countries that were formerly part of the Kingdom of Hungary. During the interwar period and particularly after World War II, many of these populations, as well as minority groups within Hungary itself, were subjected to what Hungarians refer to as kitelepítik. This involved the forced removal of individuals and families from their homes and their relocation to other areas, often within the same country or to designated resettlement zones.

The motivations behind these actions varied. In some instances, they were presented as punitive measures against perceived enemies of the state or collaborators. In other cases, they were framed as ethnic cleansing or part of broader demographic engineering policies aimed at creating ethnically homogenous states. The consequences for those subjected to kitelepítik were severe, often involving loss of property, separation of families, and immense hardship during the relocation process. The legacy of these events continues to be a sensitive topic in the historical memory of the region.