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PAH 3(2):193-203 (2001)

Jenö Varga, the Hungarian Soviet Republic and the Development of Psychoanalysis in the Soviet Union

Author: Christfried Tögel

Abstract

In the correspondence between Freud and Ferenczi, there is a letter in which Ferenczi describes the first days of the Soviet republic in Hungary. The letter was written four days after the take-over of government by the communists in March 1919 and it paints an interesting picture of the events:

Concerning the ψα effects of the events here—which on the surface have taken place very peacefully—I can only say that they were and are overwhelming. The upsets of the war and the first revolution can't be compared with them. The transfer of such significant, deeply rooted libidinal cathexes, in the way in which one now requires it, places uncommon demands on the adaptive capability of the hitherto propertied class, to which I was beginning to belong and, as a child of well-to-do parents, actually did belong. The first day of revolution passed with speculations; the deeper effect didn't become apparent until the second to third and the fourth day. The inner κρισιζ, [Krisis] is considerably heightened by the threatened cordoning-off of unoccupied Hungary to all foodstuff. My small assets consist of industrial stocks and bank deposits; the former will become invalid, the latter (approximately twenty grand) will be paid out in instalments of 2000 a month. As a basic salary there remains for me the position with the Worker's Health Service, which—as you know—I have always wanted to give up. My clients have completely lost their ability to pay; a few want to continue to pay me. I hear that the state wants to pay us ‘white-collar workers’ a yearly salary of 12 X 1800 crowns, but in lieu of that have our labour at its disposal. (A member of the ψα Society, Dr V, is the People's Representative for Finance.)—In a few days I will leave my present lodgings and move in with my wife. The house, which belongs to her family, is being ‘socialized’, as are all houses; that means that no further rent will be paid. A commission will take up the distribution of dwellings.
I hear that foodstuffs

PAH 3(2):193-203 (2001)

Jenö Varga, the Hungarian Soviet Republic and the Development of Psychoanalysis in the Soviet Union

Author: Christfried Tögel

Abstract

Concerning the ψα effects of the events here—which on the surface have taken place very peacefully—I can only say that they were and are overwhelming. The upsets of the war and the first revolution can't be compared with them. The transfer of such significant, deeply rooted libidinal cathexes, in the way in which one now requires it, places uncommon demands on the adaptive capability of the hitherto propertied class, to which I was beginning to belong and, as a child of well-to-do parents, actually did belong. The first day of revolution passed with speculations; the deeper effect didn't become apparent until the second to third and the fourth day. The inner κρισιζ, [Krisis] is considerably heightened by the threatened cordoning-off of unoccupied Hungary to all foodstuff. My small assets consist of industrial stocks and bank deposits; the former will become invalid, the latter (approximately twenty grand) will be paid out in instalments of 2000 a month. As a basic salary there remains for me the position with the Worker's Health Service, which—as you know—I have always wanted to give up. My clients have completely lost their ability to pay; a few want to continue to pay me. I hear that the state wants to pay us ‘white-collar workers’ a yearly salary of 12 X 1800 crowns, but in lieu of that have our labour at its disposal. (A member of the ψα Society, Dr V, is the People's Representative for Finance.)—In a few days I will leave my present lodgings and move in with my wife. The house, which belongs to her family, is being ‘socialized’, as are all houses; that means that no further rent will be paid. A commission will take up the distribution of dwellings.
I hear that foodstuffs