Utjecaj češkoga kapitala na razvoj Vukovara u razdoblju izmeu sva svjetska rata

Abstract

In 1932, when the economic crisis ruled both the world and Croatian economy, the production of the first completely industrially manufactured shoes in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia began at “Bata”, a factory in Borovo, near Vukovar. In its beginnings the factory employed not more than a hundred workers, but by 1939 this number grew up to 4000 workers, the highest ever number of employees in the history of this factory. Taking into consideration the number of employees, the whole production and scope of the invested capital, “Bata” was one of the biggest factories in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia between the two wars. The factory was located in Borovo, a place which had been chosen for its very favourable geographical position enabling good traffic connections not only within the borders of the Kingdom but also with other countries. While the factory was being built, residential housing projects were erected. In addition to industrial labour, the social and economic wellbeing of the employees, the so-called “Bata” cooperants, were not neglected. Vukovar was then transformed from the administrative centre of the Srijem County together with its outskirts, into an industrial centre. Later, in the postwar period, especially since the 1950s, the factory served as a foundation for strong economic and demographic growth of the city of Vukovar.