hunyadi

A Kaddar Hussar is a hard one to verify as they used the padded winter jackets without rank. Gordon just got a nice pair of pants from the era and I passed on an unmarked version of the jacket this past summer the only thing that is certian from the era and the Kaddar Hussars is the cap. Similar to the Horhty era cap, but with old Tily (Kossuth Coat of Arms) Buttons and a differnt liner than the WW2 version. Sadly I have seen one with Horhty era buttons on it - trying to be WW2 not the more rare Kaddar Calvalry. This one was on the evil bay a little while ago - but is truly a Kaddar Hussar cap

So far nothing mentioned on teh Socail Worker badge. The Light Industry Badge was created along with a whole slew of other ones forn 1952 onward (no mention to the exact date) and was discontinued after the foundation of the "Kivalo Munkaert" medal of 1977 which would be awarded with a specific device per the ministry for which it was awarded for (I am talking about the Kivalo Munkaert medal that was designed for a trifold ribbon. The device would be worn on the ribbon.) Also the light Industry Badge was bestowed by none other than the Light Industry Ministry. Of other interest the same ministry was able to bestow the "Kivalo Femgyuto" (Excelent Metal Collector) - not kidding...

The one on the left is for "Social Worker" - or in other words for a volunteer worker. The one on the right is a Light Industry badge. Will do some research on these -

a better shot of one - He is clearly wearing an M51 Tunic (similar to the Kitel tunic) with the pre 1956 buttons and the 1957 style boards - chaotic time!

Found some photographic evidence. A photo from 1957 that shows signlas offcirs with a panzer officer (double breasted tunic.) notice that they wear the sew in shoulder boards. As per regs the M1954 Panzer Tunic (which he is wearing had sew in boards, however they were the Soviet Style of sew in. He has replaced his with the round ended type. Rare photograph to be sure.

If I recal (please correct me if wrong) the Rainbow Division liberated Dachau. (Did you check the pockets for the SS collar tabs?) As for collecting - I collect where I am at - so when in Rome - collect the Romans, etc...

and 7 Steps to Hell

and a favorite antique store find. IMHO it was either made up in 1946-49 or its all original. Nothing looked like it had been messed with in decades.

Very nice one - original to be for sure. I like these as you can still get this type for fairly cheap and you dont have to worry about the previous owner slapping jump wings on it and a CIB. Nope - tells a perfect story just as it is. Very nice - got any others? This one is mine in storage an Icelandic / ETO

Hi Gordon - Sorry - what I was trying to say is that I could see the prong(s) - in the photo of your post - the one I used to match with the one below - I can just make out a prong between the star and the rifle. If its pointed or not is too hard to tell. The scan does not show up the detail of the prong but its a comparison shot. Also - the bade could be worn by military memebers from 1948 on. As for a police uniform??? they seem to show up less often that military.

Here is an interesting picture of the "second form" of the badge. Its apolice officer in an M1949 four pocket tunic. These would be replaced in 1951 for the more Soviet style two pocket tunic. As the association was disbanded and turned into the "MHS" in 1950 I would date this from about 1949-50. The shield type was apparently the "first form" and apparently used from 1947 (???? not 100% sure on that???)

both mine are outies...

Hi Richard - As memory serves me the central theme is the "coat of arms" for the Architects "Guild" - or Epitesz Mernok (Building Engineers) - From the date and the style (like the Order of Merit of Hungarian Freedom) - I am making the assumption that this was for awarded for rebuilding after the war. Your cased set of WW3 medals is the only other one known to exist at this point.

Very interesting detail -

a smelly tunic

another shot

As I recall the pin was made of an aluminum alloy and was a strange item to be made in such a way for the year it represented. Anyhow - mostly for the Capt'n to see, but items on the hunt this weekend - also a 1970's dress tunic for a Lt.Col of the Engineers was in the lot of itmes I found - but its sitting outside - smoker had that before me - so its going to de-fumigate for now. Interesting itmes - the Excelent Worker document is #22 for 1959. Medal bar The Bakalite case - I had a lonely Sztahanovista for 1952, and the rest...

Though not having any more proof that just the motiff - I am goign to assume that this is an unofficial cap badge of the 52nd Hungarian Infantry Regiment. It was part of General Jany's IIIrd Corps reserves that were called up to counterattack the Soviet offensive at the Don River Bend. Delays in orgnaization caused them to arrive at the fight a day late on January 13th 1943. The counterattack by the 52nd, 47th, 17th and 3rd Infantry Regiments failed to dislodge the Soveit penetration towards Ostrogosk. My assumption that this is Hungarian is that it seems to be the size of a cap badge, which was a common tradition among the Austrio-Hungarian forces during WW1. This traditon - though unofficial continued in limited numbers during WW2. Pieces like this could be bought at the canteen. Also - the cross motiff is of the Hungarian style, the bird resembles the Turul bird of Hungarian folklore and the helmet is of the Hungarian, German style. But these are only guesses at best as I have never encountered its equal or seen it in a period photgraph. - Value - to the right collector maybe $35-50?

well - if anyone is wondering, after I became suspect of its originality and got some good shots of the details in digital form, I took it back to the dealer and got my money back. (I cant afford the database of fakes at this point, not for what I paid for it at least) I am glad that Gordon was able to get it and now there is a solid reference point for it. In defense of the dealer I got it from - I dont think that he truly had any idea eitehr as to its misrepresentation, its still an early field and a young tangent of the HUPR awards. (Sadly)

Hello Gents - As I mentioned in another post, I will be making a rare opportunity to meet an official and author at the offices of the Partisan Association. One of the main objectives is to see if there is any way to research the numbers of the badges as these are one of the few Hungarian items that were numbered. Please - PM me - if you have any that you would like to research. As a disclaimer - I can not guarantee that this meeting will produce any results, but if I dont have the numbers, I cant do anything if the opportunity arises. So - PM me and we can discuss .

double post ----

well in our efforts to let everyone know what we are up to - I hit a "vein of gold" that may turn out to be a goldmine. My coleague has managed to arange a meeting at the offices of the Partisan Associaion with the author of the partisan book published in 1985. Signed copies anyone?

Ulstermann - I am working on a meeting with a "friend" of the Partisan Associaition - it is believed that nearly all the Partisans are dead - there may be a few lurking about, but they would be in their 70's and 80's now - and with an average life expectancy of only 68, the chances are low now. But I will let you all know what I find out. AS for the un-numbered ones - the Large Hungarian Medal Book, lists the un-numbered ones as a variant. I believe that these are late issue and the engraved number may have been left up to the recipient. But still just specualtion at best - will find out with time - this week or next.

This one is another anomoly from the period. I would date this one to early 1957. The regulations had been written for new uniforms, sew in shoulder boards and new button designs, but production and distribution are the bane of every government / military. This is a M1951 tunic that has been modified to accept the sew in shoulder boards, but still retains the Rakosi Coat of Arms buttons. Probably when the owner got his new uinform, he elected to keep this one in the closet just as he had left it in 1957.

Just to bring more to light - in my ever current mission of tyring to find tunics from before the revolution, has been dismal at best. Here is one that I recently got. Its an AVH (State Security) Tunic as recognised by the manufacture stamp and by the dark blue piping around the cuff. During the revolution there were many accounts of AVH personel remving their collar tabs and shoulder boards to avoid detection as many were lynched (in front of reporteres no less) - so much for this poor chap who was issued one with the cuff piping. Also many accounts give details of Revolutionary elelmnts raiding the AVH offcies and warehouses (and military barracks) and taking off with uniforms. I suspect that this AVH officer did the former as there is evidence that the shouder boards were on it for some time and that at one point it did have collar tabs. Sadly, I find it unethical at this point to restore it to the pre October of 56' condition