hunyadi

On of the rare variants of the Sztahanavista - or 'to be like Sztahnavov' (the falbed Soviet worker who produced 400% - or something like that - at his factory) This was awarded only after producing 300% above your work quota. (then you were also expected to maintain that new leve - 300% above your initial quota) As a result even in todays Hungarian slang the word means to 'be a workaholic'. What makes this more rare - its has the date on the banner 1953. Most examples are devoid of this feature.

On of the most rare types of cases - these were made of Bakelite and were issued from 1949 to the ealry 1950s'. Inside....

Compare to this other 'variant' for Heavy Industry - document from the 1970's

ANd we continue on - first up is an interesting badge - one of the "variants" (there were over 300) of the 'Excelent Workers Badge' - these are not as common as the star suspended from the banner type. This one is for the "Food Industry". I find it interesting because it has such a resemblance to the Order of the Red Flag (labor). Came with a document of the 1960's

In my one and only Heer tunic (an M43 from Hungary) I found fragments of onion skins. I took them out with a tweesers and put them in a protective baggie and labeled them - they were brittle - nearly like ashes byt that time. I can only imagine the poor fellow marching to the West to outrun the Red Army and chewed on onions that he found in a field to fill his belly. Next up I found a tram ticket for Budapest within the folds of a Hungarian NCO service cap.

OK - here is the stupid question - these are rare I assume? As I have never seen many on the market...or am I looking in the wrong places. Sorry if its

I have herd that the lowest grades of the Iron Crown was an award for being wonded (among other things) prior to the Kral Wound Medals - is there any truth to this???

notice the box - lack of a lapel pin area and the BS clearly has a wrap broach....http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142457&highlight=bronze+star

Any idea of the price??

And one of the most rare - Order of the Red Flag (for labor - notice the similarity to the USSR counterpart) issued 594 times. This awawrd was for extravagent and outsanding acomplishments in the socialist labor system. The medal could be awarded to individuals as well as to collecitves. The next step up from this was 'Hero of Socialist Labor' (s star that looked excatly like the USSR design)

Here is the reverse -

A rare bird that came to roost - a 1946 Freedom Medal. Issued to individuals for thier particiaption in defeating the German occupation and for forming the Hungarian Republic (1946-1948) Issued in both bronze and silver grades. As cases were reviewed for individual merit druing WW2 the medal was awarded to individuals up to 1953. After that it was determined by the Rakosi government that the medal held too much symbolism and meaning of the old Tildy and Horthy government. Suprisingly it was re-issued in 1957 for individuals who fouhgt against the uprising of 1956. Of this type - combining both the silver and the bronze grades 1330 individuals were bestowed the medal. Compared to the 1957 issue of which 2150 were issued.

And the interior - which contains a dedication for the mans service. Originaly the lid has a place to be engraved - but I have not seen this often - most common is a typed piece of paper that is then glued or taped to the lid. Inside it can hold the medals, ribbon bar, whatever.

doing some catch-up work here - some more photos for Christmas - first off what I like to call the "retirement coffin" - These were issued uppon a persons retirement from the military. On the front is a relief of a soldier and military motiff's. Around the base are representations of the various branches / units within the military. Of interest is that Nuclear Biological and Cemical units are ommitted along with the Parliamentary Honor Guards. To me it looks like a ornate miniature coffin. But there is the common saying that a mans pension was created for the wife to bury him with.

Got this one a while ago - its my favorite of all my collection (OK its a small one) - I can say only that it displays - Quality of manufacture!

An unbeleivable document - there is rare, very rare, and in comparison to Chris's 'Holy Grail' - I would call this a 'Nail of the Cross'.

Beautiful items! I wish I had some of my own

one for illness.

The Fire Cross was instituted on November 24th 1941 by the Horthy government to recognise the service of its soldiers and related uniformed services during the Second World War. The cross was awarded in three grades. The first grade was the cross with swords and wreath (as seen above) the second grade was with wreath and the third grade was without wreath or swords. In order to be awarded the first grade one had to: Be at the front lines in direct fire of the enemy for 12 weeks, or be wounded during actual combat, or be killed during action (posthumious award came with a black ribbon and was awarded to the next of kin) For the second grade one had to be at the front but not in direct enemy fire for 6 months, but one could also be awarded this grade for being wounded in such a capacity (IE an airstrike on HQ - but this would not get you one with swords!) Or for being killed in a similar action while in the rear position (partisan activity also would count) For the third class the wording is rahter vague and only stipulated that it woudl be awarded to individauls who were serving withing the borders of Hungary or those who were being mobilized. Without a stipulated time period this class is the most rare and was hardly ever produced or awarded. On the obverse of the cross at the lower arm is the award year and on most examples one will find the institution date of 1941 stamped into the center of the cross. Some manufacturers of the cross omitted this design requirement. For the first grade one will find the years 1941, 42, and 43. Though the Horthy governemnt was still in power for most of 1944 - the 1944 examples were never produced. For the second grade there were several "retro" awards as examples can be found with the dates of 1938 (for Hungary's aquizition of the northern territories) and 1940 for the return of Transylvania. Examples also come in 1941,42 and 43. The third grade only comes with the dates of 1941,42 and 43. For each award that was bestowed for wounds received in battle a thin 5mm aluminum strip would be applied to the ribbon and the ribbon bar. The above example displays three wound strips - but there is also the tradition of adding a strip for additional awards. In the above example it is seen on the ribbon bar the addtion of a miniature device signifying an additional award. This mini device is then flanked by two 5mm wide aluminum strips indicating two wounds (confusing eh?) Also if the recipient was wounded enough to warrant discharge from the military for disabling wounds the individual could then attach a "HR" badge to the ribbon (Hadirokkant - war disabled) The Hadirokkant was an organization that was founded by disabled vets from WW1 in the 1930's.

I will try to help from what I can. First thing would be to post a better shiot of just the medal front and back. But it is probably a comemmorative medal of some sort. Gray woll cloth had several dvices that I dont know but the medal bar is an EK2 and Bavarian KVK medal bar (minus medals) Then it looks like Reich coins and a rank 'pip' (the star burst) The zink disc is a 'dog tag' for a member of a Jager Regiment. The bullet looks to be a Springfield rifle type (??) Hope that starts the process - ohters probably know what the eagles are and the other badges...

also notice on this set of BDU's - they have zipper pockets and hidden snap buttons. Only from about 1998-2000 were these tunics issued, and only issued to the paratrooper regiments. Later the MOD determined that the tunices were too expensive and swithced back to button "catch on the jump door" models. This set is a 1999 manufacture date. Notice also the SSI for the 34 PIR of Szolnok. Currently the unit is still in Afghanistan (spelling??) To those Magyars looking for the bad guys

Basic Para Badge of 1949-1990. This type is a 1970's to 80's model as it is cold enamel. Earlier models came in hot enamel and the one as seen on a 1950's Paratrooper tunic that I failed to buy when I should have Had a blue felt backing. Also the current badges that Gordon posted are for the "Master" grade. Accoring to the individual who wore this current uniform below these are given only to 1) professional paratoopers (he was one) 2) passed a course that led to free fall jumps, a course that he was not able to complete because of an injury during jump training. To get a grade of this type it requires somewhere around 20 jumps in a special program. The owner of the tunic did have 36 jumps under his belt with a dozen civilain jumps - but had to wait to get into the program for these badges, so all he has to his credit is the jump wings. Like everything in this world - its a racket!

the one I got was put on wrong - but he also makes them the correct way as well - here is a shot of the inside...

compare this with a replacement ribbon that I got from the guy at the show for a rather gorund dug item...

Very nice EK - but I have a bad feeling about the trifold being of a more recent manufacture. The eylet and the wire prong look to be of the type found on modern 'replacement' ribbons. I have seen quite a few of these at the local military show. A guy has bags full of them for $5 each. the white does not glow under black light though. Still - its a nice set and worhty of display. For comparison here is what I believe to be a WW1 - WW2 ear ribbon. Notice the ring and the wire prong.