hunyadi

Hi John- Welcome! And as I had said before - a fantastic find! For those who dont know a few observations. As the war drew to an end the quailty of the Arrow Cross uniforms degraded. In many cases the (relativly few) Arrow Cross items that I have seen were manufactured from existing tunics that were "mass" dyed in dark blue / black dye. The threads that held the peices together were subsequently dyed with them and give off a blue hue as can be seen in the photos. This cap is made from an end of the war Honved cap that was thrown into a vat of dye and then issued. I hate to also mention one factor that the arm band is original is that the arms of the 'arrows' on the cross are narrow. On all the crude reproductions that I see around - they arms of the cross are much fatter. Nice pieces - real keepers! (even though you are too young to have one )

The absurdity of the law seems to want to go after the frauds, but in the attempt makes it much like current gun law stupidity. If we as collectors are supposed to be proteced, as some senators have supposedly stated, how will that be enforced? Are we supposed to get a 'collectors licence?' Are we supposed to set up our table at a show and require anyone whanting to by a Bronze Star with a background check. "Here fill this form out and in a week I can deliver it to you" ---???? Some people it seems find the new law not as harsh as one would think, but the wording to this law is prety clear - even to this average citizen. It is illegal to have these medals unless the Congress awawrded them to you - thats pretty plain. Of course the grandfather clause means that the medals you have - you can keep. But god forbid if you should find in a year a set belonging to a Silver Star winner in the dumpster - walk away from it let it rot in the land fill, because you culd be stealing someones valor. Inf fact without your 'collecitng licence' you are probably going to put it on your chest at the next VFW meeitng according to the law makers...Sheer stupidity - I hope the OMSA and others will stomp even harder. Interestingly when I wrote my law makers - not a single one of them ever sent a response letter - not even a form letter of 'yes I agree' or 'respecfuly I dont agree' - what rot!

What is sad is that the law makes it illegal for my borther-in-law who killed an insurgent at 500 yars with his SAW, who was peppered with shrapnel up and down one side of his body, who litteraly ran out of all forms of ammunition during an insurgent counter-attack and was almost down to 'throwing rocks at them' cant even mail home his well earned ARCOM with V device, of Bronze Star with V device or his Purple Heart home to his folks for safe keeping...thank you all of those who were elected and know better than the rest of us....

and the reverse

I have learned that the assocition is still around, I have been talking with a coleague who is trying to put me in touch with them, But she left for another town to work in and wont be back until February. She is a 'half-partisan ' herself as she attended many of the meetings during the socialist era - trust me - working on that! Apparently there is even a museum that is running - but it open by appointment only. Also the same source was trying to get me in. Patience - but till then how about a medal of the Hungarian Freedom Fighters Associaiton for particiaption in the second party congress. This was 1948 when they adopted to become the HUngarian Communist Party which was then sucked up into the Hungarian Workers Socailist Party of 1949 that then set into law that they were the only legal party - members of the Hungarian Freedom Fighters Association then went on to form none other that the Hungarian Military Sport Club MHS later MHSZ....its another rare and odd piece of history...never seen another like it. Probably given to members who helped set up, gurad, admin, etc... the party meeting in 1948.

perhaps they were to the same person, but that is lost to time and history - but plausable as the low number suggests very early membership

And the even better part - it came with a sister.

glitch....

Gotta bring this back up to the top - out shopping today for the family and found this along the way.... About 1947 or so, the Magyar Partizan Bajtarsi Szovetseg (MPBSZ) Hungarian Partisan Comrade Association was formed. Members were given a badge as seen below - unofficial of course. Unfortunatly this rare badge is in bad shape. Uppon the star would normaly have been a parachute with crossed PPSH's. But that has long since fallen off.

OOOOPPPS - looking at it again, its the Frans Joseph Cross of 1916. However it was not awarded until November 28th, 1916 (a week after the death of FJ) as a 'posthumious' award (for the Emperor) Kaiser Karl was the first recipieint and recieved his on My 12, 1917. It was only awarded 25 times to Generals, Field Marshals, and high officers. The FJ cross is 56mm from arm to arm. At first look I thought it was the memorial cross but that one has a 'star burst' between the arms of the cross - not the laurel wreath. Established by Karl on November 30th 1916 the FJ Memorial Cross came in oly two classes. The cross is a48mm from arm to arm EK style cross, with a right facing portrait of FJ in a center medalion. Around the medalion is 'IN MEMORIAM. 1848 - 1916' 5 'rays' of a star burst between each arm. The first class came in black oxodized iron (not rust!) while the second class came in gold plate (!) Unfortunatly, the source that has such information makes no mention of how many or who was awarded the memorial cross.

With Luftwaffe Collar Tabs cut from the uniform and stuffed in the kit? all joking aside - I would (and I am looking for) like to get an 88th ID Sgt tunic with 1 years worht of service stripes and Company D collar devices - Great grandfather A bullion 10th AF four pocket captains dress uniform with 1 year overseas stripes and the CBI SSI that match the ones of my grandfather - (or the moths who ate the original thing back in the 1960's so I can stomp on them!) or the Brig General tunic (freshly converted from his original Col uniform) of my great great great uncle CSA Brig Gen John T Hughes... Chances are better on the first two.....

Does not appear to be the drooping arms type fake - and the catch reminds me of a Floch...looks like a little 'divit' strike on the top there. Pin is also not right - anyone got a good shot of an L/56 pin to compare it with? Even still - I would back away and not think twice...

Can't be - the descendant of Christ is supposedly French...so in that case it would have to be a Crux DeGuerre (or however that one is spelled....) In all seruiousness and sanity - Chris you need to get back from Cambodia ASAP...but as that would probably cost you a wife - have a beer in the sun for all of us

Very nice - wish that operation had gone better...many many many many thanks for the service to the nation.

If I am correct the 47mm frame is an 'Ubergrosse' EK - I would get it back ASAP - but if you dont - then there are prabably a few folks who would like to buy it

Hi Charles - This is the Memorial Cross for Franz Joszef. Awarded uppon the Emperors demise.

Nice info Gordon - how about the measurments on that earlier BG hat??

Hey Dan - glad you liked them and glad they are a great addition to your collection - as for the transaltion of the document - (Left side) Hungarian People's Republic Secretary Council of Ministers Certificate 005/35/ 2899 1953 (year) Serial Number (right side) This certifies that, Graizer Sandor the Workers Medal is awarded this award can be revoked at any time Budapest 1953, Novemebr 5th the Hungarian People's Republic Secratray Council of Ministers autorization: (signature)

and the insides - the lapel pin is a screwback

And - this one has been posted before - but besides finding a MOH - well its my next best thing....

Robbins contract of course...

and the DSC itself

case lid

Very nice Darrel - here is an old shot of my DSC....

For what its worth - I would like to help with the Hugnarian section, but writing about Hungarian People's Republic awards is not my full time job...