hunyadi

I would agree - there is a PHD paper somewhere in that thought process! I think we tend to see more mass produced 'awards' that fit on a chest as indistry became more avaialble to the human race to be able to fill the chests of the common soldier. Just my philisophical thoughts....

And the reverse

Here are a few more - Large Silver Bravery Medal. (Probably equal to an EK1)

For the 4th class the woman had to give birth to 6 children - so she got her silver 3rd class for #7. As a father of two - I feel for her.

Hello - I can let the cat out of the bag - I have translated a very good book "Nagy Magyar Kitunteteskonyv" - "The Large Hungarian Book of Medals". It deals with all Hungarian awards from 1000 - 2003 AD. I have translated the Hungarian People's Republic Awards 1949-1991. Ulster has said he was working on the Horthy era (WW2) - I am still considering more translation. (working on two articles for publication soon) I would write a book about them myself, but the problem is getting the photos of the ultra rare awards. At times I can still get the book about $55-75 as they are now out of print, but finding one for sale is a job in itself. For those who are interested in "a" reference PM me. For more eye candy - "Labor Medals" - Actualy these are Medals of Motherhood in 3rd and 4th class. The object was to make more Communist babies after the war, however the European tendancy was to have fewer children. So in 1951 they insituted this medal - very rare! Plus its to the same woman who gave birth almost 1 year later to get the 3rd class! Busy "Labor"

Not very common at all - This is the only tunic with a EK ribbon on it that I own. I added the EK as this was the common practice for 'parade'. The only two real big engagments that the Hungarians were workiogn alongside the Germans to qualify for German awawrds was the Don River Bend 1943 and the Battle of Budapest 1944/45. 6 (or was it 8 - dont have my source in front of me right now) Hungarians were awarded the RK (generals mostly) During the retreat from the Don River Bend scertain untis were mixed in with German ones and attempted several counter attacks. More than likely this is where the 2nd Lt won his EK2. The next most common to see is the Ostfront Medal as they served in Army Group South buring the winter of 41/42 with the Germans. Though many qualified and were probably awarded, there are only a few that I have seen to have the ribbon on the tunic.

Hi Dan - Unfortunatly - the case is not mine. I have only seen two of them. One in the Hungarian Military History Museum and the other in Gordons collection. It was an item reserved fof ambassadors and upper officers of other nations as a gift. Super rare. The badges by themselves can be easily purchased, but that case - probably not.

Stay tuned folks - I have just gotten a lot that is un-believable - perhaps I should wait untill October 23rd to post it. If that gives anyone a hint about it

OoV - Your example is the only one to exist - there was a push in the mid 60's to early 70's to have all sorts of badges for different professions in the serivces. The borderguard one you have is for someone who was a squad to company leader of a border region. (depending on the size and threat of unwanted folks coming into the country). The box you have for the 800 hour service medal is a late 70's to late 80's version. Wood and paper boxes were too costly to make so the injected mold plastic cases became the norm during this time. Nice start to your collection - I dont even have an 800 hour medal (I am stealing your photo gordon!!!)- but here is an example of all the badges they made for the army alone for wear on the dress tunic

Sorry Jeff- Forgot to mention about the badges - Top Left - unofficial Tank Battle Badge - these were private purchase as some commanders encouraged them to be worn. Similar to the PAB of the German allies. You were not encouraged to get one until you had proven your steel in battle. Center Left - Officers Combat Leadership Badge - I hear lots about this, but to my understanding this was simply a badge that was given to officers / warrant offciers uppon completion of a military academy or university. Nothing more. Lower Left - Sport Badge for competing in the yearly national sport competition - its a silver grade. Lower Right - Vitezi Rend - Order of the Knight. It is unclear to me if this was a case of the individual being the son of a Vitez (a WW1 veteran who distinguished himslef during the war) in which case the son is the heir to the land given out by the award and so was therefore eligible to wear the Order - or if he distingushed himself in battle and was awarded it. Since he was more than likely 1st Armored at the Don River - its entirely possible. This tank commander saw some serious action as a simple 2nd Lt.

The last badge is the badge for a "Patrol Commander" - this is for the Border Guards as the stone monolith in the center with crossed PPSH's is the symbol for the Hatarorseg (border Guards) - both the 800 hour flying medal was similar to a long serivce medal. This particular type was issued in 1965 and used untill 1982. The Border Guard badge is a mid 1960's version.

I stand completely correctd -

Hi - the point that I was making is that I have never seen a A-H bar with overlapping ribbons like that - the posts show german individuals (#2) not Austrian. The other posts show officers with long - and not overlapping ribbons, miniature albeit. However seeing the filed Marshal I am convinced that there were some ribbon bars that were too long to accomodates - so there are some. My main point is that I have never seen one like that before and the "shine" on the bravery medals is too much like new ribbon being made every day. The quality of the construction also just screams of recently put together. But thats all just my observations and opinions.

Hi Tom - The large silver FJ is the best of the lot and the most valuable - the repeat bars look original. Good luck!

Szervusz Tom - The medals look good - the kopies that are floating around are very poor (so far) To me the medals look good and the dual repeat bar on the large bravery is probably period as well. Key question to ask "is there a mark underneath the repeat bars" - all originals that I have seen have them, but I am careful with the word "all". The center two obviusly have new ribbons - or NOS ribbons. A few rolls of bravery ribbon keep popping up around here and they keep using new brass hooks and eyelet. Though they are getting smarter by painting the hardware white or black enamel as some manufacturers did. The outter two ribbons look more period - but check the hardware - only a reverse shot will tell you that! Personaly never dealt with the individual - cant help you there.

Hello - It was not even worht that much - the whole thing is put together with modern ribbon. I have almost never seen an austrian bar with overlapping ribbons like that. They almost always show the full view fo each ribbon. If you just look at the ribbons they seem very new. Yes - they are all mostly Austrio-Hungarian descent except for the last ribbon - which I can not identify. Eitehr way they not completely fantasy - but they were probably made a week ago...

Though far from 100% knowledge - there were 1913 EK's made in 1913 for the 100 year annaversary. These tended to follow the die designs of the 1914 cross (naturaly) This could very well be one of those - however I have also seen folks carefuly grind of crowns, W's and 1914's to get a 1813 cross...I would only bid on such a thing as a 20th century piece, noting more...

Yes - we are having another revolution... today was the celebration / and demand by the opposition for the soicalist government to resign also it was the 16th annaversary of the last Soviet Soldier to leave Hungarian soil. When it was released about three weeks agon now that the Hungarian PM has said in a closed door meeting to his cabinet "we have lied to the Hungarian people morning, noon and night." "we have done nothing for Hungary" this sparked protests and riots. During the first night of rioting the M1 television station was raided. The protestors demanded to the TV director for a change of government, he simply told them that he coudl not give them that. He then asked again what they wanted. They could not find a concencious so they looted the snack bar....revolition....

Does this help the bug any??? Hungarian People's Republic Order of Meirt 5th class. Bestowed 1619 times...

Combat leadership badge - unfortunatly I dont have photos of the other items as it is in sotrage now.

here they are - medal bar set - one loop for silver Signum Laudis or Konghts Cross. Dot know for sure what - a previous owner liked that one more than me...

anyone else got Hungarian WW2???

[attachmentid=56179]And finaly my favorite - A Panzer Lt. Tunic

Wish I had a name with this one - found it in a pawn shop. Fire Cross 1942 issue date with two wound stripes and a device for a second award. Also has a Return of Norhtern Hungary medal. Nothing else was with the group. Presumably the man was a conscript soldier during 1938 and recieved the medal for his serivce, then when hostilities in Russia broke out - he was called back up again and served for 6 months (minimum) at the front. Was wounded twice - probably along the Don River Bend.

Here is a same aluminum variant but for the Transylvania territory.