hunyadi

That certianly makes sense! Thanks! Cavalry even makes it more exciting!

Hungarian 46th IR corduroy tunic

Hungarian 46th IR corduroy tunic

detail

After the nightmare of the late 70's I refuse to wear anything with corduroy - but that does not mean that I have to forgo corduroy in the collection. - Here is what I found a Hungarian IR 46 corduroy tunic for a Major

So the Eton-educated Anglo-Hungarian British civil servant who presented this to my friend was not mistaken when he told my friend that he was a Vitéz Knight. After all, the insignia of the Order of Vitèzi Rend was not awarded at that time and the order itself was effectively dormant. So this was their way of expressing appreciation for services rendered at a certain level.

Technically the order is revived - however there is no alotment of 40 acres and a mule. The wearer of this order is (as far as I know) fully able to wear the badge as well. My author friend wore both of them at the same time. I think you are probably correct in that this is a token of appreciation for services rendered at an appropriate level.

Hi PK - that is interesting - I would have expected that he would have been awarded the Hungarian Cross of Merit for such services rendered. Perhaps it was legitimized as your British agent was working in conjunction with the Hungarian Fighter.

The term Vitez - is the British equivalent to being Knighted in the UK... its a high honor and considering the risks taken two decades ago.

Sure - could be an officer or nco bar I would say.

Kun Bela was a civil servant then enlisted with the KUK as a reserve officer - was wounded in 1915 then sent back to the front and was captured shortly afterwards - then returned to Hungary and led the brutal Hungarian Soviet Ruepublic for 119 days... his bar would probably look something similar to this - but with the exception of the Triol medal and the addition of the wound medal...

Hi All,

Here's a curley one for you. The attached picture is of a badge found with my father's Hungarian WW2 medals and insignia. I've been researching it for some time now. The Hungarian experts believe it to be of French origin, however, it displays the right hand side of the hungarian coat of arms within it's design. Originally it was mounted to a leather patch with a button loop for hanging from a pocket button. He also has a couple of small lapel pins with the central shield showing the G.A.E. and 4/15 on it.

If anyone recognises this bade, I would appreciate any information that you may have.

Badge

Very interesting badge - of course there is all the Hungarian symbolism - the Turul Eagle - the St Stevens Cross, the three mountains, etc... but french colors - what an insult for Hungarians! I wonder if your father had some sort of joint training exercise with the French in the 1930's? That would be about the only thing I could think of - perhaps he went to a French military school -

Have you contacted Peter Czink at the Magyar Front Associaiton?

Is he Hungarian? I did not know that this award could be given to anyone but a Hungarian citizen - but I may be wrong. This follows the pattern of the 1921 award in some ways but many ways not. This is the Jubilee Cross award of the Order of the Knight. Generally given out for service rendered - or for a commemorative - in the instance that perhaps his father was awarded one prior to the end of WWII?

I will also say that the awarding of these are more liberal than before - one was awarded to the Hungarian Border Gurads - not individually but just as a unit - One award that I knew of personally was for a writer who wrote about Hungary in WWII - he was awarded one... so its not tooo hard to get one

Its a bit odd - but certianly plausable - the 1908 cross is for civil servants - hence there is no long service award. Looks like he was a deputy clerk and in 1945/15 he gets called up and serves on the Italian front - probably in a HQ, near the guns, but not near enough to warrant a combat bravery type award. I would be very interested in seeing the reverse before making a positive judgement.

Nr.

nr. 46

Bezeichnung

appellation

Ungarisches Infanterieregiment Nr. 46

errichtet

established

1816

Name

name (Vakat.) von

from

1914-

Frühere Namen

former names Freiherr v. Fejérváry von

from

1887-1914

Reg. deutsch/ungar.

reg.Austrian/Hungarian ungarisch

Hungarian

Egalisierung

facing colour

papageiengrün

parrot green Knöpfe

buttons

gelb

golden

Korps

corps VII.

Ergänzungsbezirk-Kdo

recruiting distric command

Szeged (Szegedin)

Jahr

year

Stab

staff I. Bataillon

I. battalion

II. Bataillon

II. battalion

III. Bataillon

III. battalion IV. Bataillon

IV. battalion

1914 Szeged (Szegedin) Szeged Szeged Avtovac Szeged -

1913 Szeged (Szegedin) Szeged Szeged Avtovac Szeged -

1912 Szeged (Szegedin) Szeged Szeged Avtovac Szeged -

1911 Szeged (Szegedin) Szeged Szeged Avtovac Szeged -

1910 Szeged (Szegedin) Szeged Szeged Avtovac Szeged -

1909 Szeged (Szegedin) Szeged Pancsova Szeged Szeged -

1908 Szeged (Szegedin) Szeged Pancsova Szeged Szeged -

1907 Szeged (Szegedin) Szeged Pancsova Szeged Szeged -

1906 Szeged (Szegedin) Szeged Pancsova Szeged Szeged -

1905 Szeged (Szegedin) Szeged Pancsova Szeged Szeged -

1904 Szeged (Szegedin) Szeged Pancsova Szeged Szeged -

1903 Szeged (Szegedin) Szeged Pancsova Szeged Szeged staff 1895 from Wien

Jahr

year Kommandant

commander Rang

rank Jahr

year Kommandant

commander

Rang

rank

1914 Josef Freih. v. Henneberg

Oberst 1908 Josef Szentgyörgyi Oberst

1913 Otto Sertic Oberst 1907 Karl Berg v. Falkenberg Oberst

1912 Otto Sertic Oberst 1906 Karl Berg v. Falkenberg Oberst

1911 Otto Sertic Oberst 1905 Karl Berg v. Falkenberg Oberst

1910 Josef Szentgyörgyi Oberst 1904 Karl Berg v. Falkenberg Oberst

1909 Josef Szentgyörgyi Oberst 1903 Karl Berg v. Falkenberg Oberst

That is an AMAZING site - tried to find something like that for ages - many many thanks!

It looks like IR 46 was only in service till 1914? Or am I reading that wrong?

Hello, The tunic may be from Hungarian Infantry Regiment 46, it had the same facing color and buttons. Robert

Hi Robert - can you post or scan the information on IR 46? Thanks for the information!

This is a unique tunic that I just got off eban - it appears to be WWI era corderouy (spelling?) with the traditional single shoulder chord and knot. But I just cant place the facing color with anything? What unit had "electric green"?

Seriously Seriously

"Bravery" medals were ONLY for enlisted.... NOT for officers....

the general method of awarding offciers for bravery was the Signum Laudis with sword devices...

Its interesting that you have already stated that he is an offcier and that officers were only awarded the Signum Laudis - yet somehow is supposed to be awarded small silver bravery medals??? Do more research. - PLEASE

This offcier is a Lieutenant Colonel and as stated he more certainly would have been an officer his entire career. Lack of a long service award (1908 Jubilee Medal - so he was in uniform at that time!) can mean a couple of things - namely a break in service, or he rose in rank rather rapidly from a distinguished career...

Signum laudis was only for officers, as Sascha said. He was probably on some rear duty, as he didn't get any bravery decoration, which was common for front-line officers. Karl Truppenkreuz could be awarded only for the presence in the theater of battle.

???????????????????????????????????

I think you need to look at the photo again...................

Signum Laudis with swords indicates a bravery award - in this case 2 X - then how do you get a wound medal sitting at a desk? The German EKII??? Look again please...

After rough translating the back of the photo it seems our young man is writing to relatives and explaining that he has not heard from them in a long time etc... he does mention that he has five medals, but cant recall what they are all for. I would guess by the age and the circumstances that his family probably escaped Hungary before the War - possibly for being Jewish - or possibly for other reasons - border disputes post WWI. Sorry thats about all I can add. Its interesting that this photo went from the USA to Hungary or Romania -

Thanks Chris - I have so many awards, just nothing to hang them on - so when the chance came I had to jump - even if it was pretty deep!

Second class - silver? There were many weights and manufacturers - you have zinc, bronze with silver wash and solid silver content - each of these would have a different weight. There was also some variations on the suspension loop as well - so many variables to make "correct" weight an issue...

I can only give my experinces from Hungary - there was some very large reserves of WWI AH ribbon that were found - probably from the Hungarian State Mint in the 1990's and sold to collectors. The ribbon was probably made in the 1930's or 40's. The ribbon would feel like a period piece, but they were very bright as they were stored in a box away from light. They were cut up, sewed and had the hardward attached. At first they were easy to spot as the hardware was all wrong. But I did notice in the last years that they were using different construction methods for the hardware. I have seen period pieces with the white enamele gromets - and black and plain ones too! It seems now that they have perfeted the hardware to be more like the origionals. The sewing on the ribbon makes me very leery as this is a very quick way to sew it up and has been seen on the "replacement" ribbons. I think in this case both ribbons are original but have been "produced" more recently.

WOW Scott - that is a very nice uniform and I must say any man living in the 21st century that can still fit into an actual WWII uniform makes me jelous! :cheers:

Based on a recent Lanz of Munich catalogue there appear to be at least two varieties of the badge, one in silver and enamel by G. A. Schied, Hollo Utcza 6, Budapest, hallmarked with GAS monogram on suspension ring and another in bronze-gilt and enamel which is unmarked.

Hope this is of some help

Paul

There was a thread on these a while back - as I recall there was a bronze, silver, sliver with enamel and gold w/ enamel - these were awarded for contributions to the war effort - sort of a War Aid Cross - there was also a ribbon that the medal was suspended on -

So Scott - does this mean we all have more competition for Hungarian Militaria!??

The badge is a commemorative type - the plaque lists the locations of action - what is interesting to note is that the date is unfinihsed and was intended for the last number of the date to be added at a latter time.

These look certianly ground dug...