Hungary Hungarian People's Republic Awards

[hunyadi]

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.

[hunyadi]

and the reverse

[Ulsterman]

sweet! Great piece-and well worth an article!

[hunyadi]

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.

[hunyadi]

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.

[hunyadi]

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.

[hunyadi]

Here is the reverse -

[hunyadi]

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)

[hunyadi]

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

[hunyadi]

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

[hunyadi]

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

[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.

[hunyadi]

Sorry - bad photo - how about this one -

[hunyadi]

Here is a photo that I found of a Brig General wearing a partisan badge...

[Ulsterman]

very cool stuff! I LOVE those workers badges. LOVE,love,love them.

The partisans are a really fertile collecting area. I've been delving into some very obscure academic and secondary works and looking at some of the US reports and evaluations of their activities on microfiche. These people were hard, hard cases-and most were determined Communists. Not a few were also violently anti-Semetic. Others were remnants of the "ragged guard" who had fought Bela Kun, the Czechs and the germans WITH the Poles. I note that the Partisan Association is one of the groups in the new Peoples Forum, which by their manifesto is the reworked Hungarian Communist party.

[Eric Schena]

That is a great photo of the Partisan Badge in wear!

While I am a little late to this thread (easily one of my favorite threads this year), I did want to share one thing in my small but hopefully growing collection. This was with an Order of Labor 2nd class that had the large award certificate and carrying document - it's the order of precedence in wear for Hungarian decorations. This particular decoration no longer resides in my collection as it has been (thankfully) reunited with a larger group posted earlier in this thread, but I did save a scan of this document. I hope folks will find this somewhat useful.

Cheers,

Eric

[hunyadi]

Been meaning to make this up for a while - using the Hungarian "Blue Book" (published in 1977) the Hungarian Big Book of Awards (2005) and a award doc precidene from the 1980's - and the reminder of Eric - here is as complete list as I can make. There are some obscure ones like the Customs Officials Medals and such that I cant find precedence for yet...but its as good as it gets today.

1) Hero of the Hungarian Peoples Republic

2) Hero of Socialist Labor

3) Flag Order of the Hungarian Peoples Republic in Diamonds

4) Order of Merit of the Hungarian Peoples Republic

5) Order of Merit for Peace and Amity

6) Flag Order of the Hungarian Peoples Republic in Rubies

7) Flag Order of the Hungarian Peoples Republic 1st Class

8) Order of Merit for the Socialist Nation

9) Order of Merit of the Hungarian Peoples Republic 1st Class

10) Kossuth Order 1st Class

11) Flag Order of the Hungarian Peoples Republic with Laurel Wreath

12) Flag Order of the Hungarian Peoples Republic

13) Red Flag Order of Labor

14) Flag Order of the Hungarian Peoples Republic 2nd Class

15) Order of Merit of the Hungarian Peoples Republic 2nd Class

16) Order of Merit of Hungarian Freedom Silver Class

17) Kossuth Order 2nd Class

18) Order of Merit of the Socialist Hungary

19) Return of Rule to the Workers and Peasants Medal

20) Order of Labor Gold Class and / or Order of Merit of the Red Star

21) Flag Order of the Hungarian Peoples Republic 3rd Class

22) Order of Merit of the Hungarian Peoples Republic 3rd Class

23) Kossuth Order 3rd Class

24) Order of Merit of the Hungarian Peoples Republic 4th Class

25) Order of Merit of Hungarian Freedom Bronze Class

26) Order of Merit of the Hungarian Peoples Republic 5th Class

27) Order of Labor Silver Class and / or Merit Medal of Socialist Labor and / or Distinguished Service Medal

28) Merit Medal of the Hungarian Peoples Republic Gold Class

29) Sports Merit Medal of the Hungarian Peoples Republic Gold Class

30) Order of Labor Bronze Class and / or Meritorious Service Medal

31) Merit Medal of the Hungarian Peoples Republic Silver Class

32) Sports Merit Medal of the Hungarian Peoples Republic Silver Class

33) Merit Medal of the Hungarian Peoples Republic Bronze Class

34) Sports Merit Medal of the Hungarian Peoples Republic Bronze Class

35) Medal of Honor Commemorating 1848 ?1948

36) Commemorative Medal of the Hungarian Soviet Republic

37) Jubilee Medal of Liberation

38) Merit Medal for Service to the Country in Gold

39) Meritorious Service Medal for 3000 Flying Hours

40) Meritorious Service Medal for 40 Years of Service

41) Meritorious Service Medal for 3000 Parachute Jumps

42) Meritorious Service Medal for 2500 Flying Hours

43) Meritorious Service Medal for 35 Years of Service

44) Meritorious Service Medal for 2500 Parachute Jumps

45) Meritorious Service Medal for 2000 Flying Hours

46) Meritorious Service Medal for 30 Years of Service

47) Meritorious Service Medal for 2000 Parachute Jumps

48) Meritorious Service Medal for 1500 Flying Hours

49) Meritorious Service Medal for 25 Years of Service

50) Merit Medal for Service to the Country in Silver

51) Meritorious Service Medal for 1500 Parachute Jumps

52) Meritorious Service Medal for 1000 Flying Hours

53) Meritorious Service Medal for 20 Years of Service

54) Meritorious Service Medal for 1000 Parachute Jumps

55) Merit Medal for Service to the Country in Bronze

56) Meritorious Service Medal for 500 Flying Hours

57) Meritorious Service Medal for 15 Years of Service

58) Meritorious Service Medal for 500 Parachute Jumps

59) Meritorious Service Medal for 10 Years of Service

60) Public Security Medal in Gold

61) Fire Prevention Medal in Gold

62) Public Security Medal in Silver

63) Fire Prevention Medal in Silver

64) Public Security Medal in Bronze

65) Fire Prevention Medal in Bronze

Foreign Awards

Edited December 31, 2006 by hunyadi

[hunyadi]

Picked this up today - an Order of Merit for Outstanding Service, yes it looks just like the 1957 model known as the Distinguished Service Medal - but this has to be a post 1964 model as there is a massive brace behind the star and an aluminum insert to make the trifold ribbon hang 'straight' on the medal bar. This feature is found on late 1970's to 80's models.

[hunyadi]

and the reverse - notice the massive brace. Also of interest is the older ribbon. It has the wire hook system and not the flat metal tab that was introduced in the 1960's to cut down on produciton cost and time. (bending wire takes time as opposed to just sewing on an aluminum tab)

[Ulsterman]

Beautiful!

[Ulsterman]

OK lads-I translate this as "business /trade/ master". So my Hungarian needs work:

What is it- a special badge-or a joke one?

p.s. it's on auction at the mo'in the UK.

Edited January 13, 2007 by Ulsterman

[hunyadi]

This one does not show up in the Blue Book - so its after 1977. And since that is a 1980's case - I would suspect it as a very late created award. Translation is "Young Professional Master" - Though not clear it reads Szakma (professional) not Szama - (donkey).

My two gut feelings are 1) it cuould have been an award given to young university students in the professional studues. or 2) could be an award given by the KIST (Young Communists) youth group for a member's work in studying a professional field. The KIST organization introduced the youth of Hungary to a variety of professions. There is still in operation a 'Childrens RailRoad' run by youth - this was to menat to interest young pepople to the rail system of Hungary, there were also shooting and survival training for military, map reading, chemestry, construction projects, etc... all intended to get young kids interested in some field for their future.

[Ulsterman]

very cool-

I like the fact that its basically the excellent workers' badge with a different bar.

What a fertile collecting field.

[Richard S]

I like to show you three typs of the "Order of Merit of Hungarian Freedom". The real name is "Magyar Szabads?g ?rdemrend".

The order has two degrees and it gives in three different types.

It gives a silver and a bronze degree of the order, whereby the silver degree is the higher.

The first type was awarded from May 10th to November 1st 1946. It was awarded in sum 500 times.

The second type was awarded from November 1st 1946 to January 1st 1948. Number of awards is 1330.

The third type was awarded from November 1st 1957 to April 4th 1958. It was awarded in sum 2150 times.

The first two types were awarded to peoples who fighted for the freedom of Hungary. The third type was awarded to those people who fighted against the Hungarian revolutionary in 1956.

There exists a fourth type, which is never been awarded. The name is "Order of the War Merit of Hungarian Freedom". This type has three degrees.

Source: - Nagy Magyar Kit?ntet?sk?nyv, 2005

- Katonai kit?ntet?sek a magyar t?rt?nelemben

- Bronze degree, Type 1947, Obverse

Edited January 14, 2007 by Richard S

[Gordon Craig]

Charles,

Interesting thought about this badge. I've amassed quite a collection of KISZ badges over the last week and they all have either the word KISZ, the KISZ flag, or the word IFJ?S?G (YOUTH) in the design. I have not run across any that use the term IFJ? (YOUNG). This could be an award for a young person in the work force as KISZ had members from 16 to 31. I've posted a couple of KISZ badges for comparison purposes.

Regards,

Gordon