Hungary The Hungarian Szocialista Brigade

[Gordon Craig]

HUNGARIAN SOCIALIST BRIGADES

MAGYAR SZOCIALISTA BRIGAD

Note: The following information was distilled from 18 pages of text available on the Open Society Archives. This text was produced by storing official records of the National Council of Trade Unions or other state controlled organizations via OCR (optical character reader). I feel because the stored text was produced from documents that we can depend on the information contained therein to be accurate. Any mistakes in reducing the text from its multiple pages to a reasonable amount to post on the forum rests completely with the drafter.

This article concerns the history of the Magyar Szocialista Brigad, and their badges.

?The Socialist Workers? Brigade Movement is basically a New Form of Work Competition. The movement began in 1959, using as a model the Soviet ?Communist Brigades?. It is essentially a peculiar form of work competition, but goes beyond the purely economic target pursued by them. It not only aims at excellent labour results to be attained by members, but joins ?the struggle for production? with the ?formation of the new, self-conscious socialist man?. The password of the movement:

?to work in the socialist manner, to live in the socialist manner?

In the spirit of this competition, three sorts of targets and tasks are set for the socialist brigades:

a) Obtain above average results in work;

b) Increase professional, political and general education;

c) Live in the socialist manner; lead an exemplary private life, cooperate with comrades, actively participate in social work, in public affairs, etc.?

There were organizations similar to the Hungarian Socialist Brigades in other Warsaw Pact Nations. In the main, they operated similarly to those in the Soviet Union.

To qualify as a Szocialista Brigad in Hungary a work group needed to meet the criteria set out in the Guiding Principles published by the National Council of Trade Unions in 1960:

-everyone might become a member of a brigade competing for the title ?socialist? who considers the targets of the brigades obligatory for himself;

-the brigades themselves prepare their pledges, which are aimed in three directions: to work, study and live in the socialist manner;

-the pledges concerning production of the brigades should attain, ie surpass average results in their part of the enterprise;

-the brigade members should regularly intensify their professional and general education and increase their familiarity with political matters, they must attend professional courses or participate in organized state, party, or trade union teaching;

-in order to develop socialist cooperation, the brigade members have to help one another as friends and comrades do; they have to pledge themselves to disciplined work; they have to take active part in the management of public affairs and in social work;

-those brigades can win the title ?szocialista brigad? and a diploma, if they fulfill their pledges one hundred percent and assume new ones for a further six months;

-a brigade losses its title if its members fail to carry out the pledges and the members show an attitude unworthy of a socialist man. They also lose the title if they do not assume new obligations after a period of six or, in some cases, 12 months.

Both the winning of the title and its withdrawal are decided by the conference of the enterprise. The ?economic leaders of the movement?, ie the director, the Party and the trade union submit their respective proposals to the production conference.

The pledges and the more important events in brigade life are recorded in the brigade diary.

The National Council of Trade Unions regulated the rules governing the award of the title and its various degrees in a resolution published in 1965. According to the new regulations, a brigade which obtains the ?Szocialista? title for the first time will receive a diploma; if the title is awarded again after the second year, the socialist brigade receives a diploma and a flag. Brigades which are awarded continuously will receive a bronze plaque after four years, a silver one after six, and a gold one after eight. The members of the brigade will receive diplomas and bronze, silver and gold badges respectively.?

From here on in I have had to make some deductions on my own. These are:

1) From the date on which the Directives of the Presidium of the National Council of Trade Unions were instituted in 1960 until new regulations were drafted in 1965, work groups which achieved the title of ?SZOCIALISTA BRIGAD? were awarded a diploma (OKLEV?L). There is one fly in the ointment here. I have a diploma that is dated 1963 and named to an individual rather than to a group that says the named individual has successfully met his work objective. At least that is the best translation I can provide. If anyone else can do it more correctly from the picture of the diploma which is included in this article, please do so. There is no mention of a badge in the diploma. It is possible that individuals received only a diploma, unaccompanied by a badge, prior to the 1965 directives.

2) From the time of the promulgation of the new regulations in 1965, a Brigad which attained the ?szocialista? title for the first time was awarded a diploma. If the title was awarded again after the second year, the Szocialista Brigad would receive a diploma and a flag. Brigades which were awarded the socialist title continuously and without interruption would receive a bronze plaque after four years, a silver plaque after six, and a gold one after eight. The members of the Brigad would each receive diplomas and bronze, silver and gold badges, respectfully.

I have never seen one of the flags which presumably were awarded, but I feel fairly certain they would look like those in the badges posted below. These badges, as mentioned previously, came in three grades. They also came in a large, 27mm, and a small, 17mm size. These two badges came in a small tapered plastic case with a red bottom and a clear top. To hold them in place in the case they were pinned to a small piece of foam material. The badge is composed of a wreath with a flag mounted on it. On the flag, in a circular shape, are the words ?SZOCIALISTA BRIGAD?. Inside the wording is a shield in the state colours of Hungary. Early issues of these badges were well made with the large badge being of two-piece construction with the flag soldered to the wreath and the body of the flag being covered with a hot red enamel process. Early small badges seem to be of one-piece construction but still use a hot enamel process for the colouring on the flag. Later issues of these badges see the large ones also made as one piece and both large and small badges having the flags coloured using a cold enamel process. There are also badges of the same design as identified above but with the wreath around the outside of the badge in green enamel. The cased set with the green enamelled wreath that I have in my collection is constructed in the earlier of the two manners. I do not know the significance, if any, of the difference in the wreath design between the two badges. The plaques awarded to the Szocialista Brigad are much smaller than one would expect considering the lengths a Brigad had to go to be awarded one. They are 42 mm wide (1 7/8 inches) and 52 mm high (2.5 inches). They have a Socialista Brigad badge in the centre and below that the words ?A SZOCIALIZMUS?RT?. The plaque comes in a clear plastic box with a hinged lid. The plaque is recessed into a red plastic section on the bottom of the case. The plaque is easily removable. There are no markings on the case. The plaque in my collection, and shown in this thread, is silver. While the badges are plentiful I have not seen many of the plaques. One other silver one and a gold one. Since the gold one I saw was the same size, and cased the same as the silver ones, I would say all three levels of this award are the same except for colour.

Not mentioned in the directives, but in existence, are other badges and table medals bearing the name of ?SZOCIALISTA BRIGADJA?. One badge is a five-sided green wreath with the normal brigad flag in the centre. This badge is suspended from a hanger with a pin on the back. On the front of the suspension device are the words ?A V?LLATA KIV?L? BRIGADJA? which translates as ?The Excellent Enterprise Brigade?. There is a miniature of this badge that is of one-piece construction and without the wording in the top section where the pin is attached. These two badges come in a rectangular red case with a red plush interior. The interior has recessed shapes for the two badges: the large badge above and the small one below. The lid of the case is hinged. The only case for these medals I have seen was of the late issue plastic type.

In addition to the badges there exists a non-portable award in a red case 13 cm by 12.5 cm by 2.3 cm (5.25 inches by 5 inches by 7/8 inches). The exterior of the case is made of red simulated leather. The interior bottom is a plush red velvet type material while the top is a white textured cloth. The bronze medallion recessed into the bottom of the interior is 7 cm (2 7/8 inches) in diameter. The same five-sided design as the suspended badge appears in the centre of the medallion. Around the outside of the medallion is the wording ?A V?LLALATA KIVAL? BRIG?DJA.? The obverse of the medallion is plain. When I purchased this cased medallion there were four of the 27 mm Szocialista Brigad badges in the case as well. I assume they originally belonged to the person who had possession of the medallion.

In the third national conference of the National Council of Trade Unions in April 1969, it was recognized that the method of rewarding brigades for achieving the title of Szocialista Brigad was not working. A decision was made to draft new directives which would focus on replacing the previous directives that dealt with quantity of production and the award of badges with directives which dealt with quality of production and a financial reward. The General Secretary of the trade unions announced at this time that the National Council of Trade Unions was studying the problem and that new directives would be issued shortly. My research ended here as I was unable to locate any new directives.

All of the badges, medallions and cases are pictured below with the exception of the cased five- sided badge. The only case I have seen was broken and not worth the asking price. I?ll post photos of one of these cases once I have one.

Regards,

Gordon

[Gordon Craig]

Continuing the badges from my article;

[Gordon Craig]

The plaque and the medallion;

[Gordon Craig]

The diploma dated 1963. Sorry for the poor photo. I'll scan the document and post a clearer picture of it later.

Gordon

[hunyadi]

Spot on Gordon!

I will see what the Blue Bible says as it has many references to the Socialist Brigade and was published in 1977 - so it should have the post 1964 infomration.

[Ulsterman]

Really good article! I have been deposing all my ex-Communist friends with questions about the socialist brigades. They don't seem to remember much except the weekly social get-togethers.

[hunyadi]

After three long night of translating 'Lawyer Talk' - here is what I was able to get from the Blue Bible (?A Magyar N?pk?zt?rsas?g Kit?ntet?sei?) I am aware that my translation may not match exactly with the wording of Grodons source, but it should gove a good outline of the precedence and requiremetns for each of the grades.

The General terms of the Socialist Brigade are to reach, surpass or exceed the required realization of our slogan by ?Living the socialist life, its mode, its work, and its teaching? The sooner we attain this level the better it shall be for all of us.

It is therefore required that we dismiss and discipline those of the collective who neglect the communal requirements.

These are the conditions for which the title and badges of the Socialist Brigade is to be bestowed:

A) The requirements for the title of ?Excellent Workers Brigade? (Kiv?l? Munkabrig?d) are a year or more of exemplary performance by the collective, for this accomplishment the title shall be awarded. For those Socialist Brigades whose majority of members is under the age of 30 and who participate in the yearly KISZ organization, its competitions and its yearly action program, this collective shall be awarded the title ?Excellent Youth Brigade? (Kiv?l? Ifj?s?gi Brig?d) The title of ?Excellent Workers Brigade? or ?Excellent Youth Brigade? is given in the form of a certificate to each of the collective members. This title does not carry a monetary award.

B) There are three requirements to attain ?Socialist Brigade? (Szocialista Brig?d) title or the ?Excellent Workers Brigade? or the ?Excellent Youth Brigade?. First all titles are given out for the exemplary accomplishments carried out during the period of one year. Secondly additional awards can only be given out after the required previous title is bestowed upon the collective. Thirdly the title must have the appropriate proof and documentation that the collective was able to exceed their yearly pledged goals. These titles do not carry any monetary award. The ?Socialist Brigade? title is given on the occasion of the first year of service. Each member of the collective is to personally receive a certificate of the title. For the second instance in which the ?Socialist Brigade? title is given, a small green wreathed badge is bestowed in three classes: gold, silver and bronze. The next highest class is awarded when the members of the collective already poses the previous grade. Proof by certificate is required for individuals to be awarded the next highest class.

C) The second title awarded to the collective is the ?Banner of the Socialist Brigade? (Szocialista Brig?d Z?szl?). In order to attain this title the collective must already possess the title of ?Socialist Brigade?. This title does not carry a monetary award.

D) In the third instance, the collective is to be awarded the bronze, silver, or gold ?Socialist Brigade? title. The grade that shall be awarded in each instance is one that the brigade does not already possess. A monetary award is given for this title and certificates are required to certify this award. The grade that is to be awarded in every instance one grade higher than the one that the brigade already possesses. The bronze, silver and gold titles come with 400 HUF, 600 HUF, and 800 HUF awards respectively and are given out according to the average number of employees of the brigade over the period of the year for which the title is given.

E) The title of ?Enterprising Excellent Youth Brigade? (V?llalat Kiv?l? Ifj?s?gi Brig?d) is awarded for exemplary and continuous measurable performance over the period of a year with the same conditions outlined in the ?Excellent Youth Brigade? (majority of members under the age of 30 and participate in the over the year in the KISZ organization) and two previous awards of the title ?Socialist Brigade? in connection with the KISZ organization, its action program and its yearly competitions. The title ?Enterprising Excellent Youth Brigade? and the required two titles of ?Socialist Brigade? shall be awarded from December 31st, 1977 to December 31st, 1980 for the performance, competitions and relevant programs in the KISZ organization until new titles and award for this organization shall be revised. This title comes with a monetary award of 1000 HUF to each member of the collective.

F) The title of ?Enterprising Excellent Brigade? (V?llalat Kiv?l? Brig?d) is given to the collective when it already possesses the gold grade of ?Socialist Brigade? and at least five previous titles of ?Socialist Brigade? and increases the pledged quota of work by 10%. Even if the pledged quota is exceeded, the members of the collectives must possess the golden grade of ?Socialist Brigade? in order for this title to be bestowed. Along with the badge, 1500 HUF is awarded according to the average number of employees of the brigade over the period of the year for which the title is given.

G) The title of ?Professional Excellent Brigade? (Szakma Kiv?l? Brig?d) is bestowed when the collective has ten or more titles of ?Socialist Brigade? and the title of ?Enterprising Excellent Brigade? or ?Enterprising Excellent Youth Brigade? and increase the pledged quota of work by 10%. This title is reviewed and if the requirements are met awarded in the middle and / or at the end of the yearly action plan. It is possible for a collective to receive the title twice in one year. Along with the badge, 2000 HUF is awarded according to the average number of employees of the brigade over the period of the year for which the title is given.

H) The title of ?The Hungarian People?s Republic Excellent Brigade? (Magyar N?pk?zt?rsas?g Kiv?l? Brig?d) is bestowed when the collective had fifteen or more titles of ?Socialist Brigade? and at least two titles of ?Enterprising Excellent Brigade? or ?Enterprising Excellent Youth Brigade? and at least one title of ?Professional Excellent Brigade?. The title shall be awarded upon the review of the middle and / or end of the yearly action plan of the collective. However to maintain the integrity of the award only 80-100 collectives may receive the title per year. Along with the title, 3000 HUF is awarded according to the average number of employees of the brigade over the period of the year for which the title is given. Also each member of the collective that receives the title ?Enterprising Excellent Brigade? or ?Enterprising Excellent Youth Brigade? or ?Professional Excellent Brigade? or ?The Hungarian People?s Republic Excellent Brigade? shall receive the respective representation of the medal for wear.

I) The State Prize (?llami D?j) is bestowed to the collectives under the decision and regulation of the Ministers Council as prescribed by their direction and judgment.

J) The Red Flag Order of Labor (Munka V?r?s Z?szl? ?rdemrendje) shall be bestowed to a collective after a minimum of fifteen years of service and at least two titles of ?Professional Excellent Brigade? and at least one title of ?The Hungarian People?s Republic Excellent Brigade?. The collective must also have demonstrated outstanding work and production while living and emulating the socialist cultural ideal. In order to also maintain the integrity of the highest award possible to a collective only 10 to 15 collectives may receive this order. With the order a monetary award of 6000 HUF is awarded according to the average number of employees of the brigade over the period of the year for which the title is given.

Translated from pages 93-95 of ?A Magyar N?pk?zt?rsas?g Kit?ntet?sei? K?zgazdas?gi ?s Jogi K?nyvkiad?, Budapest 1979.

[Gordon Craig]

Charles,

Thanks for all of your work in translating. It fills in the holes in my earlier article about the green wreathed badges and the diploma issued to an individual rather than to the brigade. It also indicates more levels were added after the review of the directives in 1965 plus if it gives us the actual monetary amount instituted. It indicates that we have more awards, other than the ones I posted pictures of, to identify and post to finish off the information on the Socialista Brigades.

As you and I discussed yesterday, there is a strong possibility that the green wreathed badges were the first ones awarded and the solid badges without the green enamel were of a subsequent issue due to the downturn of the Hungarian economy. Just a hypothisis at this time but a real possibility.

Regards,

Gordon

[hunyadi]

One thing that threw me a bit when transalting is that there is a difference between the section B) title of "Socialist Bragade" where it mentions a green wreathed badge and is equal to the "Excellent Workers Brigade" in section A).... Then it mentions the award after the "Banner of the Socialist Brigade" as the Gold, Silver and Bronze class of the "Socialist Brigade" in section D).

With that it seems that during the first year of the Brigade you could get the Socialist Brigade or the Excellent Workers Brigade (Or Excellent Youth Brigade) and that all three of these titles were of the same level. However its about as clear as mud when the requiremetns for all of the badges / titles are just to meet or exceed your projected requirements for the year. No distinction as to why one brigade should get Excellent Workers Brigae or the Socialist Brigade (with the green wreath)...

[Ulsterman]

Really interesting article. I have seen those plaques about and wondered what they were.

Any chance a local party secretary is still about?

My UPS driver was a Bulgarian Brigade Assistant leader.He waxes nostalgic about the dances they used to have.

[hunyadi]

Any chance a local party secretary is still about?

Yep - they run the government (into the ground) now...

[hunyadi]

Finally found a "Szocialista Brigad Zsaslo" or Banner of the Socialist Brigade. interestingly enoiugh this one was never issued still in the wrapper and form what I can gather was probably made in 1975 from the inspection sticker.

[hunyadi]

and the back its about 15" by 9" (rough guess)

[Gordon Craig]

Charles,

Nice looking banner. It makes wonder though if the Socialista Brigads had names as individual units or would they have used the company name? The Diploma that I have appears to be associated with the Posta Szervez. There are two stamps on the Diploma but part of each is obscured. I'll have to bring it with me sometime when we are getting together and perhaps, with your knowledge of Hungarian, you can figure out the parts I can not read. Perhaps on the 14th when we meet at the Museum.

Regards,

Gordon

[Ulsterman]

very cool. I note on ebay Pioneer flags have hand stitched unit names on the back. How big is that brigade flag?

When you go to the museum (on Valentines day no less-brave men, I'd be shot unless it was a side trip for flowers etc.) would you mind seeing if there is a complete set of the Hungarian Military Gazette? It was published starting in @ 1920 monthly up until the middle of 1944 and has lists of promotions, awards etc. to officers. Also, there's an annual calender for the gendarmerie out there-published from @ 1922-1943 with the same in the back.

Thanks

[hunyadi]

Hi Jeff -

As for lists - I have not looked through every volume, but there are volumes of the monthy regulations, promotions and of course medals earned at the military library - probably more complete than the Gazzete. For 1944 alone there were seven volumes of just promotions and medals awared. 1943 looked to be just one big book about 8" across. As for the Csendor Zsebkonyv all they have at the museum library is the 1922 and 1927 issues. Very disapointing - I passed up the 1938 one two years ago and after going to antique bookstores I have heard on two occasions "a couple of years ago we had several" - grrrrr - As for the banner - my assumption is that these were a generic banner. I dont see how they would be able after gettting it in the bag like this of embroidering a name on it. But anyhting is possible. When I am back I can take better measurments.

Edited February 10, 2007 by hunyadi

[Gordon Craig]

Jeff,

There have been a couple of the Csendor annual books on ebay recently. One for 1907 that I was watching but didn't bid on because someone wanted it far more then I did. A couple of weeks ago a 1927 edition came up and I was able to successfully bid on that one as it went for approx half the price of the 1907 edition. As Charles says, there don't seem to be many of them around. Both Charles and I would like one from the war time period, or at least shortly before, and we will just have to keep looking.

Regards,

Gordon

[Gordon Craig]

Gents,

I have more to add to this article. Last weekend end I picked up a small brown paper Socialista Brigad IGAZOLV?NY or Certificate. In my article I mentioned that the bronze, silver and gold pins could be won but proof of the award of the previous one at the bronze or silver level was needed to be awarded the silver or the gold pin. I assumed at the time I wrote the article that the diploma awarded would be needed as proof but the certificate provides an easier way. There are actually three lined pages for recording the award of pins. These three pages for listing awards follow the page giving the recipients name, the name of the Socialist Brigad (an interesting fact in itself) and the date of the award. One other interesting thing on the certificate is the place for the KISZ Secretary to sign. I mentioned earlier in the article that different types of awards were given to the Socialist Brigads that were compase dmostly of members in the KISZ age group (up to age 30). This certificate provides ample proof as to just how involved the KISZ organization was in the Socialista Brigad movement.

Regards,

Gordon

Edited May 24, 2007 by Gordon Craig

[Gordon Craig]

The interior of the certificate. Note the individual who owned the certificate had received the Bronze award once.

[Gordon Craig]

Time to add some more info. A while back I acquired some cased A V?LLALAT KIV?L? BRIG?DJA and A V?LLALAT KIV?L? IFJ?S?GI BRIG?DJA awards. Since they came in two different types of cases I bought the four of them. The cases themselves are basically the same design. What varies is the colour and externa; finish of the cases as well as the interior colour. I'll posty comparison pictures of the two types of cases below.

Regards,

Gordon

[Gordon Craig]

The exterior of these cases

[Gordon Craig]

A different style of case. Darker plastic case and darker flocked interior.

The quality of the badges in both types of cases remains high.

[Gordon Craig]

The exterior of these cases.

[Christian Zulus]

My first Hungarian item

Gentlemen,

the badge is a bit larger than 1 inch in diameter:

Which "class" or rank of Szocialista Brigad Badge is it - 3cl ?

Is it an early or late badge?

Best regards

Christian

[hunyadi]

Hi Christian - this seems to be the 3rd Class - or the first award given out. The sivler and the gold grade do not have an enameled wreath (strangely enough).