Hungary Hungarian Red Cross Awards

[Gordon Craig]

Gents,

There seems to be enough interest in this one class of award that I thought I would start a thread on them alone. If we leave it in the "Hungarian Peoples Republic Awards" I think it will be too difficult to search through all of the other posts and put all of the relavent material together. I am going to start with Hunyadi's post that he translated from "The Book" and then post some pictures, some of which will raise questions and hopefully create some answers as well. When Ulsterman receives the things he is waiting for from the Hungarian Red Cross perhaps we can sort the whole range of awards, stick pins etc. out.

Excelent Blood Donner - Kivalo Verado

Bronze class 10 donations, Silver 15, Gold 20. Every year there were about 1300 gold ,about 2500 silver and 10,000 bronze distributed. Bronze came with 500ft prize, Silver 1000 ft and gold 1500 ft. After 30 blood donations the ribbon was switched to a green color and this was awarded to about 400 people per year. after 40 a blue ribbon (about 100 people per year) and 50 a yellow ribbon (about 50 people per year were awarded.) No mention as to when the award was created or what color the ribbon was for the Bronze, Silver and Gold class below 20 donations (? - perhaps it was only a badge??).

Excelent Blood Donor Technician Badge - Kivalo Veradoszervezo

For service in the field of the Red Cross as a worker in the blood donation centers and activities. The badge was awarded after five years of service. The badge was insituted in 1975.

Execlent Work in the Red Cross Badge - Voroskeresztes Munkaert Gold, Silver and Bronze classes. Awarded by the Leadeship Council of the Hungarian Red Cross for exemplarary service in the Hungarian Red Cross. Bronze class awarded after 5 years of serivce and came with a 1500 huf award and was awarded to about 250 people per year. Silver class for 10 years of serivce, a 2000 huf award and about 150 individuals per year. Gold class was for more than 10 years of service, but could also be bestowed for a certain meritiorious work. Came with a 3000 huf bonus and about 120 people were awarded per year.

Excelent Red Cross Workers Badge - Voroskereszt Kivalo Dolgozoja

Awarded by the Leadership Council of the Hungarian Red Cross for distinguised work over a period of time concering the technical operations of the Red Cross (machines, equipment, etc...) The award was bestowed about 10 times per year and the recipient received a 1500 huf bonus.

As for cases - Red and Deep Wine Red (Order of Labor, Order of Hungarian Freedom, and April 4th Order) for state awards. Blue and Gray are seen for Red Cross and Firemans awards. For the commemorative Red Cross awards (100 years in Hungary for example) these came in a sand brown case.

Here is a copy of part of a ribbon chart from the web. I can not guarantee its authenticity but I think it will prove interesting.

Gordon

hungcomredcross.bmp

hungcomredcross.bmp

Edited October 21, 2007 by Gordon Craig

[Ulsterman]

Well, I for one am interested in this topic.

Currently on ebay there is a blood donor's medal for sale with a "100" on it-it appears to be the current issue type as Communist era symbols are not there.

the local Hungarian Red Cross has answered my emails a couple of times, but given me a bar bones outline of the awards. However, there are friendly (and English speaking) people there who may be able to answer more questions in a face to face chat.

Back in a mo-

I got this email last month from a very nice lady named Eva Koltai, Head of Blood Donor Recruitment (medal opportunity here Charles and Gordon)

"The meaning of Kivalo Verdano is 'outstanding/distinguished blood donor"

" First time blood donors receive a gout pin ( a pin forming a blood drop) on the occasion of his/her first blood donation. Those who are giving full blood for 10,20,30,40,60,70,80,90 times receive a certificate (of merit) when reaching those numbers.

Those donors giving full blood for the 25,50,75,100th times receive a certificate and a medal as well.

degrees of plasmapheresis donors are 40,70, 100 occasions.

From the year 2006 those generous blood donors, who are giving blood for 100 or more occasions, are awarded the "Pro Vita" prize ("for life") founded by the Health Minister (one donor is awarded from each county branch).

The certificates , awards and prizes are handed over on Blood Donors' Day celebrations held by county branches locally, while Pro Vita prizes are given to blood donors on the occasion of a central celebration held in the House of the Parliament."

Edited January 30, 2007 by Ulsterman

[Gordon Craig]

Ulsterman,

Thanks for your contribution. I was going to post much more after the ribbons but had so much trouble posting the ribbons that I quit in frustration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. The post Communist era ribbon charts I have do not show Red Cross ribbons but if you compare the red ribbon with the Hungarian colours on it on the ribbon chart to the 100 medal mentioned by Ulsterman they are the same ribbon.

Now back to where I was going to go originally, or at least I hope so. The next picture is of a J? MUNK?ERT or Good Worker badge from the Communist era. I have a Good Worker badge which I beleive is from the post Communist era and is of a completely different design. The little round badge posted next is also listed on a web site as being from the communist era but there is no proof of that. I will also post a picture of a cased KIV?LO V?RADO Excellent Blood Donor badge that is listed on at least one internet site as being from the Communist era.

[Ulsterman]

Hey Gordon,

I am trying.

Is the Hungarian Red Cross HQ a local phone call for you? I may break down and make a long distance phone call to Ms. Koltai.

Perhaps they even have booklets.

See this website-it says your medal is communist era.

http://www.medals.lava.pl/hu/hu4.htm

Edited January 30, 2007 by Ulsterman

[Gordon Craig]

Ulsterman,

The website you posted is the one I refered to in my post. No guarantee that this medal is correct for that period but another piece of information. Send me Ms Koltai's phone number and email address and I'll contact her for you. Your interest in Red Cross medals has sparked my interest. In any countries military that I study I eventually get interested in the civilian uniforms. The military uniforms and medals etc. reflect the country but the civilian uniforms tend to do so even more so.

In Hungary there is little to nothing known about civilian uniforms of the Communist era. To my sensabilities that is like waving a red flag in front of a bull. I just cannot resist a challenge and need to research those uniforms. I've already started on the firemen and Finance/Customs Guards uniforms and I hope I can move onto the the Parilamentary Guard soon. The Military Museum has one Postal uniform and that is it.

Cheers,

Gordon

[Ulsterman]

Try 374-1321 or 374-1338

or intdept@hrc.hu

Ms. Judit Forzis heads the international department but Georg Habsburg is the President.

Any info gratefully received!

[Gordon Craig]

Gents,

A note from the news here in Budapest re the Red Cross.

Red Cross moving offices to Hungary

The European directorate of the International Red Cross will move its headquarters to Budapest from Geneva, it was decided at Easter. One of the world?s largest organisations, the Red Cross will move the offices of 52 countries to Budapest, recognising the work performed in Hungary and availing itself of Hungary?s logistical advantages, Magyar H?rlap reports. Budapest was chosen ahead of Brussels, Istanbul, Moscow and Alma-aty. (MH p.5)

Regards,

Gordon

[Gordon Craig]

Gents,

Just when I was becoming sure that all Hungarian Red Cross badges, awards etc. were issued in blue cases I find one in a red case. I bought this small 10 donor pin yesterday and it ceratinly was made for the box it came. First one I have seen in the case.

Regards,

Gordon

[Gordon Craig]

A close up of the badge in the case.

[Gordon Craig]

The exterior of the case.

[Ulsterman]

sweet!

[Gordon Craig]

Some more cased Hungarian Red Cross awards to add to this thread. Two that I picked up this morning. The first one is for 30 blood donations. It comes in the standard late HUPR period plastic case except this case is blue. Don't remember seeing one like this before. The miniature is also with the badge. Note the green ribbon which we have discussed before as coming with the 30 Blood Donations medal.

Regards,

Gordon

Edited October 20, 2007 by Gordon Craig

[Gordon Craig]

Next the top of the case in the closed position.

[Gordon Craig]

Next is a cased award for 40 Blood donations. This is an unusual case for a medal. It looks more like a wallet than a medal case and when you find similar cases to these they usually contain a commorative type of coin. The exterior is plastic in a simulated leather design. The interior is a plush sort of design that is hard to explain. The design is the same as for the 30 blood donations and the miniature is also present. Note the blue ribbon on this award. Again we have discussed blue ribbons for 40 Blood Donations before.

Regards,

Gordon

Edited October 21, 2007 by Gordon Craig

[Gordon Craig]

A close-up of the medal.

[Gordon Craig]

A close up of the reverse. Both the 30 and 40 Blood Donor medals are the same on the reverse.

[redcross]

Hungarian Red Cross Blood Donors

Gold, Silver Bronze

I have some of these for trading, PM if interested

[redcross]

Hungarian Red Cross Merit Medal

Gold, Silver Bronze

I have some of these for trading, PM if interested

[redcross]

Hungarian Red Cross Blood Donors

30, 40, 60, 75 donations

[redcross]

Hungarian Red Cross 100th Anniversary medal

I think I also have a table medal for this

but the cased medals don't fit in the display case

[redcross]

Hungarian Red Cross merit

I don't have much information on any of these medals

and suffer as Hungarian is not a language I can read

there are a bunch of badges

I may post latter, but need to verify

that they are all Hungarian, as some Bulgarian may have slipped in

while the socialist period has nice medals

I really do prefer the medals of the regency period

those will make me drool

hopefully some of you may shed more light on these

[hunyadi]

Yes - all of these are Hungarian. But there is little that I can add on these as its not a field that I am very familiar with.

[nesredep]

Hi

This badge is nice to see,new to me.

Regards

Nesredep

[Gordon Craig]

Red Cross,

Thanks for adding your medals to this thread. Good reference material. I pick these up because they are of interest to some of the forum members and are fairly available here as cased awards. I have some more I'll post later. Off for a boat trip on the Danube today in nice sunny, but cool, weather. At least cool for Hungary. Only supposed to get up to +10C tday.

Regards,

Gordon

[Ulsterman]

Red cross:

What era are those awards? 1980s-present?