Hungary Munkara, Harcra Kesz (Workers Ready to Fight!)

[hunyadi]

This is an interesting organization that I have come across recently. Apparently the organization only exitsted for about a year before disapearing in the Rakosi ear - possibly from purges? This is the first time I have encountered a book for the organization which was designed to encourage members of the working class and the armed forces to engage in sports and education. Interesting as the memebership pins come in two styles, one with a flag bearing the "Tildy" - (Kossuth Coat of Arms) as seen from 1946-mid 1949. And then after the takeover of the Party - pins bear the "Rakosi" coat of arms. At the bottom of the pin is the year 1949. Presumably there would have been pins with the year of entry to membership but "1950" I have never encountered.

[hunyadi]

Here is a shot of the first page of the book - and a better shot of the pin itself. There was a part for a photo on the left hand side, but this was never applied.

[hunyadi]

From what I can determine the organization had a system of testing twice a year for its members. Testes included: Technical ability, Intelegence, Strecthing ability, Speed, Stamina, Strength, and Theory. A grade of "F" was above average, "K" was average, "A" was passing. Apparnetly he got an initail score of A but this was amended. In his test scores he is given the right to wear the Gold Grade of the Pin.

Edited April 9, 2007 by hunyadi

[hunyadi]

Final page is the regualtions of the organization and the rules regarding the awarding for the pin. There was a Bronze, Silver and Gold grade. I have yet to see a bronze grade yet.

[Zsolt]

The name of the movement correctly is Ready to Work and Fight.

We take it over from the Soviet Union, where it existed from 1931 with the same name GTO (Gotov k trudu i oboronye).

I think there were 3 levels:

A (Alapfok) - basic level

K (K?z?pfok) - middle level

F (Felsőfok) - highest level

For the gold badge allowed only 1 middle level, and the others needed highest levels.

For the silver badge allowed only 1 basic level, and the others needed highest or middle levels.

For the bronze badge needed minimum basic levels from all.

The movement started on April 1949, that's why it was made with Kossuth coat of arms in the first badges. Of course later with Rakosi coat of arms.

The movement wasted away in 1954-1955 .

Zsolt

[Ulsterman]

CD-How big is that pin? there's a Czech one that looks almost exactly the same. I'll pick it up next month.

[hunyadi]

The pins are about 35mm tall by 23mm wide. (tallest to widest) - So Zsolt - did they all come with 1949 on them or were there examples with other years. It was my understanding from the guy I got these from that the organization ended in 1950? But no one is an "expert" obviously. Here is a shot I forgot with the 'score' levels. My earlier post is incorrect after looking at it again - will ammend...

[Zsolt]

The pins are about 35mm tall by 23mm wide. (tallest to widest) - So Zsolt - did they all come with 1949 on them or were there examples with other years. It was my understanding from the guy I got these from that the organization ended in 1950? But no one is an "expert" obviously. Here is a shot I forgot with the 'score' levels. My earlier post is incorrect after looking at it again - will ammend...

I think, the date (the beginning year) hold out on these type of badges.

[hunyadi]

thanks!