Hungarian Oberleutnant

[Ian]

Hi Guys,

 

I need your assistance to try and decipher what is written on the reverse of the attached photo.  I have tried to make the writing as clear as a can without damaging or changing it.

 

A friend was able to assist with the first half of line one and we believe the A.H. is actually Á.H. (Állami Hivatal / Public Administration??) the next bit which is either h.h. or L.L. 18 

(Any idea what the h.h. or L.L. could be for?)  To the best of my (limited) knowledge there was no Honvéd Hussar 18 in the Hungarian Army although the Officer appears to be a Cavalry Officer.  The next bit of squiggle has me stumped.  Any one have any ideas please?

 

Line two is a date: 1953. III. 13.   It could be a date of death or a significant event, but not really important at the moment.

 

[Ian]

Thank you very much for the information.  I would never have guessed that it could be 4418.

 

Re-scanned at 600 DPI...

Edited August 6, 2021 by Ian
correction

[Ian]

No reason the collar tabs were obscured.

[Bayern]

Fohadnagy , Magyar Kiralyi Honvedseg , service uniform with patches bordered with gold cord .shoulder boards on both shoulders in gold cord . Colour of the patches ? look as the green of the Infantry not the light blue of the Hussars but after 1942 the Cavalry weared the dark blue patches of the Mobile Corps. All Honved Oficers wear two cord SBs in gold flecked with red , in WW1 only those of Mounted Arms carried on the left shoulder cord Sb . By 1953 the Royal Honved uniform was banned . I see H H that could means Honved Huszar . certainly there were no !8 Cavalry Regiment. In 1941 existed four Cavalry regiments . perhaps the 44 isthe year, in 1944 the 1st Cavalry division was deployed in the Eastern Front after Operation Bagration 

[Ian]

Hi Bayern,

 

Correct, yes indeed he is fohadnagy in the photo.  I have him in my data base as a hadnagy simply because that was probably the rank he was in Austro-Hungarian army, either that or less likely a zászlósok.

 

As for the colour of the patches I thought that they were to dark for the green of the Infantry and went for Cavalry/mobilised cav.  instead.   As an aside, are you aware of any charts on the web showing then various collar tab colours and what units they were for?

 

Thank you for the information regarding the shoulder cords I was unaware that two were worn . 

 

As for the  h h or 44 I assume if I can get a good clue to his name that puzzle may well solve itself.    If perhaps if it is h h then it could be 1st Regiment 8 squaron/section?   

 

Any way I very much appreciate corrections and additional information.

[Ian]

Simius Rex;  Triad08

 

From my limited knowledge of the Honvedseg in that period I agree with what you have written regarding the officers status as a re-activated reservist in an Administrative role.   It appears to me, from the Austro-Hungarian medals he is wearing, he was a 'front line' Officer  during the 14 -18 period and  changed career paths at the end of the war by either returning to his civilian employment or via higher learning such as completing University.

 

Do you think he was a  Fohadnagy at the end of WW1 or would/could he have been promoted to Fohadnagy shortly after being recalled?

 

Thank you for the list of official fegyvernémi list.  I have searched the internet without success for such a list. 

 

 I guess I can put a line through him being Cavalry Officer, and as he lacks either a Red Cross decoration or even a Golden of Silver Verdienstkreuz I think he was not Medical, because most Regimentl and Stabartze had at least one of those if not an FJO-R.   

 

It would be very nice to be able to place him in a unit/area during he WW2 service, as it will be to identify his Austro-Hungarian Unit.

 

Thank you Gentlemen for sharing your knowledge with me , it is very much appreciated.

 

Regards,

Ian

 

 

[Ian]

Triad08

 

Valid point and I stand corrected thank you.  Although I must admit I am leaning more towards Administration/Technical.

 

[ilieff]

Despite the fact that it might be irrelevant to the topic itself, I wanted to mention that on multiple images which depict Austro-Hungarian troops in WW1, we can see a four digit number present on them. In all cases I have seen, it starts with "4", sometimes it's printed (I assume by the photo atelier), often hand-written and occasionally visibly edited/corrected. I always wondered what its significance is. An inventory number perhaps? My mind clicked as soon as I saw the above suggestion of the number being "4418", so I thought I'd share this with you.

Attached are a few examples and the back of one of them, just in case it yields any clues.

 

 

Edited August 8, 2021 by ilieff

[Ian]

ilieff,

 

An interesting and thought provoking idea you have suggested, although the photos you have posted are all from the Austo-Hungaian period whilst mine is from 194/41.   My photo is not an 'official propaganda' photo, but rather a small personal one measuring some 9 x 6.5 cm.

Regardless, thank you for your input.

Edited August 8, 2021 by Ian
Additional Info

[Bayern]

Many Royal Hungarian Honved Officers were not csapatizst even if the belonged to combatant Arms . as was said they belonged to Staffs, or were reactivated to perform reaguard duties. Once I read a book of Mrs Ilona Csiky a Hungarian woman which emigrated after WW2 to Argentina . among other aspects of her pre and during WW2 life in her Country she relates that her father was an Artillery officer in the Honved ,Captain during the late twenties and in 1941 was retired as Major or lieutenat colonel . he was reactivated but notfor combat duties. he was put in charge of a Hospital as Military chief and ended the war in Austria with the Hospital in a Train .