magyar front july august 2001 (read-only)newfront.ca/data/documents/magyar-front-2001.pdfmy husband,...

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Those of us interested in military history more often than not find ourselves pouring over maps and dates - concentrating on battles, campaigns and numbers of casualties. I personally have had the good fortune of being able to speak with countless veterans about their experiences, and in doing so have learned valuable lessons from the pri-mary historical source - the front-line fighter. This ‘live’ history sheds a different perspective on the cold data that we find in official records and history books. Sometimes bravado can colour a soldier’s ‘war stories’, but in most cases personal an-ecdotes are enlightening - first hands accounts of bravery in the face of the enemy, as well as the sage recollections of fear and terror. I think most of us see bravery as a heroic soldier steadfastly defending his homeland; and of course the hundreds of thousands of Honvéd graves are proof enough of that. I have found in the course of my military study that bravery and honour have another aspect also. Recently, while visiting my dear friend fellow MHBK member József Pataky, his wife Erzsébet showed me two postcards that she had saved since the Second World War. They are beautifully executed water colour and pencil portraits painted on the backs of ubiqui-tous military field post cards sent to her by her first husband. The postcards are par-ticularly striking, and I right away asked if I could copy them for our newsletter. I also asked if she could write a few words about who painted them and when she re-ceived them. Soon after, to my great surprise and delight; Mrs. Pataky gave me four meticulously hand written pages. Her words were written in Hungarian, so I turned to another pillar of the Hungarian cause, Magdolna Sasvári, who quickly translated the entire text into English.

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MY WARTIME MEMORIES by Erzsébet Pataky

My husband, Gyula Takács, was born in Budapest, on the 18th of December, 1920. His father was a post office official. Shortly after he and his six other siblings had grown up, they tried to ease the family's financial situa-tion by looking for jobs. Gyula found one at the Manfred Weiss factory, after learning both electrical and en-gine fitting trades. We were married on the 29th of December, 1942 and began a new life full of hope. The winds of war, however, started to become more and more apparent. He was drafted in 1942 and was sent to Szolnok to the sappers for 3 months of training. Some time after that he was sent to Galicia, which is now Po-land; where he was stationed at a labour camp. He was to become one of the guards. There were many short-ages, and hunger was common among the inmates, as well as the guards. The struggle for survival created a solidarity among them. I corresponded with my husband through the camp's mail system. The address consisted only of numbers and signs, and that was where I sent a photo of myself, so he could see me at least on a picture. One of the labour camp inmates suggested to my husband that in exchange for his daily bread he would trade something of value. Gyula agreed, and gave him his bread. He wished he could feed them all properly. The young man, grateful for the bread, painted my picture after the photo, and my husband's picture on a camp post card. I received two of these post cards from Galicia. These two postcards survived the war, the Revolution and the escape from Hungary. We lost everything, but we still have the two cards. In 1943 we were allowed to send a 2 kilogram par-cel to the soldiers at their camp address. I sent one not knowing how much anguish a 2 kilogram par-cel would cause! I thought I would send non-perishable things he liked. I gathered some walnut and poppy seed beigli, a little Hungarian sausage, and some fudge in Christmas wrappings as Christ-mas time was approaching. My God, I could not leave out the Hungarian salami - so I also added that to the parcel. He now would be able to taste the flavour of home. Finally, I quickly knitted a pair of warm mittens and socks for the cold winter. I stayed up all night knitting so I could mail my parcel in the morning. Who would have imagined, that the chore to prepare this little parcel would become the most difficult task in my life, since the parcel could not have weighed more than 2 kilo-grams including the wrapping. I put it on the scales - it was way over the allowed weight! There was nothing else to do, but cut the walnut beigli in half, and take out one piece of the sausage. I kept changing the content, wrapping and re-wrapping the parcel and so it happened, that the mittens and the socks also made the package too heavy. Only God knows how many tear drops fell on this tiny parcel, but if they could have been measured, it would have gone to the front line weighing at least 2 tons.

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The war continued. It disrupted the communication between us. The Russian Army already forced our army to start withdrawing. During the retreat, Gyula met up with his brother in the Sub-Carpathians. This was very close to a miracle for two brothers to meet among the many soldiers marching with their units. Their joy was overwhelming. They hugged each other for a very long time, however, their joy did not last too long as their outfits were ordered to head in separate directions. Soon after, a Russian patrol captured my husband and brought him to the enemy headquarters. The commander, who was drunk at the time ordered the patrol to ‘take him out and shoot him’. The patrol and my husband went outside where into the dark, where the Russian soldier fired into the air and then motioned to my husband to run. In his uniform he happened upon a farm house, and asked the old farmer whether he could borrow some clothes, explaining that if he gets captured again in his uniform, surely would be executed. There was nothing else but a pair of old ragged pants and jacket and a ragged shirt, and from somewhere in the attic the farmer found an old pair of tattered boots with worn down soles. This is how the old man sent Gyula on his way, saying ‘God’s speed’ and that He would guide his way. The old man was a Hungarian, who mourned for his son, from whom he had not heard from a long time. Already there were no trains moving. The Russians were on Hungarian soil. After the great bombardment in April of 1944, I took refuge in Látrány, in Somogy County with some relatives of my husband’s. For months I lived there, and Christmas had come and gone. They held the ‘Midnight Mass’ at 8:00 pm in the village church, as the Russians reached Balatonlelle, only 6 km from Látrány. Together with my husband's relatives I attended Midnight Mass and there I burst into a flood of tears. I asked the good Lord to bring my husband home and show me that there is a God. I was beside myself demanding that God should show me that He exists! Show me! I vowed that I would be true believer as long as I live, if only my husband returned home. On the 31st of December an announcement was made accompanied by the beat of a drum, that everybody must leave the village. The Russians were coming. A few days before we hid everything in the ground in a large box, as we felt that we would have to escape soon. On the 31st, the folks of the village began to walk away. We walked 30 km to Kisvárapáti., also in Somogy County. There were some who put everything on a carriage, if they still had one. The snow was very deep and we had to take huge steps. The elderly, the children - every-one was escaping. Before we left the village (on the 30th of December), one of my relatives arrived and dis-cretely let me know that Gyula was going to arrive soon. He was careful not to tell me that he was already in the village, in case the happiness would overwhelm me. Slowly, on my insistence, he admitted that he was there - at the neighbours’. Then I saw him. I did not recognize him. He was on the road for two weeks, hun-gry, dirty and in rags. He came from the Sub-Carpathians on foot. His boots had no soles any more. His feet were bandaged in rags. Only his voice was the same. We hugged each other not caring about the dirt, or any-thing; and I felt for the second time in my life, that there is no greater earthly happiness, than a loving mar-riage. We were elated. The next day we followed the villagers toward the unknown. The siege of Buda was still on, and a bomb de-stroyed our little home there. My Mother-in-law and my Father-in-law were with us - they left when the bom-bardment began. A little baby, only a few days old, was wrapped tightly and put on a carriage, but by the time we arrived at Kisbárapáti it was found dead. It had suffocated. After one month we could returned to Látvány and were stuck there for 3 years, as our home in Budapest was destroyed. In 1956, at the outbreak of the revolution; the three of us (I gave birth to a little girl in Látrány in 1956) started off in the middle of the night toward the uncertainty once again. We eventually we ended up in Australia. We lived there for 8 years, but because of the hot climate we again started on the road and arrived in Canada in 1966. Since then I live here. Gyula died in 1984. The many hardships, the ups and downs and new beginnings ruined his stomach. He was homesick until the day he died. He didn’t live to see the end of the communist re-gime, and he always planned to return home at one day. He never found his place in this strange new country.

THE ‘HONSz’ ORGANIZATION Another obscure association that was very closely affiliated with our Front-Line Fighter’s Movement was the Hadirokkantak, Hadiözvegyek és Hadiárvák Országos Nemzeti Szövetség, or ‘HONSz’. In English, the National Association for War Disabled, War Widows and War Orphans. The mission of this organization is obvious, and it existed throughout the 1930’s and during the Second World War.

In Volume III, Issue 1, I featured the vet-eran’s special award badges. Many of the

larger Hungarian organizations had their own award badge or díszjelvény - pictured in this issue is that of the HONSz. This special insignia was often awarded to members of the Front-Line Fighter’s Association and can be seen here

worn by Elemér Kertész, Vice-President and National Administrator of the Veteran’s Movement (War History Museum, Budapest).

This badge is particularly moving - note

that the wing of the Hungarian türül eagle, as well as the right-hand laurel branch under the shield, is broken. Attachment to the uniform is by the usual two prongs on the reverse. This example is stamped ‘SZENTIRMAI’ on the reverse of one of the attachment

prongs.

Insignia shown actual size.

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THE ‘MAGYAR FRONT’

Is published bi-monthly by Peter Czink VRNT, Chapter Leader, Vancouver Chapter

World Federation of Hungarian Veterans (Magyar Harcosok Bajtársi Közössége)

P.O. Box 74527 2803 West 4th Avenue

Vancouver B.C., Canada V6K 4P4

Telephone/fax: (604) 733-9948 email: [email protected]

HUNGARIAN EVENTS IN VANCOUVER

September

15th - Harvest Ball, Catholic Church

October

7th - Parish Festival, Catholic Church

11th - Dûvõ & Forrás Folk Concert, Catholic Church (for more information phone 604 941-5941)

13th - Hungarian Elections Dinner, Catholic Church

13th - Sopron Forresters’ Ball, Hungarian Hall


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THIS IS HUNGARY! By Peter Czink VRNT

I think that it’s quite obvious that our festival was a great success! The event truly was a professional, first class showcase for our culture; and solid proof that we can accomplish wonderful things when we all work together. I would like to thank all of you who volunteered and worked so hard, both before the festival and on those two special days. You made sure that the festival will be a beau-tiful memory for all of our guests. As usual, the long time members of the Hungarian community, the pillars of our society; were on hand to work hard. Along with them were the members of the young generations – the scouts, dancers and other volun-teers – our sons and daughters who have taken it upon themselves to preserve our culture. I take my hat off to you all! Preparation for the event went smoothly for the most part. Our only hurdles were the city workers’ strike and the negativity and gossip from the well-known small minor-ity of pessimists within the Hungarian Cultural Society. I hope that now their hearts have softened and that they will lend a hand rather than criticise next time. I think we can all learn from this collective experience – our youth can learn from the wis-dom of their elders, and our older members can be assured that the young Hungarians are strong, and willing to work for our cause. I also noticed that members of all of the Hungarian organizations and churches worked side by side, de-spite the unwillingness to cooperate by one of their most influential leaders. I was very proud to be part of it all! The festival committee, the secu-rity, the volunteers, the performers, the exhibitors – not only did they all put on a great festival; they showed the people of Vancouver how special our culture is. They showed other Hungarians that had long ago lost interest, that promot-ing our culture will never go out of style. They showed young Hungari-ans that the Hungarian cause is al-ways in fashion!

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It has become a tradition for us to put our ‘donation helmet’ out along side our historical display to collect money for the Miskolc Chapter of the Don River Veterans’ Association (Doni Bajtársak Szövetsége). I am happy to report that at the end of the festival there was $173.15 in it! The money is now in Miskolc and I hope that the members of the Miskolc Chapter will enjoy this small token of our friendship. I met many new people during the festival, and I was happy to see old friends. MHBK members Aladár and Leyla Pintér, dear friends who tirelessly translate many, many things for me; came from Vancouver Island. Ferenc and Roselyn v. Mandalik, strong allies and champions of the Hungarian cause, were here from the Island also. László Horváth headed the efficient security team during the festival and worked closely with Jenõ Gáspár and József Pataky, who were always on hand to watch over the Szent Korona. Two of our young mem-bers, András Bagoly and Arran Saul worked extensively in the theatre as “M.C.” and propmaster for the theat-rical performance. István v. Joó was there both days, and although he wore the current Hungarian uniform as a representative of the Air Force, he was always on hand to work hard. My thanks to Gyula Swecera for always being ready to lend a hand. Unfortunately, László v. Polgári was unable to make the trip to Vancouver. For our next festival I’ll make sure ahead of time that he gets a little help so he can be with us. He has been a great inspiration to me and I would like to make certain he is here next time. Rev. Miklós Szigeti, aside from his of-ficial duties, performed in the choir. Magda Sasvári, one of our highly respected honourary members was the chairman of the event and the person who was solely responsible for its concept. And of course Lorraine Wei-deman, theatre manager, coordinator, public relations manager, etc. I don’t think I have room to list every-thing she did for our festival. One of the highlights of the event was meeting Mr. and Mrs. Gyula v. Detre. We all have heard of the decades of work these two individuals have done for our organization and our nation. Meeting them in person not only strengthened my determination to carry on with our cause; their personalities taught me that through hard work, intelligence, progressive thinking and above all bravery, we can make a difference. Although the bookkeeping is not entirely done, I am told that the festival made a profit of around $10,000 for the Hungarian Cultural Society. Since admission was free, we don’t have an exact figure for the number of people who attended, but estimates are around 5,000. It was good to see everyone working together - and I’m especially proud of the Magyar Harcosok Bajtársi Közössége, Vancouveri Csoport. For a small and in many ways new chapter of the MHBK, we did a pretty good job. Congratulations kedves bajtársaim!

A very small quantity of decora-tive plates and plaques (including

MHBK commemorative plates) made by the well known artist/author Tibor Rada are available

for sale.

Beautiful Hungarian motifs.

Very high quality porcelain.

Gilded accents.

Very limited quantities.

Assorted styles and sizes avail-able. Prices from $10.00 to

$24.00.

HUNGARIAN COAT-OF-ARMS PLATES BY TIBOR RADA (MHBK

CALGARY CHAPTER)

CONTACT: PETER CZINK

MHBK VANCOUVER CHAPTER

A professionally made, high quality video of our festival is available from: Mr. Jenõ Orbán, Suite #104, 1750 Maple Street, Vancouver B.C., Canada, V6J 3S6. (604) 732-6774. $18.00 CDN for NTSC (North America) or $25.00 CDN for PAL (European) plus postage per video.

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Figure 4.

AWARD BADGES OF THE HUNGARIAN VETERANS’ MOVEMENT It has always been popular for Hungarian organizations to award what is known as ‘díszjelvények’. These are special award badges in the form of larger versions of the organization’s insignia that were meant to be worn on the breast pocket of a uniform or in the same area on civilian clothes. The regulations for these decorations were broad, and recipients would

receive them for exemplary conduct, long service, etc. In the case of the Hungarian Veterans’ Movement, there were two main types that we know of - the higher award having white enamel and the other with green (figures 1

and 2). To date no other colour variation as been encountered. A modified badge for honourary life-time members also existed - it was the same design with the ad-dition of two separate sprays of oak-leaves on either side of the shield. This badge is extremely rare, and will be dealt with in the future as more detailed information about it is gathered. The reverse of these badges have a long pin attachment, which is unusual for

Hungarian insignia. The insignia are shown actual size (33mm x 51mm).

These pocket badges are of very fine quality die-struck metal, made from two components - the sword and helmet being attached to the shield with small prongs. All of the specimens that I have examined have been manufactured by the firm of Berán, and bear the mark

‘BERÁN N. B PEST DÖBRENTEI U 2’. This firm produced a vast array of Hungarian pins, badges, plaques and militaria insignia and is probably the most well known manufacturer. It’s interesting to note that the son of the owner of the company, Nándor Berán was a W.W.I veteran himself

and a member of the veterans’ asso-ciation. I have included a brief bio of

him from a 1938 yearbook (figure 4) - it mentions how he is the designer of the

organization’s insignia.


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World Federation of Hungarian Veterans





February 24th - Cabaret night, Hungarian Hall

March 4th - Luncheon, Hungarian Hall

10th - Carnival Dance, Hungarian Hall 11th - Revolution Celebration, Hungarian Hall

17th - Bazaar, Calvin Presbyterian Church 24th - Cabaret Night, Hungarian Hall

April 8th - Luncheon, Hungarian Hall

21st - Theatre Evening, Hungarian Hall 22nd - Theatre Afternoon, Hungarian Hall 28th - Scouts’ Evening, Catholic Church

Figure 1.

Figure 3.

Figure 2.

Figure 4.


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WEARING HUNGARIAN DECORATIONS By Peter Czink VRNT

Kings, queens and colonels have given rewards to their subjects and men as long as there have been nations. Originally land, titles or money were awarded for ‘services rendered’ until it became the fashion to wear the sovereign’s gold medal as a badge of honour rather than traded for things less meaningful. By the 1600’s, gold coins em-bellished with pearls and rubies were awarded to Hungarians who distinguished themselves – the first medals as we know them today. As time went on decorations became more standardised and the criteria for receiving them were documented in official regulations. Ribbons, usually in the national colours were attached to the medals so they could be easily affixed to clothing; and by the end of the 19th century the ubiquitous ‘tri-fold’ ribbon that we use today, became the norm in the Austro-Hungarian empire. There are two main purposes for the wearing and issuing of medals. Firstly, they are a sign of gratitude from, or association to a nation or organization – a token of appre-ciation. Secondly they are a visible symbol of the wearer’s accomplishments and ex-perience. This second aspect is extremely important from a military standpoint since medals and their corresponding ribbons form part of a soldier’s language – an easily recognizable record of a man’s service. A group of decorations belonging to one per-son can tell the observer at a glance where they have been or how long they have served. The protocol for civilian awards is by no means as strict as that of the mili-tary, and here in North America recognizing outstanding service is rarely done with medals outside of the armed forces. Military medals on the other hand are required to be worn, and complex regulations govern them. The MHBK is a military organiza-tion and members should wear their decorations not simply because they are proud of them; but as a show of commitment to the organization that has awarded them. It is also imperative that they are worn correctly and in the prescribed manner as a re-minder of our military roots and as a sign of respect to those heroes who have also worn Hungarian medals. Recently, I was speaking with a good friend of mine who informed me that he was awarded the Hungarian Order of Merit – one of our nations most prestigious decora-tions. I congratulated him, and asked him why I never see even the miniature ribbon bar on his lapel. His reply was that there were people who would be jealous, or de-mand an explanation of why he was worthy of such an honour! I believe that for every critic there are a hundred thousand Hungarians who would be brimming with pride. If one person would take the time to ask my friend what the medal repre-sented, and perhaps be inspired to work for our cause; that would be worth more than the envious ramblings of a hundred insignificant trouble makers. Remember that be-hind each decoration stands all of the members of the organization that awarded it – and that over the last hundred years, millions of Hungarians have proudly worn med-als hanging from the tri-fold ribbon.

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Hungarian decorations are worn hanging from ribbon above the heart on the left side; on the lower left and right breast in the case of some awards; and at

the throat. Some of the higher orders also have classes which hang at the wearer’s hip from a wide sash ribbon.

The 40mm wide tri-fold ribbon has become

very standardized. The example shown in figure 1 which is used for both the World War I Com-

memorative Medal (Magyar Háborús Emlékérem) and the Fire Cross (Tûzkereszt) clearly shows the way in which the rib-bon is folded - always from the lower left to the upper right with the left side over-lapping the right. A hook is sewn to the ends of the ribbon on the reverse which is meant to pass through a small eyelet on the bottom edge and through the ring on the top of the medal. Originally, loops were sewn on the wearer’s uniform for each medal, and the tri-fold ribbons were neatly draped over them; eliminating the need for any pins or fasteners on the backs of each one. Another option for mounting more than one medal is to drape them over a long flat bar with a pin-back in order to make it easier to transfer the entire group from one garment to another. I have met many collectors and military enthu-siasts who have been mystified at how we can wear medals without any pins on them! Hungarian military tradition also dictates that medals should be worn in line with the top tunic button - of course this isn’t possible when wear-ing modern open lapel jackets, so today we wear them in a suitable spot above or in line with the left breast pocket. Medals on tri-fold ribbons must be worn in one row only, over-lapped if there are more than three in the group (figure 2). Although our members are now civilians, it’s important to adhere to these regulations in respect to our military traditions. Attaching a decoration to its ribbon can sometimes be frustrating because of the small size of some of the rings.

The result of doing so can lead to a sloppy appearance of these cherished awards. The hook on the back of the medal rib-bon needs to be passed through the eyelet first, and then through the medal ring which has to be placed on the

other side of the eyelet. This can be a little tricky, but the end re-

sult looks very smart (figure 3). Today, abiding by these rigid regulations may seem unnecessary - like anachro-nisms. For those of us who

‘carry the flag forward’, and who are the voices of heroes

long silent - traditions such as these must be preserved. These traditions form the foundation for our new

ideas for a brighter future.

RIGHT!

Figure 1.

Figure 3. The Officer’s Long Service Cross, II Class with close-ups of the reverse illustrating cor-

rect and incorrect attachment.

WRONG!

Figure 2. An unknown First World War veteran wearing his medal group above the Veterans’ Association

‘díszjelvény’

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Decorations worn on the breast are most often pinned to the wearer’s garment.

Many awards like the Officer’s Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit (Magyar Érdemrend tisz-tikeresztje) in figure 4 have very wide pins on the reverse; and some insignia have two wide

prongs and no pin at all. This can cause difficulty for the wearer since most people are used to thin, sharp pins

that can easily and safely pierce most fabrics. I must point out that these wider pins and prongs are never meant to be pushed through one’s clothing! It’s custom-ary to sew two thick loops of heavy thread onto the gar-ment as shown in figure 5. A good colour match will en-sure that the loops are discrete if the recipient chooses not to wear the badge at all times. Prongs on the backs of badges must never be bent! After a few times the prongs will break off, leaving nothing to attach the wearer’s prized decora-tion. Loops must be sewn for this type of insignia and the fabric pinched together to allow the prongs to slide into the loops. Even though this method seems quite old-fashioned, it really is the most secure. Lastly, we must keep in mind the order of precedence of medals and decorations. Each medal has an official ‘rank’ and must be worn in the correct order. Generally speaking, medals for bravery and exemplary service come first, followed by commemorative and long service awards. Medals are also worn according to date of issue; for example if two awards for bravery of equal rank are worn, the one received earlier takes precedence. Official listings of the order of precedence of Hungarian decorations are available. If any MHBK members have questions about their awards or would like to have them professionally mounted for wear free of charge; please feel free to contact the author.

A very small quantity of decora-tive plates and plaques (including

MHBK commemorative plates) made by the well known artist/author Tibor Rada are available

for sale.

Beautiful Hungarian motifs.

Very high quality porcelain.

Gilded accents.

Very limited quantities.

Assorted styles and sizes avail-able. Prices from $10.00 to

$24.00.

HUNGARIAN COAT-OF-ARMS PLATES BY TIBOR RADA (MHBK

CALGARY CHAPTER)

CONTACT: PETER CZINK

MHBK VANCOUVER CHAPTER

A professionally made, high quality video of our festival is available from: Mr. Jenõ Orbán, Suite #104, 1750 Maple Street, Vancouver B.C., Canada, V6J 3S6. (604) 732-6774. $18.00 CDN for NTSC (North America) or $25.00 CDN for PAL (European) plus postage per video.

Figure 5. Close-up detail of a pair of medal loops on a Hungarian

army officer’s tunic breast pocket.

Figure 4.

VOL UME III , ISSUE 2 m~ÖÉ=Q=

MHBK Membership Badge with Gold Wreath, or other organiza-

tion and membership badges.

Decorations on tri-fold ribbons worn in one row, in the cor-

rect order of precedence.

Some insignia like the Officer’s Combat Leadership Badge

(Csapattiszti jelvény) and other orders are worn on

the right breast.

Neck orders are worn over the neck-tie with the ribbon neatly under the shirt collar.

Orders and decorations worn pinned to the left breast according to the recommended patterns.

See figure 5.

Figure 6. Original diagram of the correct placement of breast badges and orders from the official 1924 Hungarian Army regulations.

THE ‘GOLDEN TRAIN’

In 1938, as part of the millennium remembrance of St, Stephen’s death; a special train was built to carry the ‘Szent Jobb’ (the mummified right hand of King Stephen) through Hungary. It may seem a little morbid to the modern North American observer, but indeed the ‘Holy Right’ as it is called is an important piece of Hungarian national and religious history. The relic was taken through the country with great ceremony, especially in the territories that Hungary won back after the cruel Treaty of Trianon had taken away two-thirds of Magyar soil. In the above amateur snap-shot, we can clearly see the ubiquitous uniformed veterans, who actively took part in Hungarian daily life in the thirties. I intend to build a model of the special car pictured above in 1:6 scale, and I’m now actively searching for any photographic material or documentation on it. During its trip through Hungary many people saw and photo-graphed it, but the car itself was stripped down near the end of the war and used as a mail car. If anyone has any information on the ‘Golden Train’ or ‘Arany Vonat’, please contact the author.



Is published bi-monthly by Peter Czink VRNT, Chapter Leader, MHBK Vancouver Chapter

World Federation of Hungarian Veterans Magyar Harcosok Bajtársi Közössége





March 10th - Carnival Dance, Hungarian Hall

11th - Revolution Celebration, Hungarian Hall 17th - Bazaar, Calvin Presbyterian Church

24th - Cabaret Night, Hungarian Hall

April 8th - Luncheon, Hungarian Hall

21st - Theatre Evening, Hungarian Hall 22nd - Theatre Afternoon, Hungarian Hall 28th - Scout’s Evening, Catholic Church

May 6th - Reformed Church jubilee Dinner, Hungarian Hall

12th - May Princess ball, Hungarian Hall 13th - Mother’s Day Celebration, Hungarian Churches


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HISTORY FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE By Peter Czink VRNT

Military miniatures have long been popular playthings - many of our fathers fondly remember their ‘lead soldiers’, and I was rarely without my ‘G.I. Joe’ when I was a boy. Indeed the ‘toy soldier’ has been fighting imaginary battles for so long, that his origins may be as old as man himself. Miniatures, or ‘scale’ models also serve another purpose. In many cases objects can be studied more easily and examined more readily in this form, as buildings can be easily visualised by the use of an architect’s model. From the vast amount of models found in museums, we can see that they have become an invaluable educational tool. It is imperative that we continue educating the public about Hungary’s military his-tory; especially since such subjects are often overlooked in an era bent on selectively ignoring parts of history that for the moment are not ‘politically correct’. There are many excellent books in Hungary about military history, but unfortunately only a few have been able to include high quality photo-graphs and expensive colour plates. The ones that are available are hard to find as they are printed in smaller num-bers. I must stress the fact that I am well aware that accurate writ-ten historical information is the first priority, but I foresee a serious future problem. For history to be accurately re-corded and then studied, we must have people inter-ested in the sub-jects. As time goes on, the old black and white photo-graphs will be fur-ther and further removed, and the issues which re-

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Actual size photo of an Infantry Assault Battallion Sergeant

(Szakaszvezetõ), from the latter part of the Second World War. His equipment includes the Panzerfaust

anti-tank weapon.

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volved around them will become further from the forefront of our lives. I believe that new ways are needed to capture people’s initial interest in the subjects, which will inspire them to further study and research. I hope my new project can help do this - a collection of every type of Hungarian military uniform; from the ordinary soldier’s ‘angel’s skin’ (angyal bör) to a general’s parade uniform. From the veteran’s association’s ‘felt helmet’ to the complete kit of a Royal Hungarian Crown Guard. The only place in the world where one could see all types of Hungarian uniform would be the War Museum in Budapest, and even there only a very small part of the collection is on display at any one time. These miniatures could be pre-sented in a relatively small space and give the viewer an excellent perspective on military clothing, hardware and tra-ditions. The scale I have chosen is 1:6,

which will be large enough to accurately depict all of the details, yet small enough to be transportable - the collection could be displayed virtually any-where. The fascination with this scale in the military mod-elling field is growing, and many figures are avail-able. The basic bodies I use are commercially pro-duced, but since Hungarian militaria is almost un-heard of here in North America, I must make almost all of the items of equipment and clothing. In the interest of accuracy I prefer to use original, full size examples when producing the miniature - measuring to the millimetre. I have had the very good fortune of receiving help and advice from Dr. Francis Tavares, one of the pio-neers in the field of 1:6 scale military modelling. He has not only inspired me to take on this task, but he has done the tailoring on the uniforms pictured in this newsletter; as well as having been a fountain of information and advice on everything from plastic moulding to miniature sewing techniques. For those of you with access to the internet, make sure you have a look at his website at: http://www.members.home.net/tavares/.

A Corporal (Tizedes) of the Armoured Corps on his BMW R75 motorcycle.

An Infantry Private (Honvéd) wearing the standard issue greatcoat, helmet, and rifle ammunition pouches stands between the Infantry Sergeant and the

Armoured Corporal.

Hungary's premier world & folk music act

MUZSIKÁS Featuring

Márta Sebestyén The voice from ‘The English Patient’ & Deep Forest's ‘Boheme’

Tuesday, July 3rd at 8:00pm Capilano College Performing Arts Theatre

2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver Tickets: $20.00

Info & Tickets: 604-722-0090

Recognized around the globe for their outstanding musicianship and enchanting interpretations of tradi-tional eastern European folk music, Muzsikás and Márta Sebestyén have steadily become one of the world's top performing ensembles. Vocalist Márta Sebestyén captures with sensitivity and authenticity the sound of the singers that Béla Bartók, as well as Muzsikás, more than 70 years later, heard and recorded travelling across the country. Sebestyén has performed with the group from its inception and in recent years she has enjoyed recognition throughout Europe and the United States as a solo artist. Her extraordinary voice has graced the Grammy winning album ‘Boheme’ by Deep Forest and the soundtrack to the multiple Oscar win-ning film, ‘The English Patient’. Her own solo albums on Hannibal have earned her unanimous praise, prompting Stereophile to include her in "the small clutch of global divas". The Bartók Album (HNCD 1439) which was released in August 1998 is the group's sixth release, and is an exploration of the relationship between the composer Béla Bartók and folk music as seen through the band’s eyes. Sebestyén joins classical violin virtuoso Alexander Balanescu in this fascinating tribute. Muzsikás is composed of master players Daniel Hamar on bass, hammer dulcimer (cimbalom), and hit-gardon (a unique cross between a cello and a drum), violist Péter Éri, Mihály Sipos on fiddle, and second fiddler Lászlo Porteleki.

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THE FORRÁS FOLK ENSEMBLE

During their recent fundraising luncheon which took place on Hero’s Day, Forrás included a moving tribute, and called for a moment of silence for Hungary’s fallen soldiers. I am particularly impressed with this group since it’s quite clear that they have taken the crucial next step necessary for the accurate preservation of this very important part of our culture. No longer merely a dance group, many of their members have dedicated a great deal of their time to in-depth and academic study of folk costume, music and customs. Their valuable work not only entertains, it will be a significant influence in the preservation of a part of our culture that could easily be lost in our modern world. Lajos Miklós of the Forrás Folk Ensemble has recently joined the Vancouver Chapter of the MHBK. In addition to welcoming him to our chapter, let’s support his most recent project - he is promoting the well known group ‘Muzsikás’. Tickets are still available, please see the information below.

AUTO RALLY PLAQUES OF THE HUNGARIAN VETERANS’ MOVEMENT Since I began concentrating on collecting pieces from the old Front-Line Fighters’ Association, I am find-ing myself constantly amazed at the enormous amount of artifacts directly associated to this organi-zation. Most Hungarians born after the Second

World War are virtually unaware of the movement - in fact I wouldn’t be surprised if the majority of Hun-garian people are unfamiliar with it.

The car rally plaques shown here are a poignant reminder that this group was very strong and active for many years. They are either awards, or perhaps simply souvenirs for the people involved with the rallies - a very fashionable pastime in the 1930’s. Struck in bronze, they are of the finest quality and design. Each one bears the stamp of

the well known designer and Veterans’ Association member Nándor Berán, and exhibits his usual powerful (sometimes very art deco) style.

I hope this small collection pro-vokes thought among all members of the MHBK. It is imperative that we work very hard now not only to preserve past history, but to make certain that we keep the MHBK alive - if not, we cannot guarantee the accurate representation of mil-lions of Hungarians who have served our country and our veterans’ organizations. The Hungarian Front-Line Fighters’ Association, now almost forgotten; once had 300,000 members. I think we owe it to these men and women to do our best to make sure that their traditions and noble ideals will always live on.









June 17th - Father’s Day, Hungarian Churches

July 3rd - Muzsikás, Capilano College Performing Arts Theatre

8th - Mission Lunch, Calvin Presbyterian Church 22nd - Church Picnic, Hume Park

29th - Church Picnic, Catholic Church

Hungarian Television Thursday at 12:00 noon, repeated at 6:00 pm and 12:30 am

Rogers Multicultural Channel

‘Magyar Világ’ - Sunday at 11:30 am, repeated at 11:30 pm Rogers Multicultural Channel

Plaques shown actual size


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INVESTITURE OF THE ORDER OF VITÉZ IN VANCOUVER By Peter Czink VRNT

On December 9th, 2001, for the second time in Vancouver; a Vitézi Avatás (Investiture of the Order of Vitéz) took place. Once again organized by Ferenc v. Mandalik, the ceremony was held at the First Hungarian Reformed Church, and was a moving and educational event. Two people were honoured - long time M.H.B.K. member Zoltán v. Keresztes re-ceived the award for his service in the Second World War, and Mandalik’s son Arpád was awarded the title posthumously. The event began after three important symbols were brought into the church. A rep-lica of the Horthy era war flag was carried in by M.H.B.K. member Lajos Miklós, fol-lowed by our copy of the Holy Crown of Hungary brought into the church by Rev. Lajos Fábián. I followed with a wartime Hungarian infantry officer’s sword, which was used by Mandalik in the ceremony. I was especially pleased that Rev. Fábián agreed to take part in the day’s events, since the investiture last year took place at his church. He brought the crown to his colleague Rev. Miklós Szigeti’s church as a sym-bol of Hungarian Christian unity. Two representatives of the Hungarian Scouts, Scoutmaster Zsuzsanna Nagy cst. and Assistant Scoutmaster Gergõ Csiszár were on hand to distribute historical infor-mation about the Order, and Andréa Miklós and József Molnár were among the people who proudly wore Hungarian national costume. Ferenc v. Mandalik, one of the highest ranking Canadian represen-tatives of the Order of Vitéz, spoke of the history and regulations of the organization; and Mártha Fábián gave the people in attendance an excellent explanation of the signifi-cance of the special insignia worn by members of the order. Rev. Szigeti, Rev. Fábián and Father Dénes Lakotos blessed the recipi-ents and the insignia and offered moving prayers to those who serve the Hungarian cause. I am particularly happy that the

Zoltán v. Keresztes swearing the oath to the Order of Vitéz. Ferenc v. Mandalik stands at right.

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wartime service of my good friend Zoltán v. Keresztes was recognized in this way. Many decades have passed since he served his country, and during that time the Hungarian government chose to ignore such service – in-deed in many cases it was punished. He was decorated for bravery during the war and spent 27 months in a Soviet prison camp afterwards. In Canada he continued to serve the Hungarian cause and set a shining example – for Hungarians and Canadians. Representatives from all of the local Hungarian organizations, including André Molnár, Honorary Consul General of Hungary were exposed to a significant part of our culture. Special thanks goes to M.H.B.K. member Lorraine Weideman for taking photographs throughout the ceremony.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ISTVÁN v. JOÓ!

Recently, this well known M.H.B.K Vancouver Chapter member was awarded the 1956 Commemorative Medal (1956-os Emlékérem)

by the government of Hungary, represented by Mr. André Molnár, Honorary Consul General. The medal, shown at right in actual size

(obverse above, reverse below) was instituted by the Hungarian Parlia-ment in 1991 and is conferred by the President of the Hungarian Republic

upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister once the Government has consented to it. It is granted to all those who ‘had been fighting for an inde-

pendent and democratic Hungary with arms at hand during the October Revolution and struggle for freedom of 1956 , and whose personal free-

dom was restricted because they insisted on the ideas of 1956’. The 1956 Commemorative Medal has also been awarded to one other Vancouver Chapter member - Mr. Ferenc v. Mandalik.

From left to right: Rev. L. Fábián, Mrs. F. Pataky, Mrs. I. Keresztes, Dr. Z. Keresztes, Lt. Col. Z. v. Keresztes, Rev. M. Szigeti, Mr. A. Molnár,

Mr. P. Czink VRNT, Father D. Lakatos, Mrs. R. Mandalik, Mr. F. v. Mandalik and Mrs. A. Miklós.

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HUNGARIAN MILITARY FIGURE UPDATE

I have completed four new figures, which are part of an ongoing project to represent every kind of Hungarian military costume in exact 1:6 scale. When more figures are completed, including dress and combat uniforms of all types; this one of a kind educational display will be shown to the public. I have made every effort to re-create everything from the uniforms to the decorations as precisely as possible, so the onlooker can visualize just how these soldiers would have looked in the past. Each figure is approximately 12” (30 cm) tall. The figures shown below are all from the Hungarian Front-Line Fighters’ Association - from left to right: a regular member and former enlisted soldier of the Austro-Hungarian Army in pre-war service dress; a former senior N.C.O. with a permanent position within the organization (denoted by the shoulder cords on both shoulders) in war-time parade dress; a former enlisted soldier in pre-war service dress with a temporary position of leadership in the association (denoted by the red underlay) and a former officer and Chapter Leader (denoted by the two gold shoulder cords and collar badges) with a position of national leadership (note the white underlay). I hope that once more figures are done, our members and the public will enjoy learning from them as much as I’m enjoying making them!

A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST

I am constantly amazed at the extent to which the old Front-Line Fight-ers’ Association existed. Today many of the members of the currant veterans’ association are unfamiliar

with it, and as far as the general pub-lic is concerned it is almost forgotten. As M.H.B.K. members we must strive

to preserve these obscure but important parts of our heritage - every day I see evi-dence of apathy towards important Hun-garian institutions such as ours.

I have added the postcard shown at right to my collection, and thought I would

share it with you not only because of its extraordinary esthetic merits, but to remind you of how much care and attention to detail was put into the Front-Line Fighters’ Association; the predecessor of the M.H.B.K. The back of the postcard is marked: Magyar Fronthar-cos Szövetség Debreceni Fõcsoportja Hõsök emlékser-lege õsmagyar ivótülök formában, or Hungarian Front-Line Fighters’ Association Debrecen Headquarters Chapter Hero’s Memorial Cup based on an ancient Hungarian drinking horn. It was designed by Tivadar Debreczeny and made by László Misák in 1937.









December 1st - Bazaar - First Hungarian Ref. Church

9th - Vitézi Avatás - First Hungarian Ref. Church 15th - Bazaar - Hungarian Reformed Church

16th - Christmas Celebration - Catholic Church 23rd - Christmas Celebration - First Hungarian Ref. Church

31st - New Year’s Eve Ball - Catholic Church

PLEASE LET ME KNOW

OF ANY FUTURE EVENTS IN TIME FOR PUBLICATION!


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SERGEANT LÁSZLÓ v. POLGÁRI 1919 – 2001 By Peter Czink VRNT

Vitéz Polgári László was born on July 25th, 1919 in Sellye, Baranya vármegye in Hun-gary. I don’t know much about his childhood, or the way in which he was raised; or about what he had hoped to become. Few people knew details about Laci bácsi be-cause he spoke mostly about the 6-year period of his life between 1939 and 1945 – a time that I believe this old soldier constantly thought of. He re-lived those memories in his mind over and over, and proudly wore his impres-sive set of decorations on special occasions; yet he still managed to accomplish a great deal after the war. He was a founder of the Hungarian Society of Nanaimo, and was a tireless fundraiser for the Széchényi Society. He was a long time member of the MHBK, a pillar in the MKCsBK (Veteran’s Association of the Royal Hungarian Gen-darmerie), and an active member of the Order of St. László. This was on top of his ‘day job’ at Alcan Aluminium in Kitimat, B.C. This man fought for the Hungarian cause until the very end, and yet after his death I still hear about the people’s grumbling – grumbling about Laci bácsi! “Why is he so irritable?” people would ask. In 1940, he noticed the strange behaviour of a Hungarian artillery sergeant major, and took it upon himself to arrest him. Only after receiving a severe ‘dressing down’ from his commanding officer was it discovered that the man was a Soviet spy. Laci bácsi

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Vitéz László Polgári speaking with Péter Czink - 2000.XI.26.

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then joined the 52nd Infantry Regiment where he was put to one of the most unpleasant tasks a soldier could get – dealing with partisans. He could never be sure of who was friend and who was foe, and often well armed guerrillas in civilian clothing would engage him and his men in fierce street battles. I have heard that people would complain that: “He is too criti-cal”. Two years later, Laci bácsi was given an ‘easier’ task. He was sent to the Russian Front, and put into action on the Don River bend. Two hours later, at 7:00 pm on July 31st, 1942 he was severely wounded, and then thrown together with the growing number of Hungarian dead. Only later did a medical orderly notice that he was indeed alive. Laci bácsi was taken to a first aid station by horse drawn carriage and then sent home by train - the same train in fact that carried the body of the Vice-Governor István Horthy. Perhaps he was a little critical - perhaps he found it difficult to understand the little everyday hardships that we sometimes tend to over react about. Ten months later when he was better, al-though declared 74% disabled; he volunteered once more for the front. In his words, he wanted to return to the front because “my parents were poor, they only had one room with a dirt

floor which served also as the kitchen; there were five of them living there and I would have been the sixth – so I volunteered for front-line duty”. It wasn’t long before he was to prove his loyalty to his com-rades again, and soon he reached the rank of sergeant, and acted with such bravery that he was awarded the Large Silver Bravery Medal. This 74% disabled sergeant, decorated for bravery was again badly wounded in combat and sent to a field hospital in Balatonboglár. Pécs, where his parents lived had already fallen to the Russians, so he volunteered for the Royal Hungarian Gendarmerie where he learned a new trade – cooking and baking. “He complains about the food!” Some would say about Laci bácsi. During his fight against the partisans he and seven other soldiers were captured by a heavily armed group of over 20 guerrillas. Laci bácsi and his men were stripped of their weapons and anything else of value, and held for two days. On the second day they were offered food by their captors, and were happy to see that they would be given Hungarian gu-lyás. After they had all began eating, they were told that the food was made from executed German soldiers. Laci bácsi gave up his youth and his innocence for his country, and he loved and served Hungary until his strength finally left him. Maybe he was a little grumpy – they used to call it ‘shell shock’ and now ‘post traumatic stress disorder’. Maybe he had the right to be a little more particular about things, because he was a great Hungarian, and a brave front-line fighter.

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THE DECORATIONS OF VITÉZ LÁSZLÓ POLGÁRI (1919.VII.25. - 2001.X.7.)

Top row: Badge of the Order of Vitéz; Grand Knight’s Cross of the Order of St. László; Knight’s Cross of the Order of St. László. Second row: Large Silver Bravery Medal; Small Silver Bravery Medal; Bronze Bravery Medal; Fire Cross; Com-

memorative Medal for the Liberation of Upper Hungary; Commemorative Medal for the Return of Southern Hungary; MHBK 20 Year Anniversary Commemorative Medal; MKCsBK 25 Year Anniversary Commemorative Medal with Swords; Don River Veteran’s Association Commemorative Cross with Swords; MKCsBK Cross of Honour; Royal Hungarian Gen-

darmerie 100 Year Anniversary Commemorative Cross and the European Combatant's Cross.

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THE VANCOUVER CHAPTER WELCOMES A WORLD CLASS HISTORIAN To a Hungarian, there is no greater treasure than the Magyar language. Our tongue is an important part of who we are; yet its uniqueness keeps us distant from all other cultures. As a Hungarian-Canadian I have found that complex issues are sometimes difficult for me to understand if presented in Hungarian – indeed I’m in constant search of literature dealing with Hungarian topics that are printed in my first language, English. Hungary is very much a misunderstood nation, and its military history is constantly being overlooked. On the rare occasions that we see a Hungarian soldier in a Hollywood movie, he is usually portrayed as bloodthirsty fascist, happily in partnership with his Nazi allies. In many well-known books on military history, the Hungar-ian Armed Forces are classified as mere ‘foreign legions’ of the German war machine. Our newest member of the Vancouver Chapter of the MHBK, Andris Kursietis, is an author who has made great efforts to bring accurate and unbiased information about Hungarian military history in English to his readers. Mr. Kursietis has spent over twenty years researching the military histories of the Axis nations, and has pub-lished “The Royal Hungarian Armed Forces 1919 – 1945”; “La Regia Marina 1919 – 1945”, a detailed order of battle of the Italian Navy; and “The Hungarian Army and its Military Leadership in World War II”. He has written articles for “The Military Advisor” and “Axis Europa Magazine”, and is a former Associate Editor of the latter publication. In 1997 he was awarded the Cross of Merit from the Order of Vitéz for his excellent work for the Hungarian cause. The Royal Hungarian Armed Forces 1919 – 1945 (1997, 166 pages) is ‘an analysis of the Royal Hungarian Armed Forces during the period following the fall of the communist regime of Béla Kun, up to and including the end of W.W.II. It presents a chronological breakdown of the High Command, and the major units in the field, from the peacetime Mixed Brigades through the mobilization of Army Corps and Armies in preparation for war. There is also a detailed biographical section of the generals of the Hungarian Army’. The MHBK members’ price is $25.00 US plus shipping (regular price is $30.00), and is available directly from the author:

Andris Kursietis 5727 W. Wright Street Milwaukee, WI 53210 U.S.A. The Hungarian Army and its Military Leadership in World War II is a smaller volume (54 pages) but it includes excellent maps and rarely seen photographs. Following an overview of pre-war and wartime Hungarian mili-tary history, Kursietis presents well-written biographies of some of the most influential military leaders. A must for English-speaking history enthusiasts ($25.00 US, hard cover $35.00 US), available from: AXIS EUROPA BOOKS & MAGAZINES 53 – 20 207th Street Bayside, NY 11364 U.S.A. (718) 229-1352

CONGRATULATIONS!

To Vancouver Chapter member József Pataky for being awarded the ‘MHBK 40 Year Anniversary Cross’ on September 30, 2001. The award (pictured at right, actual size) was instituted on the MHBK’s 40th anni-

versary, and is given to members who have performed exemplary service to the organization. Mr. Pataky has been doing just that - since 1953!

UNIFORMS OF THE DISABLED VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION?









November 24th - Bazaar, Catholic Church

December 1st - Bazaar, First Reformed Church

9th - Order of Vitéz Investiture, First Reformed Church

15th - Bazaar, Reformed Church - Hungarian Hall 16th - Christmas Celebration, Catholic Church

23rd - Christmas Celebration, Reformed Church

This unusual woven badge shown slightly smaller than actual size (78mm x 91mm) can be clearly seen on the left arm of the fifth man in the picture above. It is a large version of the Hadirokkant, or ‘War Dis-abled’ badge that was worn officially by those crippled in front-line ser-vice. He is also wearing the ‘HONSz Award Badge’ on his left pocket. Note that their belt and cross-straps seem to be of a lighter colour, and there is an unidentified insignia (presumably rank) on his lower left cuff. There is no record of what this uniform variation may be.

magyar front july august 2001 (read-only)newfront.ca/data/documents/magyar-front-2001.pdfmy husband,...

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