Cross of fire for front fighters
The fire cross ( Hu. Tűzkereszt ) was a Hungarian award given during the Second World War , which was donated on November 24, 1941 by the Hungarian ruler and head of state Miklós Horthy . Intended as a front-line warrior, the name also means baptism of fire in Hungarian.
Classes
- 1st class with swords and laurel wreath,
- II. Class with laurel wreath and the
- III. Class.
Award requirements
The fire cross was donated as the successor to the Karl Troop Cross . Originally intended as a front fighter award, but it also served as a wounded badge , invalidity badge and survivor's cross. It could be awarded to all members of the Hungarian armed forces (soldiers, gendarmes, police officers, customs officers, forest officers or civil employees of the authorities) who took part in combat operations, or who suffered injuries or damage in connection with combat operations, were killed or succumbed to these injuries in the later episode. The award or crediting of the wound could take place after a certain date. The Hungarian hostilities began on January 26, 1941, the day of the Soviet bombing of Kosice . However, the foundation statute provided for three exceptions: For example, all eligible participants in war operations in Upper Hungary , Transylvania and southern Hungary could be awarded the cross.
Authorization to carry
Originally intended as the successor to the Karl Troop Cross, members of the Royal Hungarian Landwehr, the Ku Gendarmerie, the Ku Police, the Ku Finance Guard, the Ku Forest Guard, or civilians in the service of these organizations with at least 12 weeks of deployment were entitled to carry the first class Enemy territory in the front line, as well as wounded soldiers or relatives of fallen soldiers, but these on the black triangular ribbon. All previously listed persons with at least 6 months service in enemy territory, without front deployment, were entitled to carry the second class. All previously listed persons who served in their home country during the war were allowed to wear the third class, however awards of the third class were very rare (thus the third class is the rarest variant).
When it was given to a member of a fallen soldier, only one member of the family was entitled to carry. This happened in a fixed order:
- with married dead
- the oldest sane son,
- the widow,
- the oldest sane daughter,
- with single fallen
- the biological father,
- the birth mother,
- the brother,
- the sister
- the recognized fiancée.
The cross could also be awarded to returning Hungarian prisoners of war. It was not intended to be awarded to foreigners.
Appearance
The fire cross consists of copper-red metal in all its classes and shows a paw cross with a total height and width of 36 mm. The diameter of the laurel wreath is 20 mm, that of the embossed inner medallion 12 mm. On it is the three-line raised inscription: A / HAZÁ / ÉRT (FOR THE FATHERLAND). The small year number, which can be found on the front in the lower cross arm, symbolizes the year in which the cross was awarded. So far, the dates up to 1943 are known. The year 1941 stamped in the center of the back, which is otherwise smooth, of the cross cannot be changed and stands for the year of the foundation.
Carrying method
The triangular ribbon on which the medal was worn on the left side of the chest is a white ribbon with a wide central stripe, which is horizontally ribbed green and white and bordered by a red and a white side stripe. In the event of wounds, a wound brace was placed on the tape. Up to four wounds there was a silver clasp that was put on over the entire triangular band, but the fifth was a gold one with the small stamped number on the right edge: 5 . War invalids were entitled to wear the military invalids badge on the triangular ribbon. Relatives of fallen soldiers were entitled to wear the cross of fire on a black triangular ribbon.
Individual evidence
- ^ Individual excerpts from the magazine Uniformen Markt, year 1944, issue 7 and issue 12
