Vitézi Rend

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Vitézi Rend ( German Order of Heroes, Order of the Stand of the Brave ) was the highest Hungarian state award of the interwar period and was introduced by the Kingdom of Hungary after the First World War . The former state order has existed since 1945 in various private groups, some of which are legally registered as associations.

Kingdom of Hungary 1920–1945

Establishment of the order

The order was founded on August 20, 1920 on the basis of the presidential order with Decree No. 6650/1920 drawn up by the Hungarian government on August 11, 1920 under the direction of the Reich Administrator Admiral Horthy . The order was approved by legislation in Section 77 of Article XXXVI 1920. This made the Vitéz Order the first newly created Hungarian award after the First World War.

Originally, the Vitéz Order was an organization that, as a result of the land reform, allocated land to deserving soldiers of the First World War and the subsequent revolutionary turmoil as a token of gratitude. These individuals were also carried accolade received into the Order, and put their name to the title Vitez (Hero, Knight, comparable to the German knights of ; from Slavic "vitez" = knight) before. The title was and is hereditary, the salutation for members of the order is “nemzetes úr / asszony”, "Noble (-e) Lord / Lady". Members of the order of the officers' class added the nobility suffix "-y" to their names, those of the sergeants and crews with "-i". Members with non-Hungarian names had to Magyarize it. This was done by changing the surname while retaining the initial and final letters. The changed name was then supplemented with the appropriate ending "-y" or "-i". For example, the surname Wagner of an officer becomes Váry ("V" is spoken in Hungarian as "W", and the ending "-y" was added) or the surname Held einer Crewstgrad becomes Hernadi (with the ending "-i") ).

The medals conferred during the time of the Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1945) are recognized hereditary nobility. In Germany, members of such families, if they lost their Hungarian citizenship before January 1947, can use their names with "von" or "Ritter von". The orders and their titles re-established after the war, however, have no legal quality in the sense of historical nobility law.

The number of members was 16,000 in 1936, 1,800 of them officers , by 1944 the number of members had risen to 21,000. In 1944 the membership grew to 24,000.

Admission to the Order

Inclusion in the Vitézi Rend could be achieved in two ways - through heroic deeds and through heredity.

War awards, which were acquired, were used to prove the heroic deeds. Generals and staff officers had to have at least the Austro-Imperial Leopold Order with war decorations and swords or, in World War II, the officers' cross of the Hungarian Cross of Merit with war decorations and swords. All (remaining) officers had to have acquired at least the Austrian Order of the Iron Crown 3rd Class with war decorations and swords or, in World War II, the Hungarian Cross of Merit with swords on a war or bravery ribbon. Teams and soldiers had to have been awarded the great silver medal of bravery of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in World War I or the Hungarian great silver medal of bravery in World War II .

Until 1944, the first-born son, if he was mentally and physically suitable and had passed the age of 17, could be accepted into the Vitézi Rend as heir. Since the 1990s, the title has been inheritable to all descendants of the original title holder, but direct descent from vitéz must be proven.

Dissolution of the order

The Vitézi Rend was continuously active from the time it was founded until the fascist Hungarian Arrow Cross members came to power on October 15, 1944. On February 26, 1945, on the orders of the Soviet occupying power , Prime Minister Béla Miklós issued Ordinance 529/1945, which banned the order, legally terminated its activities and nationalized the goods.

Today's groups

There are currently two large "Vitézi Rend" groups in Hungary, each group claiming to be the only correct Vitézi Rend. There are also a few smaller splinter groups. The attempts to unite all groups into a single Vitézi Rend have so far not been successful.

The former "order of exile"

After the order was banned in 1945, the majority of the order's members went into exile in Germany, some also to Canada, the USA and Australia. The order was continued in exile under the leadership of Joseph Ágost vitéz Habsburg-Lothringen .

Leadership (captain general)

After the death of Joseph Ágost vitéz Habsburg-Lothringen, the former general Ferenc vitéz kisbarnaki Farkas took over the leadership of the "order of exile" as Főkapitány in 1962. In 1977 he resigned from this office and on December 3, 1977 handed over the leadership to vitéz Joseph Árpád von Habsburg-Lothringen (1933-2017), the grandson of vitéz Joseph Ágost von Habsburg-Lothringen.

This group of Vitézi Rend is registered and recognized by the ICOC (INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR ORDERS OF CHIVALRY). However, this commission has no legal rights in Hungary.

Memorial cross

A memorial cross on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the order was issued in 1981. The founder of this cross was the "Order of Exile". It was made by the German medal maker Deschler & Sohn in Munich. It was unfortunately incorrectly dated in 1981 as it was founded in 1920. There are two well-known variants of this anniversary commemorative cross - one with an applied miniature of the Vitéz badge and one without.

  • Jubilee commemorative cross for the 60th anniversary of the foundation - front with applied miniature

  • Jubilee memorial cross for the 60th anniversary of the foundation - front

  • Jubilee memorial cross for the 60th anniversary of the foundation - back

Association magazine

The group's association magazine is "Vitézek Hírmondója" and appears quarterly.

Judicially registered Hungarian Order of Vitéz

After the collapse of the Eastern Bloc in 1989, the legal opportunity arose to reactivate the order as a social organization and to reorganize it. This newly founded Vitéz Order is legally registered as an association in Hungary .

On February 3, 1992, under number 4227, the Vitéz Order was admitted as an association under Hungarian law. This year 67 former members were registered and 120 new members were added. Miklós vitéz Bercsényi took over the leadership of the order. Around 1997 another group was founded under Gusztáv vitéz Hellebronth, which united with the order under Bercsényi.

Until May 2000 the Főkapitány of the István vitéz Tabódy order was From May 2000 to April 2011 the order was under Prof. Dr. András vitéz Várhelyi. Since April 2011 the new Főkapitány des Vitézi Rend János vitéz Molnár-Gazsó. Under his leadership, another union with the Vitéz Group from the Carpathian Basin was completed.

management

  • Gusztáv vitéz Hellebronth

  • Prof. Dr. András vitéz Várhelyi

  • János vitéz Molnár-Gazsó

The Vitézi Rend, which was legally registered in Hungary in 1992, is currently the only officially recognized organization, an association under Hungarian law.

Association magazine

The group's association magazine is "Vitézek Lapja" and appears once a year.

Partnership with the Bavarian Soldiers Association 1874 e. V.

On May 7, 2011, a partnership agreement was signed between Vitézi Rend, who was legally registered in 1992, and the BSB ( Bavarian Soldiers Association ). The founders of the partnership were the Főkapitány des Vitézi Rend János vitéz Molnár-Gazsó and the President of the BSB Major General a. D. Jürgen Reichardt .

  • VR-BSB-Partnerschaft.jpg

Further groups of the Vitézi Rend

There is another group of the Vitézi Rends whose members consist of participants from the revolution of 1956 .

There is an association under László vitéz Hunyadi, which calls itself the "historical Vitézi Rend".

External signs

Order decoration

The Vitézi Rend badge was originally designed by Joszef Szilasi in 1921. The design of the badge has hardly changed over time and the different groups.

It shows the coat of arms of Hungary in colors with the crown of St. Stephen , framed with oak branches on the left and ears of wheat on the right. The shapes of the individual manufacturers vary a little (especially the ears differ, or the design of the crown, which is sometimes also colored). The whole coat of arms is on a blue enameled shield, the upper part of which is covered by a white, golden sun rising behind the crown. The coat of arms itself is covered by an upright sword, the handle of which extends to the lower tip of the badge.

The fact that a gold sword indicates the admission due to the heroic deeds performed and a silver sword the admission by inheritance has not yet been proven due to the review of historical documents, rather it is a matter of variants from different manufacturers.

The Vitéz badge is attached to the left side of the chest. There are two clips on the back that are threaded into eyelets that are attached to the garment. Today's badges usually have a long vertical pin on the back. The Vitéz is also entitled to affix the badge at the entrance of the family house built on its property.

Manufacturers of the badge until 1945 were: Jerouschek from Budapest (Semmelweis Str. 7), Gyula Boczan from Budapest, Walther and Gal. After 1945 some badges were made by the German medal makers Deschler & Sohn in Munich and Carl Poellath in Schrobenhausen . Today's Vitéz badges are made by the Vésnök company in Budapest and Heroldmaster in Kiev.

Depending on the manufacturer, the badge is between 5.6 and 6 cm high and between 3.8 and 4 cm wide. There are also miniature badges on a long pin or with a pin fastener - these are 1.7 cm high and 1.2 cm wide.

Only the badge or miniature may be worn.

  • Vitéz badge from the manufacturer Boczan

  • Vitéz badge from the manufacturer Jerouschek

  • Vitéz badge from the manufacturer Deschler

  • Vitéz badge of the 1956 faction

  • Vitéz badge from the manufacturer Jerouschek with award number on the back

Unconfirmed facts:

There are claims that a gold sword on the badge means admission by virtue of heroism and a silver sword means admission by inheritance. On the other hand, it has been proven that the manufacturer Jerouschek only used gold swords and Boczan only silver swords.

There are also badges that do not have a sword - there are two different statements on this, first that it is badges for vitéz candidates (várományos). The other statement is, it is the badge for honorary members of the Vitézi Rend. However, both statements are not confirmed.

Admission certificates

The design of the certificates for admission to the Vitézi Rend was originally designed by Ferencz vitéz Pataki. The design of these documents has hardly changed over time and the various groups.

  • A certificate of admission from 1926

  • János vitéz Kuli's admission certificate from 1928

  • A certificate of admission of the Order judicially registered in Hungary in 1992 from 2004

  • A blank certificate of admission with the facsimile signature of Joseph Árpád vitéz Habsburg-Lothringen

The text of the historical document from the Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1945) reads:

I, MIKLÓS HORTHY
Knights of Nagybánya,
REAL ESTATE OF HUNGARY,
in my capacity as Főkapitány the Knight,
remind everyone to whom it is due that I
[Name of the vitéz]
which is an excellent proof of HIS HEROIC COURAGE and HIS NATIONAL SENSE in the war that has now ended
and delivered in the following days fraught with mourning, on [date] at the suggestion of the National
Knight's chair after being in the presence of the legal representative, the ecclesiastical and secular dignitaries of the country
has sworn his knightly oath before me, BEATEN TO THE KNIGHT and CONSECRATED.
Budapest , [date]
[Signature Horthy]
Imperial Administrator of Hungary,
Főkapitány the knight

Initially, the documents were signed by Horthy personally, later only as a facsimile.

The text of the document of the Hungarian Order of Vitéz, which was judicially registered in 1992, reads:

I, Főkapitány of the knightly order "Vitézi Rend"
remind everyone to whom it is due that I am following the traditions of vitéz Horthy Miklós von
Nagybánya, imperial administrator of Hungary, founded the order of knights "Vitezi Rend" at the suggestion of the regional knight's chair, the
gave excellent testimony to their chivalry and national sentiments
[Name of the vitéz]
after having sworn the knightly oath - appointed vitéz and accepted into the ranks of the members of the order.
Issued Budapest, [date]
[Signature] / [signature]
General Secretary / Főkapitány of the Knightly Order

Traditions of the court-registered Hungarian Order of Vitéz

Admission ceremony of the Hungarian Vitéz Order

The acceptance ceremony of the Hungarian Order of Vitéz, which was legally registered in 1992, is always held in a festive setting. After taking the Vitéz oath, the Vitéz is accepted into the order by accolade. The oath reads:

Én [name] esküszöm a Szent Koronára, hogy a Vitézi Rend célkitüzéseit, elöirásait ismerem és azokat életem végéig minden körülmények között megtartom. Magyarságomat soha meg nem tagadtam, semmiféle nemzetellenes, vagy titkos társaságnak tagja nem voltam és nem vagyok.
Isten tight ugy segéljen!
I [name] swear on the Holy Crown that I recognize the rules and goals of the Vitéz Order and that I will follow them under all conditions until the end of my life. I have never denied my Hungary, I was and am not a member of an anti-people or secret organization.
So help me God!

About 90% of today's members are members by inheritance.

The 10 Commandments of the Hungarian Vitéz Order

  1. Loyalty and willingness to make sacrifices for Hungary, the land of the Holy Crown.
  2. The task of the Order members living abroad is to support and promote friendship between their host country and their Hungarian homeland.
  3. Live and proclaim the Christian faith.
  4. Exemplary and consistent lifestyle.
  5. Promote and maintain peace among people.
  6. Cultivate the willingness to help and sacrifice to others.
  7. Be active in building a free society without oppression.
  8. Support the weak and the needy.
  9. Patience and insightful, disciplined and collegial behavior towards the members of the order.
  10. Self-development.

Awards of the Hungarian Vitéz Order

Cross of Merit of Vitézi Rend

  • Cross of Merit of the Vitéz Order in bronze

  • Cross of Merit of the Vitéz Order in silver

  • Cross of Merit of the Vitéz Order in gold

Commemorative medal of the Second World War

Based on the Hungarian World War I commemorative medal of the First World War, the commemorative medal of the Second World War was donated in 1998 by the Hungarian Order of Vitéz, which was judicially registered in 1992. The appearance was largely adopted. On the front, the Hungarian coat of arms with the crown of St. Stephen is surrounded on the left by an oak leaf branch and on the right by a laurel branch. On the reverse, "Pro Patria" (for the fatherland) and the years 1938–1945 can be read in the same frame. The diameter of the medal is 42.4 mm, the thickness is 3 mm. The medal is worn on a red triangular ribbon with a white bordered central stripe in the Hungarian national colors.

A corresponding legitimation or authorization to wear is issued for the medal, with the following wording:

IGAZOLVÁNY LEGITIMATION
Jelen igazolvány felmutatója jogosult a II. Világháborús Emlékérem viselésére. The owner of this legitimation is entitled to wear the Second World War commemorative medal.
signed v. Tabódy István signed v. Tabódy István
vitéz Tabódy István vitéz Tabódy István
tábornok general
a Vitézi Rend elnöke, the chairman of the Vitézi Rend,
az emlékérem alapítója the donor of the commemorative medal

  • Front of World War II Commemorative Medal

  • Back of the Second World War Commemorative Medal

  • Legitimation for the Second World War Memorial Medal

Commemorative cross 90 years of Vitézi Rend

A commemorative cross on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the order was donated in 2010 by the Hungarian Vitéz Order, which was court-registered in 1992 and issued in a limited edition of only 50 pieces.

  • Jubilee memorial cross for the 90th anniversary of the foundation

Commemorative cross 95 years of Vitézi Rend

A commemorative cross on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the order was donated in 2015 by the Hungarian Order of Vitéz, which was court-registered in 1992.

  • Jubilee memorial cross for the 95th anniversary of the foundation

Admiral Horthy Medal

The Admiral Horthy Medal was donated on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the order by the Hungarian Order of Vitéz, which was court-registered in 1992. They are available in bronze, silver and gold. On the front it shows the portrait of Admiral Horthy, the founder of Vitézi Rend, on the reverse you can see the Vitéz badge, as well as the number 80 in Roman numerals 'LXXX'

  • Admiral Horthy Medal in Silver - Front

  • Admiral Horthy Medal in silver - reverse side

  • Admiral Horthy Medal in Gold - obverse

  • Admiral Horthy Medal in Gold - reverse side

literature

  • Roman Freiherr von Procházka: Austrian Order Handbook , Ed .: Graf Klenau OHG, Munich 1974, p. 130.
  • Dr. jur. Hans Kroitzsch: The Stand of the Brave / The Hungarian Vitéz Order / Legal Representation and Comparison , Leipzig Legal Studies Booklet 122, Ed .: Leipzig Jurists Faculty, Leipzig 1939.
  • Ferenc Fekete: A Vitézi Rend története , Ed .: HK Hermanos Kiadó, Szeged 2011 ISBN 978-963-88959-3-6 .
  • Imre Szecsy: A VITÉZI REND 1921-1931 Reprint , Ed .: Pytheas, Budapest 2007 ISBN 978-963-7483-83-7 .
  • Miklós vitéz Bercsényi and Jószef vitéz Bősze: A Vitézi Rend Magyar Örökség - A VITÉZI REND TÖRTÉNETE 1920-2010 .
  • Trade journal "Orders and Medals - The Magazine for Collectors and Researchers" BDOS Yearbook 2003.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Vitézi Rend Kiskáté / Catechism of Vitézi Rend - Point 2 Legal basis of the Vitézi Rend
  2. ^ "Fachblatt" Orders and Medals - The Magazine for Collectors and Researchers "BDOS Yearbook 2003, page 24
  3. ↑ "Fachblatt" Orders and Medals - The Magazine for Collectors and Researchers "BDOS Yearbook 2003, page 25
  4. ↑ Vitézi Rend Kiskáté / Catechism of the Vitézi Rend - Point 3 Legal continuity of the Vitézi Rend
  5. ↑ http://vitezirend1920.hu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=1
  6. ^ "Treue Kameraden" magazine of the BSB 1874 eV, 121st year - No. 3 - May / June 2011, page 4
  7. ↑ Brief description of the Vitez badge, magazine Uniform Markt, year 1944, issue 8