The Hungarian Medal of Bravery (''Vitézségi Érem'') was a medal given for military bravery or valor.

Background

Hungary became independent in 1920 following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. As a consequence of its new independence, Hungary had to develop a national system of honors and awards. The Hungarian Medal for Bravery was inspired by the Austro-Hungarian

Medal for Bravery The Medal for Bravery (Serbo-Croatian: ''Медаља за Храброст'', Macedonian: ''Медал за Xраброст'') was a Yugoslav military award created in 1943 for achievements in the line of duty during World War II. It was initial ...

, which came is several versions depending upon the importance of the action and the rank of the recipient. Initially the award was instituted in 1922 in silver only. By 14 April 1939 gold, large silver, small silver and bronze awards were issued to non-commissioned officers and men and on 12 September 1942 the gold medal for bravery award (''Magyar Tiszti Arany Vitézségi Érem'') for officers was added. It served a Hungary's primary award for recognizing combat heroism during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. The medal features on its obverse the profile of Hungarian Regent Vice Admiral

Miklós Horthy Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya ( hu, Vitéz nagybányai Horthy Miklós; ; English: Nicholas Horthy; german: Nikolaus Horthy Ritter von Nagybánya; 18 June 1868 – 9 February 1957), was a Hungarian admiral and dictator who served as the regent ...

. Horthy lead Hungary from 1920 until he was deposed in 1944. On the reverse of the medal is the coat of arms of Hungary with crossed swords added.

Recipients of the Gold Medal of Bravery for Officers

*1. Tibor Massányi, Captain, September 1942. *2. vitéz dr. László Merész,

Ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...

, August 6. 1942.

Uman Uman ( uk, Умань, ; pl, Humań; yi, אומאַן) is a city located in Cherkasy Oblast in central Ukraine, to the east of Vinnytsia. Located in the historical region of the eastern Podolia, the city rests on the banks of the Umanka River ...

*3. vitéz Sándor Horváth,

2nd Lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until 1 ...

, December 1942.

Don Don, don or DON and variants may refer to: Places *County Donegal, Ireland, Chapman code DON *Don (river), a river in European Russia *Don River (disambiguation), several other rivers with the name *Don, Benin, a town in Benin *Don, Dang, a vill ...

*4. vitéz László Duska, Captain, January 20. 1943.

Ostrogozhsk Ostrogozhsk (russian: Острого́жск) is a town and the administrative center of Ostrogozhsky District in Voronezh Oblast, Russia, located on the Tikhaya Sosna River (a tributary of the Don), south of Voronezh, the administrative center ...

*5. vitéz József Barankay de Baranka, Captain, 1944. Galícia *6. vitéz László Molnár,

, August 7. 1944. for his 27th aerial victory *7. János Bozsóki,

, September 22. 1944. Torda *8. László Spirák, Major, May 16–17. 1944.

Hluboká nad Vltavou Hluboká nad Vltavou (; until 1885 ''Podhrad'', german: Frauenberg) is a town in České Budějovice District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 5,400 inhabitants. The town is known for the Hluboká Castle. Administr ...

*9. Gyula Ágner, 1st Lieutenant, April 27. 1944. Perecseny *10. vitéz Ákos Székely,

Staff Captain Staff captain is the English translation of a number of military ranks: Historical use of the rank Czechoslovakia In the Czechoslovak Army, until 1953, Staff Captain ( cs, štábní kapitán, sk, štábny kapitán) was a senior captain ran ...

, April - July 1944. Bridgehead of Lukva *11. Zoltán Álgya-Papp de Alsókomána, Major general, October 23–26. 1944.

Munkács Mukachevo ( uk, Мукачево, ; hu, Munkács; see name section) is a city in the valley of the Latorica river in Zakarpattia Oblast (province), in Western Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of Mukachevo Raion (district), the city ...

– Szolyva *12. Árpád Rechtzügel, Captain, September 16. 1944. Torda *13. György Vastagh de Alsótarja,

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

, October 3. 1944.

Szentes Szentes is a town in south-eastern Hungary, Csongrád county, near the Tisza river. The town is a cultural and educational center of the region. Notable people * Árpád Balázs (born 1937), classical music composer * János Bácskai 1954. novemb ...

*14. vitéz György Debrődi, 1st Lieutenant, May 1944. for his 25th aerial victory *15. Miklós Jónás,

, January 20. - February 9. 1943.

*16. Dániel Lővei,

, March 28. 1944. Niwiska

Obertyn Obertyn ( uk, Обертин, pl, Obertyn, he, אוברטין, also Obertin) is an urban-type settlement in Ivano-Frankivsk Raion in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast ( region) of western Ukraine. It hosts the administration of Obertyn settlement hromada, ...

*17. Ferenc Mező,

, October 3. 1944. Kászonjakabfalva *18. Vilmos Vértes, Captain, September 5–15, 1944. Torda *19. Edömér Tassonyi, Major, October–November 1944.

Soroksár Soroksár (german: Markt) the 23rd district of Budapest, Hungary. List of mayors Twin towns - twin cities * Törökbálint – Hungary * Nürtingen – Germany * Odorheiu Secuiesc – Romania * Tvardica – Bulgaria * Tongzhou (Beijing ...

*20. Tamás Marjai,

, January 1945.

Vértes Hills Vértes is a mountain range in north-western Hungary, in the Central Transdanubian region, between the ranges Bakony and Gerecse. The Vértes Mountains are part of the Transdanubian Mountains. Geography The area of the Vértes occupies . It is a ...

*21.

Hans-Ulrich Rudel Hans-Ulrich Rudel (2 July 1916 – 18 December 1982) was a German ground-attack pilot during World War II and a post-war neo-Nazi activist. The most decorated German pilot of the war and the only recipient of the Knight's Cross with G ...

German

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...

, 1st and only foreign recipient *22. vitéz

Dezső Szentgyörgyi Warrant Officer Dezső Szentgyörgyi (16 January 1915 – 28 August 1971) was the highest scoring Hungarian fighter ace of the Royal Hungarian Honvéd Air Force in World War II. Early life/Royal Hungarian Honvéd Air Force Dezső Szentgyör ...

, March 1945. for his 25th aerial victory *23. Imre Pataki, Captain

Gallery

File:HUNMedal_for_Bravery.Bronze.png, Bronze medal File:HUNMedals_for_Bravery_littlesilver.png, Silver medal File:HUNMedal_for_Braverybigsilver.png, Great Silver medal File:HUNMedals_for_Bravery_gold.png, Golden medal File:HUN_Officier_Medals_for_Bravery.png, Golden medal for officers File:Medals_for_Bravery.png , Reverse of the Golden medal for officers

References

External links

The Hungarian Vitéz Order
{{Highest gallantry awards Military awards and decorations of Hungary Courage awards