Tűzkereszt means “Fire Cross”, a Hungarian military decoration awarded for front-line combat service between 1941 and 1943.

Hungarian Military History Archive

An online archive preserving Hungarian and Austro-Hungarian military history through original photographs, awards, documents, and research material.

ESTABLISHED 2010

2015-10-18

Air-Force soldier's sweetheart 

A Hungarian Air Force soldier's sweetheart dressed in his uniform for a visit to the photographer's studio. Portraits such as this were popular during the Second World War, serving as cherished keepsakes that reflected the close bond between soldiers and the loved ones waiting for them at home.

The original paper print was hand-colored by the photographer, a common practice before color photography became widely available. Unfortunately, the artist chose a dark green shade for the uniform, whereas the actual Royal Hungarian Air Force uniform should have been a light brown color. During the digital restoration, the faded print was carefully repaired and the uniform color corrected to more closely match its authentic appearance while preserving the character of the original hand-colored photograph.

This charming portrait is a touching reminder that military history is not only the story of those who wore the uniform, but also of the families and loved ones who shared in their experiences and preserved their memories.