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

2016-05-30

Hungarian Tourist Association

A small tin badge issued by the Hungarian Tourist Association for the 1943 "Mátyás Tour." The tour commemorated King Matthias Corvinus (Mátyás Hunyadi), one of Hungary's most celebrated monarchs, who was born in Kolozsvár (today Cluj-Napoca, Romania) in 1443.

In 1943, the Hungarian Tourist Association organized this commemorative tour through Transylvania, which at the time was under Hungarian administration following the Second Vienna Award of 1940. The itinerary highlighted places associated with the life and legacy of King Matthias, offering participants an opportunity to visit sites of historical and cultural significance.

Souvenir badges such as this were produced to mark participation in organized tours and events, serving as lasting mementos for travelers. Today, they provide a fascinating glimpse into the cultural and historical tourism promoted in Hungary during the early 1940s.

This modest tin badge commemorates not only a journey through Transylvania but also the enduring legacy of King Matthias Corvinus, one of the most influential rulers in Hungarian history.