A medal-bar worthy a General
Inspired by the decorations awarded to Hungarian General Vitéz István Kudriczy, I assembled the medal bar worn in this photograph to reflect his distinguished military career and wartime service. The combination of Austro-Hungarian and Hungarian decorations illustrates the continuity between the Imperial and Royal Army of the First World War and the Royal Hungarian Army of the interwar period.The medal bar consists of the following decorations:
Austro-Hungary: Order of the Iron Crown, 3rd Class with War Decoration and Swords
Hungary: Order of Merit, Knight's Cross
Austro-Hungary: Military Merit Medal (Signum Laudis) with Swords
Hungary: Signum Laudis Medal (1922) on the Military Ribbon
Austro-Hungary: Gold Bravery Medal, Type IV (1914–1916), Franz Joseph I
Austro-Hungary: Silver Bravery Medal, 1st Class, Type IV (1914–1916), Franz Joseph I
Austro-Hungary: Karl Troop Cross
Austro-Hungary: Wound Medal with Two Stripes
Hungary: First World War Commemorative Medal
Hungary: Commemorative Medal for the Occupation of Transylvania
Hungary: Long Service Decoration, Officer's Cross, 2nd Class, for Twenty-Five Years of Service
This impressive combination of orders and medals reflects a career marked by gallantry, distinguished leadership, long service, and participation in many of the defining military events of Hungary's first half of the twentieth century.
