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

2016-07-29

" A memory from 1929 "

A studio portrait from the 1929 military service of a soldier in the Royal Hungarian 3rd Honvéd Infantry Regiment, stationed in Tata. At the time, formal studio portraits were a popular way for conscripts to commemorate their military service and were often sent to family members or kept as lifelong mementos.

The inscription Tóváros ("Town by the Lake") refers to the historic district of Tata, a name commonly used for the town because of its picturesque setting beside the Öreg Lake. During the interwar period, Tata was an important garrison town and home to the 3rd Honvéd Infantry Regiment.

This portrait preserves the memory of a young Hungarian soldier at the beginning of his military service, offering a glimpse into the traditions of the Royal Hungarian Army during the interwar years.