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 Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military and diplomatic alliance, it consist ...

after the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. 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, 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 (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

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

Miklós Horthy Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya (18 June 1868 – 9 February 1957) was a Hungarian admiral and statesman who was the Regent of Hungary, regent of the Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946), Kingdom of Hungary Hungary between the World Wars, during the ...

. 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 Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

, September 1942. *2. vitéz dr. László Merész,

Ensign Ensign most often refers to: * Ensign (flag), a flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality * Ensign (rank), a navy (and former army) officer rank Ensign or The Ensign may also refer to: Places * Ensign, Alberta, Alberta, Canada * Ensign, Ka ...

, August 6. 1942.

Uman Uman (, , ) is a city in Cherkasy Oblast, central Ukraine. It is located to the east of Vinnytsia. Located in the east of the historical region of Podolia, the city rests on the banks of the Umanka River. Uman serves as the administrative c ...

*3. vitéz

Sándor Horváth Sándor () is a Hungarian given name and surname. It is the Hungarian form of Alexander. It may refer to: People Given name * Sándor Apponyi (1844–1925), Hungarian diplomat, bibliophile, bibliographer and book collector *Sándor Boldogfai F ...

, 2nd Lieutenant, December 1942.

Don Don, don or DON and variants may refer to: Places *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 village and hill station in Dang district, Gu ...

*4. vitéz László Duska,

, January 20. 1943.

Ostrogozhsk Ostrogozhsk () 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 of the oblast. As of the 20 ...

*5. vitéz

József Barankay de Baranka József () is a Hungarian masculine given name. It is the Hungarian name equivalent to Joseph. Notable people bearing this name include: * József Bihari (1901–1981), Hungarian actor * József Bihari (1908–1997), Hungarian linguist * J ...

, 1944. Galícia *6. vitéz

László Molnár László Molnár (29 June 1902 – 28 July 1981) was a Hungarian coxswain. Molnár competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin with the men's coxed four where they came fifth. He also competed in the coxed pair, with Károly Győry Ká ...

, 2nd Lieutenant, August 7. 1944. for his 27th aerial victory *7. János Bozsóki,

, September 22. 1944. Torda *8.

László Spirák László () is a Hungarian male given name and surname after the King-Knight Saint Ladislaus I of Hungary (1077–1095). It derives from Ladislav, a variant of Vladislav. The name has a history of being frequently anglicized as Leslie. It is the m ...

Major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

, May 16–17. 1944.

Hluboká nad Vltavou Hluboká nad Vltavou (; until 1885 ''Podhrad'', ) is a town in České Budějovice District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 5,600 inhabitants. The town is known for the Hluboká Castle. Administrative division Hlub ...

*9.

Gyula Ágner Gyula may refer to: * Gyula (title), Hungarian leader title in the 9th–10th centuries * Gyula (name), Hungarian male given name, derived from the title ; People * Gyula II, the Hungarian ''gyula'' who ruled Transylvania in the 10th-century and ...

1st Lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a sen ...

, April 27. 1944. Perecseny *10. vitéz

Ákos Székely Ákos is a Hungarian name. Today, it is mainly a masculine given name. It may refer to: Middle Ages * Ákos (clan), a medieval Hungarian clan ** Ákos (chronicler) (d. after 1273) ** Ernye Ákos (d. after 1275) Given name * Ákos Szab ...

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 (, ) was a senior captain rank, ranking between captain and major. Estonia T ...

, April - July 1944. Bridgehead of Lukva *11.

Zoltán Álgya-Papp de Alsókomána Zoltán () is a Hungarian masculine given name. The name days for this name are 8 March and 23 June in Hungary, and 7 April in Slovakia. "Zoli" is the short version of Zoltán. "Zoli" is commonly used. Zoltána is the feminine version. The name i ...

, Major general, October 23–26. 1944.

Munkács Mukachevo (, ; , ; see name section) is a city in Zakarpattia Oblast, western Ukraine. It is situated in the valley of the Latorica River and serves as the administrative center of Mukachevo Raion. The city is a rail terminus and highway junctio ...

– Szolyva *12. Árpád Rechtzügel,

, September 16. 1944. Torda *13. György Vastagh de Alsótarja,

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), 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 colon ...

, October 3. 1944.

Szentes Szentes () is a town in south-eastern Hungary, Csongrád-Csanád County, Csongrád county, near the Tisza, Tisza river. The town is a cultural and educational center of the region. It is the third most populous town in Csongrád-Csanád County, Cso ...

*14. vitéz György Debrődi,

, May 1944. for his 25th aerial victory *15.

Miklós Jónás Miklós (, ) is a given name or surname, the Hungarian form of the Greek (English ''Nicholas''), and may refer to: In Hungarian politics * Miklós Bánffy, Hungarian nobleman, politician, and novelist * Miklós Horthy, Regent of the Kingdom of H ...

, January 20. - February 9. 1943.

*16. Dániel Lővei,

, March 28. 1944. Niwiska

Obertyn Obertyn (; ; ; also Obertin) is a rural settlement in Ivano-Frankivsk Raion, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, western Ukraine. It hosts the administration of Obertyn settlement hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine. Population: History The Battle of ...

*17.

Ferenc Mező Ferenc Mező, also known as Grünfeld (March 13, 1885 – November 21, 1961), was a Hungarian poet. He was born in Pölöskefő, Zala County, and died in Budapest Budapest is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns of ...

, October 3. 1944. Kászonjakabfalva *18. Vilmos Vértes,

, September 5–15, 1944. Torda *19. Edömér Tassonyi,

, October–November 1944.

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

*20. Tamás Marjai, 2nd Lieutenant, 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 ab ...

*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 Gol ...

, German

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

, 1st foreign recipient *22.

Helmut Lipfert Helmut Lipfert (6 August 1916 – 10 August 1990) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II. Lipfert ranks as the world's thirteenth fighter ace. Lipfert was credited with 203 victories achieved in 687 combat missions. All hi ...

, German fighter ace, 2nd foreign recipient * 23. Rudolf Ernst Max Pannier, SS-Standartenführer, 3rd and last known foreign recipient *24. vitéz

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

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

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