A follow-up to Photosniper 0026: Hungarian Armored Forces in World War II focussing on the unit histories of the different Hungarian armoued formation as well as the personal history of the crew.
The first book in the comprehensive, two-volume reference covering all aspects of the Hungarian military from the interwar period through WWII. During the First World War, Hungary lost territories containing sizable Magyar ethnic populations. In the years following the war—and especially in the 1930s—the country attempted to regain portions of these territories through a series of border wars. The corresponding buildup of armed forces, with assistance from Italy and Germany, positioned Hungary as a valuable, if secondary, member of the Axis powers. This comprehensive reference provides a complete picture of the Hungarian armed forces between the years 1919–1945. It starts with a brief history of the Magyars, describes the political situation in Hungary before and during WWII, the building of the armed forces, the growth of domestic arms manufacturers, the organization of the armed forces units, and how they changed during the war. The various campaigns of the war are described in great detail, illustrated with more than 500 photographs, as well as numerous tables and maps.
Since 1699, Hungary was part of the Austrian Empire, ruled by the Habsburg dynasty. In 1848/49, the Hungarians staged an uprising seeking their independence, and although the attempt was crushed by the Austrians, it resulted with Hungary being granted equal status with Austria in 1867. The empire became the dual monarchy of Austria and Hungary, and was known as the kaiserliche und königliche (k. und k.) Monarchy. The kaiserliche part referred to the Imperial throne of Austria, while the königliche part referred to the Royal throne of Hungary. At the end of the First World War, Hungary, as a member of the k. und k. Monarchy, ended up on the losing side. Her army disintegrated and her armaments were either taken over or destroyed by the victorious Allied nations. In the autumn of 1919, after the failure of a short-lived Soviet-style republic, a new Hungarian National Army was organized under French supervision. This army was led by a former k. und k. admiral, the highest-ranking native Hungarian military officer, Admiral Miklós Horthy, who later (in 1920) became Regent of Hungary, ruling in place of the deposed Habsburgs. Hungary never officially renounced its status as a monarchy, and the nation effectively remained a monarchy without a king until the end of the Second World War. After WWI, Hungary was in a very critical situation. In 1920 the Allied Powers gave the Hungarian delegation their conditions for peace. This agreement, the Treaty of Trianon, was very similar to the one already imposed on Germany at Versailles. The peace conditions for Hungary reduced the area of the country from 282,000 square kilometres to 93,000 square kilometres and the population from 18 million to 9.5 million. Thus 3,263,000 Hungarians became citizens of foreign countries under hostile administrations. The provisions of the Treaty of Trianon reduced Hungary's 1914 industrial base by about 80%. The Treaty of Trianon was a huge shock for the whole society. The Treaty has left a never ending scar on the Hungarian national consciousness. Everybody was affected, at least emotionally, by the harsh conditions of the Treaty. Hungary had lost his imperial status and was reduced to a small country surrounded by hostile states.
The actions of the German armoured forces during the Second World War is well known. What has not yet been so well told are the actions of the armoured forces from Germany's allies. While it is true that their performance was generally quite secondary in comparison to the Reich,the actions of the Hungarian armoured forces should be highlighted. Hungary not only managed to organize its armoured forces, but developed its own military industry that was able to supply weapons and equipment to its troops. The Hungarian military was able to produce all kinds of weapons, vehicles and armoured vehicles, although they were generally under-gunned and under-armoured. This book rescues Hungary's participation during the Second World War from oblivion through the use of superb photographs, which take the reader from the beginning of the USRR campaign and the conquest of Soviet lands, before ending with the bloody battles to avoid the Soviet and Romanian advance into Hungary (the Siege of Budapest) and the last clashes in Austrian and Slovenian territory before the army's unconditional surrender. The author highlights the bravery and courage of these men, as well as the terrible fate of the Hungarian armoured forces when the Soviet Army invaded Hungary.
This volume of WWII military studies examines significant yet neglected clashes of German-Hungarian and Soviet armor north of the river Danube. In Days of Battle, Dr. Norbert Számvéber, chief of Hungary's military archives, examines armor combat operations in the southern territory of the historical Upper Hungary (part of Hungary between 1938 and 1945, at the present time now part of Slovakia) in three separate studies. The first is an account of the battle between the Ipoly and Garam rivers during the second half of December 1944, in which the élite Hungarian Division "Szent László" saw action for the first time. The second study examines the fierce tank battle of Komárom, fought between January 6th–22nd of 1945. This was an integral part of the Battle for Budapest, parallel in time with Operation Konrad. The third study describes the combat during the German Operation Südwind in February 1945, as well as the Soviet attack launched in the direction of Bratislava in March 1945. Based on files and documentation from German, Hungarian and Soviet sources, Dr. Számvéber’s authoritative text is supported by photographs and color battle maps.
This title is presented with a new foreword by Istvan Deak. The battle of Budapest in the bleak winter of 1944-45 was one of the longest and bloodiest city sieges of World War II. From the appearance of the first Soviet tanks on the outskirts of the capital to the capture of Buda Castle, 102 days elapsed. In terms of human trauma, it comes second only to Stalingrad, comparisons to which were even being made by soldiers, both German and Soviet, fighting at the time. This definitive history covers their experiences, and those of the 800,000 non-combatants around whom the battle raged.
Days of Battle describes a hitherto neglected part of the military history of Hungary during World War II. Dr Norbert Sz�mv�ber the presents detailed accounts of four important clashes of German-Hungarian and Soviet armor north of the river Danube, in the southern territory of the historical Upper Hungary (part of Hungary between 1938 and 1945, at the present time now part of Slovakia) in three separate studies. The first is an account of the battle between the Ipoly and Garam rivers during the second half of December 1944, in which the �lite Hungarian Division "Szent L�szl�" saw action for the first time. The second study is about the fierce tank battle of Kom�rom, fought between the 6-22 January 1945. This was an integral part of the Battle for Budapest, parallel in time with Operation "Konrad". The third part of the book describes the combat during the German Operation "S�dwind" in February 1945 and the Soviet attack launched in the direction of Bratislava in March 1945. The author, chief of Hungary's military archives, has based his research firmly on files and documentation from German, Hungarian and Soviet sources. The book's authoritative text is supported by photographs and color battle maps. This is a very important new study that throws much-needed light on armored warfare on the Eastern Front during the final months of the war.
The actions of German armored forces during World War II are well known. What has not yet been recounted as accurately are the actions of the armored forces of Germany’s Allies. While it is true that their performance was generally quite secondary to what the forces of the German Reich were able to afford, the actions of the Hungarian armored forces, which not only managed to organize their own armored forces in substantial autonomy, but also developed their own military industry capable of supplying weapons and equipment to their troops, should be emphasized. This book will thus reveal a little-known page of Hungary’s participation in World War II through the use of superb photographs provided by the author and his contributors. This story will take the reader from the beginning of the USSR campaign and consequent conquest of large Soviet territories, and then end with the bloody battles to prevent the advance of the Soviet and Romanian counteroffensive in Hungary (the siege of Budapest) and the last battles in Austrian and Slovenian territory before the unconditional surrender of the army. The author highlights the courage of these men and the terrible fate that would befall the Hungarian armored forces when the Soviet army invaded Hungary.
The Hungarian armed forces (known as the Honvédség) were built up from the 1920s, their expansion gaining momentum once Hungary became free of the strict post-First World War Trianon treaty limitations in August 1938. Politically, Hungary was looking for a strong ally, who would help it to recover at least some of the territories containing sizable Magyar ethnic populations that had been lost after the First World War. Initially, in the mid-1930s, Italy gave political assistance and supplied military material; then - on the eve of the Second World War - Germany also lent some support. In November 1938, Hungary managed to peacefully recover a chunk of its former territory from Czechoslovakia, followed by the Sub-Carpathian area during a brief border war in March 1939, and then the northern part of Transylvania from Rumania in August 1940. Later, in April 1941, the Bachka region and parts of Baranya were also taken back from the dismembered Yugoslavia, in a swift military action. The rub is that Hungary was sucked into the cauldron of the Eastern Front, and soon the Honvéds (Hungarian soldiers) found themselves deep in Soviet territory, outgunned and outnumbered by the Red Army. Later on, from August 1944, the beleaguered Honvédség had to fight in defense of its own territory. Alongside tiny Croatia, Hungary remained the last German ally up to the bitter end, and paid the price accordingly. This comprehensive reference, to be published in three volumes - the fruit of over twenty years of meticulous research - strives to provide a complete picture of the Hungarian armed forces between the years 1919 and 1945. Volume 1 (published in 2015) presents a brief history of the Magyars up until the end of the Second World War, as well as the building of the armed forces, and details the armored formations and their equipment. Volume 2 covers in great details the activity of the air force (Chapter 4), the river flotilla (Chapter 5), as well as the combat operations of the Honvédség (Chapter 6). The final volume will contain type sheets of every weapon and vehicle used by the Army, as well as all aircraft types in service with the Air Force. The discussed topics are described in great details, and illustrated with over 500 photographs, several maps and many tables.
The actions of German armored forces during World War II are well known. What has not yet been recounted as accurately are the actions of the armored forces of Germany's Allies. While it is true that their performance was generally quite secondary to what the forces of the German Reich were able to afford, the actions of the Hungarian armored forces, which not only managed to organize their own armored forces in substantial autonomy, but also developed their own military industry capable of supplying weapons and equipment to their troops, should be emphasized. This book will thus reveal a little-known page of Hungary's participation in World War II through the use of superb photographs provided by the author and his contributors. This story will take the reader from the beginning of the USSR campaign and consequent conquest of large Soviet territories, and then end with the bloody battles to prevent the advance of the Soviet and Romanian counteroffensive in Hungary (the siege of Budapest) and the last battles in Austrian and Slovenian territory before the unconditional surrender of the army. The author highlights the courage of these men and the terrible fate that would befall the Hungarian armored forces when the Soviet army invaded Hungary.