Royal Hungarian Honvéd

For the army, sometimes also called the Honvéd, from 1922 to 1945, see Royal Hungarian Army.
Obverse of the Royal Hungarian Honvéd's colours
Reverse of the Royal Hungarian Honvéd's colours

The Royal Hungarian Honvéd (Hungarian: Magyar Királyi Honvédség) or Royal Hungarian Landwehr (German: königlich ungarische Landwehr),[1][2][3] commonly known as the Honvéd, was one of four armed forces of the armed forces (Bewaffnete Macht or Wehrmacht) of Austria-Hungary from 1867 to 1918. The others were its counterpart the Austrian Landwehr, the Common Army and the Imperial and Royal Navy.

History

Soldier of the Royal Hungarian Honvéd in parade dress

The word honvéd in Hungarian (sometimes "honved" in English sources[4][5][6]) means "defender of the fatherland" and first appeared during the 1848 revolutions. At that time it was the name given to volunteers who were engaged for several weeks or a gyözelemig (i.e. "until victory") and sent to fight the Serbs and Croats. Subsequently, the bulk of the fighting was against the Empire of Austria, whereupon a number of regular imperial regiments went over to the Hungarian side. Some volunteers were attached to these existing regiments and some joined new regular regiments. Consequently, the term honvéd was used to refer to all members of the Hungarian land forces in 1848-49. The Honvéd was finally defeated by Austria with Russian assistance.

When the armed forces were re-established following the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, the Landwehr of the so-called Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen, received the Hungarian name Honvédség (pronounced "hon-véd-shég", with the é as in French), literally "homeland defence" and, in practice, a territorial army.

On 21 May 1893 the Honvéd Memorial was unveiled in Budapest in commemoration of the deeds of the Hungarian national army during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848-49. From 1919 to 1945, Honvéd was also a name given to the Royal Hungarian Army.

Structure

The Hungarian Landwehr consisted of territorial units from the Hungarian half of the Empire (called Transleithania or the Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen. These territories included what is present-day Hungary, Slovakia (so-called Upper Hungary, Hungarian: Felvidék) and parts of the present-day countries of Romania, including Transylvania and Banat, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia (Prekmurje/Üpper Mur) and Austria (Burgenland).

Usually the term Landwehr implies units of limited fighting power. This was not the case in the Hungarian Honvéd. Although weaker in numbers - there were only three battalions per infantry regiment insteald of the usual four in the Common Army - the troops were regular combat soldiers.

The Royal Hungarian Honvéd was divided into the Hungarian Honvéd and the Croatian-Slavonian Honvéd (or Landwehr). The Croatian–Hungarian Settlement of 1868 granted the Croats the right to introduce Croatian as their working and command language within their units. In addition, the Croatian-Slavonian Honved units were subordinated to the Ban in Agram and not to the National Defence Minister in Budapest.

The training of Hungarian Honvéd officers was carried out in the Ludovica Military Academy in Budapest.

Landwehr districts

M.kir. I budapesti honvéd kerületi parancsnokság
M.kir. II szegedi honvéd kerületi parancsnokság
M.kir. II kassai honvéd kerületi parancsnokság
M.kir. IV pozsonyi honvéd kerületi parancsnokság
M.kir. V kolozsvári honvéd kerületi parancsnokság
M.kir. VI zágrábi horvát-szlavon kerületi parancsnokság

Formations and units of the Royal Hungarian Honvéd

The Royal Hungarian Honvéd was the standing army of Hungary. A part of the Honvéd was the Royal Croatian Home Guard (Kraljevsko hrvatsko domobranstvo), which consisted of 1 infantry division (out of 7 in the Honvéd) and 1 cavalry regiment (out of 10 in the Honvéd). Its order of battle at the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 was as follows:

The infantry regiments of the k.u.k. army had four battalions each; the infantry regiments of the k.k. and k.u. Landwehr had three battalions each, except the 3rd Regiment of the Tiroler Landesschützen (Tyrolian State Rifles), that had also four battalions.

Medals for Valour 1914 - 1918

In 1915, units that had nicknames or honorific titles lost them by order of the War Ministry. Thereafter units were designated only by number. For instance, the k.u.k. Infanterie-Regiment (Hoch und Deutschmeister) Nr. 4 became Infanterie-Regiment No. 4 (4th Infantry Regiment).

All details relate to the year 1914:

Infantry divisions

Commander: Feldmarschalleutnant Friedrich von Csanády
39th Honved Infantry Brigade – Nagyvárad
Commander: Major General Koloman Patzák
40th Honved Infantry BrigadeSzatmárnémeti (Sathmar)
Commanding Officer: Colonel Béla Tarnáky
Commander: Feldmarschalleutnant Johann Nikić
81st Honved Infantry Brigade – Budapest
Commander: Major General Eugen Perneczky
82nd Honved Infantry BrigadeVeszprém (Wesprim)
Commander: Major General Rudolf Schamschula

Independent infantry brigades

Commander: Major General Rudolf Seide
Commander: Major General Lehel Festl
Commanding Officer: Colonel Paul von Nagy
Commander: Major General Franz Cvrček
Commander: Major General Karl Lippner von Nagyszentmiklós
Commanding Officer: Colonel Adalbert Benke von Tardoskedd
Commanding Officer: Colonel Desiderius Molnár von Péterfalva
Commander: Major General Josef Foglár
Commander: Major General Koloman Tabajdi
Commanding Officer: Colonel Johann Háber
Commander: Major General Nikolaus Ištvanović von Ivanska
Commanding Officer: Colonel Daniel Kolak

Cavalry divisions

Commander: Feldmarschalleutnant Ernst Anton von Froreich-Szábo
19th Honved Cavalry Brigade – Budapest
Commander: Major General Ferdinand Graf von Bissingen und Nippenburg
23rd Honved Cavalry BrigadeZalaegerszeg
Commanding Officer: Colonel Baron Colbert Zech
Commander: Major General Julius Freiherr Nagy von Töbör-Éthe
22nd Landwehr Cavalry Brigade – Szeged
Commanding Officer: Colonel Karl Czitó
Commanding Officer: Colonel Ladislaus Jóny von Jamnik

Infantry regiments

I. II.
  • 1st Budapest Honved Infantry Regiment
Commanding Officer: Colonel Ludwig Bartha – Bartha Lajos ezredes
  • 2nd Gyula Honved Infantry Regiment
Commanding Officer: Colonel Alexander Vinzenz von Vinczfalva – Vincfalvi Vincz Sándor ezredes
Commander: Stephan Stadler – Stadler István ezredes
Commanding Officer: Colonel Sigmund Ránffy – Ránffy Zsigmond ezredes
  • 5th Szeged Honved Infantry Regiment
Commanding Officer: Colonel Desiderius Nónay – Nónay Dezső ezredes
Commanding Officer: Colonel Rudolf Kamenszky – Kamenszky Rezső ezredes
Commanding Officer: Colonel Kornel Bernatsky – Bernatsky Kornél ezredes
  • 8th Lugoj Honved Infantry Regiment
Commanding Officer: Colonel Julius Létay von Nyirjes – Nyirjesi Létay Gyula ezredes
  • 9th Kassa Honved Infantry Regiment
Commanding Officer: Colonel Julius Preinreich – Preinreich Gyula ezredes
Commanding Officer: Colonel Samuel Daubner – Daubner Samu ezredes
Commanding Officer: Colonel Rudolf Pillepić; von Lippahora – Lippahorai Pillepić Rezső ezredes
Commanding Officer: Colonel Martin Tahy von Tahvár – Tahváry Tahy Márton ezredes
  • 13th Pozsony Honved Infantry Regiment
Commanding Officer: Colonel Anton Pogány – Pogány Antal ezredes
Commanding Officer: Colonel Lazarus Formanek – Formanek Lázár ezredes
Commanding Officer: Colonel Heinrich Dormándy von Dormánd – Dormándi Dormándy Henrik ezredes
Commanding Officer: Colonel Franz Hill – Hill Ferenc ezredes
Commanding Officer: Colonel Michael Gombos – Gombos Mihály ezredes
  • 18th Sopron Honved Infantry Regiment
Commanding Officer: Colonel Ludwig Brunswik von Korompa – Korompai Brunswick Lajos ezredes
  • 19th Pécs Honved Infantry Regiment
Commanding Officer: Colonel Otto Kleszky – Kleszky Ottó ezredes
Commanding Officer: Colonel Georg Ritter von Szypniewski – Lovag Szypniewski György ezredes
Commanding Officer: Colonel Raimund Latzin – Latzin Rajmond ezredes
Commanding Officer: Colonel Árpád Schön – Schön Árpád ezredes
Commanding Officer: Colonelleutnant Desiderius Szoták – Szoták Dezső alezredes
  • 24th Brassó Honved Infantry Regiment
Commanding Officer: Colonel Philipp Karleusa – Karleusa Fülöp ezredes
  • 25th Agram Honved Infantry Regiment
Commanding Officer: Colonel Anton Matašić – Matašić Antal ezredes
Commanding Officer: Colonel Georg Petrović – Petrović György ezredes
  • 27th Sisak Honved Infantry Regiment
Commanding Officer: Colonel Alois Petković – Petković Alajos ezredes
  • 28th Osijek Honved Infantry Regiment
Commanding Officer: Colonel Julius Simonović – Simonović Gyula ezredes
  • 29th Budapest Honved Infantry Regiment
Commanding Officer: Colonel Josef Ehmann – Ehmann József ezredes
  • 30th Budapest Honved Infantry Regiment
Commanding Officer: Colonel Rudolf Polgár – Polgár Rezső ezredes
Commanding Officer: Colonel Eduard Weeber – Weeber Ede ezredes
  • 32nd Dés Honved Infantry Regiment
Commanding Officer: Colonel Karl Parupka – Parupka Károly ezredes

Cavalry regiments

Hussar of the Honved with pelt
19th Honved Cavalry Brigade – 5th Honved Cavalry Division
Commanding Officer: Colonel Colbert Zech von Deybach Freiherr von Hart und Sulz – Debachi Zech Colbert harti és sulzi báró, ezredes
22nd Honved Cavalry Brigade – 11th Honved Cavalry Division
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Johann Flór – Flór János alezredes
22nd Honved Cavalry Brigade – 11th[7] Honved Cavalry Division
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Árpád Cserépy von Kisruszka – Kisruszkai Cserépy Árpád alezredes
I and II Sqns, 23rd Honved Infantry Division
III and IV Sqns, 20th Honved Infantry Division
V and VI Sqns, 41st Honved Infantry Division
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Nikolaus Jankovich von Jeszenicze – Jeszeniczai Jankovich Miklós alezredes
24th Honved Cavalry Brigade – 11th Honved Cavalry Division
Commanding Officer: Colonel Paul Hegedüs – Hegedüs Pál ezredes
23rd Honved Cavalry Brigade – 5th Honved Cavalry Division
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Ladislaus Forster von Szenterzsébet – Szenterzsébeti Forster László alezredes
23rd Honved Cavalry Brigade – 5th Honved Cavalry Division
Commanding Officer: Colonel Johann Graf Lubienski – Gróf Lubienski János ezredes
19th Honved Cavalry Brigade – 5th Honved Cavalry Division
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Alexius Thege von Konkoly – Konkoly Thege Elek alezredes
24th Honved Cavalry Brigade -1st Honved Cavalry Division
Commanding Officer: Colonel Koloman Géczy von Garamszeg – Garamszegi Géczy Kálmán ezredes
I and II Sqns, 36th Honved Infantry Division
III and IV Sqns, 42nd Honved Infantry Division
V and VI Sqns, 13th Honved Infantrybrigade
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Alois Hauer – Hauer Alajos alezredes

Field artillery regiments

Garrison: Budapest – 4th Honved Infantry Division – I Landwehr District
formed: 1913
Commanding Officer: Colonel Anton Hellebronth von Tiszabeö – Tiszabeöi Hellebronth Antal ezredes
Garrison: Nagyszeben – 23rd Honved Infantry Division – V Landwehr District
formed: 1914
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Ladislaus Thaisz – Thaisz Lázló alezredes
Garrison: Kassa – 39th Honved Infantry Division – III Landwehr District
formed: 1914
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Heinrich Loidin – Loidin Henrik alezredes
Garrison: Nyitra – 37th Honved Infantry Division – IV Landwehr District
formed: 1914
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Mattanovich – Mattanovich Sándor alezredes
Garrison: Maros-Vásarhely – 38th Honved Infantry Division – V Landwehr District
formed: 1914
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Egon Stráner – Sztráner Jenő alezredes
Garrison: Agram – 42nd Honved Infantry Division – VI Landwehr District
formed: 1914
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Rudolf Sekulić – Sekulić Rezső alezredes
Garrison: Hajmaskér – 41st Honved Infantry Division – VII Landwehr District
formed: 1914
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Gustav Kapp – Capp Gusztáv alzredes
Garrison: Hajmaskér – 20th Honved Infantry Division – II Landwehr District
formed: 1914
Commanding Officer: Colonel Albert Pohl – Pohl Albert ezredes
Garrison: Szeged – 11th Honved Cavalry Division – II Landwehr District
formed: 1914

Museum coverage

The history of Austro-Hungarian forces is documented in detail in the Military History Museum in Vienna, which was founded by Emperor Franz Joseph I as the Imperial-Royal Court Armaments Museum (k.k. Hofwaffenmuseum). In a special display cabinet in Hall V (the Franz Joseph Hall) of the museum, several uniforms of the Imperial Royal Landwehr are displayed, a relief on the rear of the cabinet shows the territories from which the Hungarian Landwehr and the Imperial Royal Landwehr recruited.[8]

References

  1. Austro-Hungarian Infantry, Royal Hungarian Landwehr (Honvéd) section, at www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk. Accessed on 18 Jul 2013
  2. Steed, Henry Wickham; Phillips, Walter Alison and Hannay, David (1914). A Short History of Austria-Hungary and Poland, Encyclopaedia Britannica Company.
  3. Ortner, M. C. and Artlieb, Erich (2003). With Drawn Sword: Austro-Hungarian Edged Weapons from 1848 to 1918. Verlag Militaria.
  4. Tucker, Spencer C. (2005). World War One, Volume 1, p. 1053.
  5. League of Nations (1938). Armaments yearbook; general and statistical information, League of Nations publications. p. 426.
  6. JPRS Report: East Europe, Issues 23-31, Foreign Broadcast Information Service, 1992, p. 18.
  7. "The Hungarian Landwehr (Honvéd) Cavalry as at August 1914". Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  8. Johann Christoph Allmayer-Beck: Das Heeresgeschichtliche Museum Wien. Saal VI - Die k.(u.)k. Armee von 1867-1914, Vienna, 1989, p. 25.

Literature and sources

External links

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