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

2017-02-02

" Night-time card game"

Hungarian soldiers enjoy a night-time card game in their barracks. Card playing was a popular pastime among soldiers during periods of rest, providing entertainment and camaraderie away from the rigors of military life.

The cards seen in use are most likely from the traditional German-suited deck (Doppeldeutsche), commonly known as the William Tell deck. This style of playing card was the standard throughout Hungary and the former Austro-Hungarian lands, featuring the distinctive suits of Acorns, Leaves, Hearts, and Bells rather than the French suits used in most modern card decks.

The photograph offers a glimpse into the everyday leisure activities of Hungarian soldiers during their military service.