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

2018-08-06

" Ready for Departure! "

One last photograph before the soldiers depart, seated in the back of a transport lorry. No notes, captions, or identifying details were ever written on the reverse of the print, meaning that the location, destination, and identities of the Hungarian soldiers will most likely remain hidden in the vaults of history.

Nevertheless, the photograph itself is a remarkable snapshot in time and a valuable document of everyday military life. Capturing an ordinary moment before departure, it preserves details that official records often overlook, offering a small but meaningful glimpse into the experiences of Hungarian soldiers of the period.