Hungarian Paratroopers
-
- Member
- Posts: 25
- Joined: 27 Jun 2003 23:00
- Location: Massachusetts
Hungarian Paratroopers
Picture of Dad posing with comrade in a city of Papa photography studio just before deployment to Eastern front. Late 1944 or early 1945...
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
- Member
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: 28 Aug 2018 05:52
- Location: Europe
Re: Hungarian Paratroopers
Do you happen to have a unit for them?
"Everything remained theory and hypothesis. On paper, in his plans, in his head, he juggled with Geschwaders and Divisions, while in reality there were really only makeshift squadrons at his disposal."
-
- Member
- Posts: 25
- Joined: 27 Jun 2003 23:00
- Location: Massachusetts
Re: Hungarian Paratroopers
Yes...Szent Laszlo...
-
- Member
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: 28 Aug 2018 05:52
- Location: Europe
Re: Hungarian Paratroopers
Do you have any additional info about his military service? Like, did he actually participate in parachute training - did he jump from planes?
"Everything remained theory and hypothesis. On paper, in his plans, in his head, he juggled with Geschwaders and Divisions, while in reality there were really only makeshift squadrons at his disposal."
-
- Member
- Posts: 25
- Joined: 27 Jun 2003 23:00
- Location: Massachusetts
Re: Hungarian Paratroopers
I have a lot of info about his service. A lot to type...will start on that after work...in the meantime, photo of him as group leader in a Levente unit. This photo was found by Apu while viewing my friend's collection in friends home in the US...
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
- Member
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: 28 Aug 2018 05:52
- Location: Europe
Re: Hungarian Paratroopers
A group leader of a Levente unit? In what year exactly?
Because the Levente movement was kind of different in 3 different times. From 1921 (1924) until 1939, it was a collection of school dropouts, a forced and largely despised Hitlerjugend-like association. However, as any peace time institution dealing with teenagers, it produced at least a few good memories - all the same, it was nothing comparable with - for example - the non-militarist Boy Scout Movement. From 1939 until Szálasi took over in 1944, it was a mandatory pre-military service. Even less liked, but deemed necessary as well, and also included the Scout Movement. But when Szálasi took over, they actually threw teenagers to the front, even moving them towards Germany - they died by the thousands. Their leaders were convicted as war criminals after the war.
"Everything remained theory and hypothesis. On paper, in his plans, in his head, he juggled with Geschwaders and Divisions, while in reality there were really only makeshift squadrons at his disposal."
-
- Member
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: 28 Aug 2018 05:52
- Location: Europe
Re: Hungarian Paratroopers
Btw the blueish handwriting on the photo reads: Frontra indulásunk alkalmával sok szeretettel emlékül. Guszti
On the left side, a faint handwriting, possibly from the same person, reads: szüleimnek
The imprinted letters are:
FOTO
Kováts és tsa
1944
On the left side, a faint handwriting, possibly from the same person, reads: szüleimnek
The imprinted letters are:
FOTO
Kováts és tsa
1944
"Everything remained theory and hypothesis. On paper, in his plans, in his head, he juggled with Geschwaders and Divisions, while in reality there were really only makeshift squadrons at his disposal."
-
- Member
- Posts: 25
- Joined: 27 Jun 2003 23:00
- Location: Massachusetts
Re: Hungarian Paratroopers
First of all, Thanks for the translation of the handwriting on back of photo...This benefits others who are interested in this thread. I speak Hungarian, but it didn't occur to me to translate...my oversight. Back to Apu, he joined the Levente sometime around 1940. He got into a group training to be airborne under army control. He completed jump training parachuting from aircraft and earned his jump wings. He never jumped into combat. By the time he was sent to the front it was a short truck ride away.
-
- Member
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: 28 Aug 2018 05:52
- Location: Europe
Re: Hungarian Paratroopers
Is there any chance that his name was Ábel Gusztáv?gigoo wrote: ↑11 May 2021 02:20First of all, Thanks for the translation of the handwriting on back of photo...This benefits others who are interested in this thread. I speak Hungarian, but it didn't occur to me to translate...my oversight. Back to Apu, he joined the Levente sometime around 1940. He got into a group training to be airborne under army control. He completed jump training parachuting from aircraft and earned his jump wings. He never jumped into combat. By the time he was sent to the front it was a short truck ride away.
"Everything remained theory and hypothesis. On paper, in his plans, in his head, he juggled with Geschwaders and Divisions, while in reality there were really only makeshift squadrons at his disposal."
-
- Member
- Posts: 3825
- Joined: 21 Jun 2012 01:11
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Hungarian Paratroopers
Természetesen.Is there any chance that his name was Ábel Gusztáv?

https://felderitokblogja.blog.hu/2020/0 ... kirataiban
http://real.mtak.hu/98367/1/HT_2018-6_cikk-07.pdf
-
- Member
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: 28 Aug 2018 05:52
- Location: Europe
Re: Hungarian Paratroopers
The most comprehensive report about the paratroopers in the Szent László division can be read here: http://mek.niif.hu/16300/16381/16381.pdfGregSingh wrote: ↑12 May 2021 10:54Természetesen.Is there any chance that his name was Ábel Gusztáv?![]()
https://felderitokblogja.blog.hu/2020/0 ... kirataiban
http://real.mtak.hu/98367/1/HT_2018-6_cikk-07.pdf
"Everything remained theory and hypothesis. On paper, in his plans, in his head, he juggled with Geschwaders and Divisions, while in reality there were really only makeshift squadrons at his disposal."
-
- Member
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: 28 Aug 2018 05:52
- Location: Europe
Re: Hungarian Paratroopers
By the way, having one of the most detailed non-officier personal history from the Hungarian Royal Army in WW2, what exactly was your intent with this thread?
"Everything remained theory and hypothesis. On paper, in his plans, in his head, he juggled with Geschwaders and Divisions, while in reality there were really only makeshift squadrons at his disposal."
-
- Member
- Posts: 25
- Joined: 27 Jun 2003 23:00
- Location: Massachusetts
Re: Hungarian Paratroopers
Yes, his name is Abel Gusztav. His name and history of his service live on through the efforts of my good friend David. My intent? I don't understand the question...
-
- Member
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: 28 Aug 2018 05:52
- Location: Europe
Re: Hungarian Paratroopers
I mean it is quite unlikely that we could come up with any new information, on the other hand, not telling us your father's name made it feel like we are looking for a lost relative's story. Or to be more accurate, a relative's lost story. So I don't understand, why did you start this thread? This photo circulates in multiple blogs and memoir-like sources. Would you like to talk about your father's service or...? I really don't get it.
"Everything remained theory and hypothesis. On paper, in his plans, in his head, he juggled with Geschwaders and Divisions, while in reality there were really only makeshift squadrons at his disposal."
-
- Member
- Posts: 25
- Joined: 27 Jun 2003 23:00
- Location: Massachusetts
Re: Hungarian Paratroopers
Peter89 wrote: ↑13 May 2021 08:36I mean it is quite unlikely that we could come up with any new information, on the other hand, not telling us your father's name made it feel like we are looking for a lost relative's story. Or to be more accurate, a relative's lost story. So I don't understand, why did you start this thread? This photo circulates in multiple blogs and memoir-like sources. Would you like to talk about your father's service or...? I really don't get it.
This whole forum is based largely on individuals and events that took place 70 years ago or more. If the counter on views is accurate, this thread has been viewed more than 1670 times, so that would indicate there is an interest in the subject matter. If you find the topic irrelevant or repetitive...feel free to scroll on