Information about my father

FTC1048 · Post by **FTC1048** » 31 Jul 2002 22:55

This is my first post gentlemen so please bear with me if I mess up.

To Csaba,Milan, and all others who are well versed with the Hungarian army during WW2:

I am trying to find any information about my father and or his division on the Russian front. I think he was attached to the 108th or possibly the 105th light inf. The bet info I was able to find out was he was stationed in or around Bryansk. He was a hadnagy(lt.)in the cavalry. He had the following decorations: German Iron Cross, Signum Laudis with combat ribbon and swords,fire cross with wreath and swords, Combat Leadership Badge, liberation of Transylvania medal,and liberation of south Hungary medal. His name was Dr. Janos Andras Horvath.

Any information or ideas about my research would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You, Andras

Csaba Becze · Post by **Csaba Becze** » 01 Aug 2002 06:18

Hi András,

This divisions had separate hussar sqadrons. Te 105th Light Division had the 4th separate hussar sqadron (önálló huszárszázad), and the 108th Light Division had the 8th separate hussar squadron. I have all list of this unit's sqadron leader's but I didn't find your father's name here. I'll try to seek any other info about him.
BTW the Horváth is a very general name in Hungarian language, I hope, that I'll not confuse him with one another officer.

This units fought against partisans generally. It was a very cruel war (the partisans used captured German-Hungarian uniforms always, they tortured and killed they Hungarian/German POW's, etc)

The 108th Light Division took part in battle of Harkov against the regular Red Army in spring, 1942 in Taranovka, Suhaja Gomoljsa area too. They had a very good performance. I have a lot of very interesting photos about this division (I have photos about some officers too, who were decorated by Iron Crosses). This unit's 2nd separate AA gun battery got at least 15 Soviet planes during the battle of Harkov. They had the Hungarian day record, I think: Ensign Szigethy Lehel's gun downed 9 Soviet planes near Taranovka on 13 May 1942. It was a confirmed day record for one Bofors AA gun (one of his victim was decorated by the Lenin order)

Unfortunately, this divisions had just light weapons (light artillery, they had not AT guns, etc). They were special forces against partisans. Sometimes the Germans used this units against the Soviet breaking tank Brigades/Corpses, and they suffered heavy losses (during the battle of harkov they had luck, because most of the Soviet heavy tanks avoided their positions).

FTC1048 · Post by **FTC1048** » 01 Aug 2002 18:10

Hi Csaba,

Thank you so much for your kind efforts at searching for my father. You have supplied me with more info than I had. Here is some addotional information that might be of assistance to you.
He was born Feb. 3 1918.
He worked at the Hungarian National Bank prior to and shortly after the war.
He was reserve hadnagy at the outbreak of the war then called up to active duty.
His (I beleve) direct commanding officer at the front was a Tottosi ezredes
who was executed by the Communists after the war.
Another place name that my mother thinks she remembers him being at is Pacsmak? I have been unable to find any info on this place.
At the end of the war he was called back to the military again and mon says she remembers him with a military police gorgot around his neck and that he was at Inarcs Kakucs. BTW he must have had dealings with the Spanish Blue division since he once mentioned that they were hard and thought highly of them.

Thank you again for all of your invaluable help.

Andras

Csaba Becze · Post by **Csaba Becze** » 02 Aug 2002 07:21

Hi András,

I didn't find your father among the hussar (cavalry) officers. My list is quite good, but not complete. Are you sure, that he was a cavalry officer, not infantry or gendarmerie officer?
I'll seek info about Colonel Töttösi as soon, as possible.

Csaba

FTC1048 · Post by **FTC1048** » 02 Aug 2002 08:00

Hi Csaba,

Thanks for your efforts! The one picture i have of him is in a definitely hussar uniform with braids,frogs,and sword. Mom says it was forrest green in color. But all of the scattered information says he was at Bryansk. Plus mom says he was involved in anti-partisan activities.
P.S. did you get the private note?

Thanks Andras

Csaba Becze · Post by **Csaba Becze** » 02 Aug 2002 09:51

Hi András,

Well, the 4th separate hussar squadron's commander was Captain Antal Paál, the 8th separate hussar squadron's commander was at first Captain Ervin Balázs Sipeki, and after his death on 15 March, 1942 it was Cpt. István Orbán. Have you heard this names?
I'll try to seek some info, but I need more time.

Csaba

P.S. Yes, I did the private note, but I wanted to answer here.

FTC1048 · Post by **FTC1048** » 02 Aug 2002 19:18

Hi Csaba,

I talked to my mother this morning she is 89 and her recollections are fadind fast. She did not recognize any of tose names you mentioned but came up with a Fohadnagy Meresz Miklos who she said served with pop on the eastern front. Plus another name she thinks might of served with him Hadnagy Kovesi Jeno.

I am usure of the unit looks like my guess of the 105th or the 108th is incorrect. I used Leo Nierhorsters book to try to identify units with anti-partisan activites around Bryansk. Maybe the 1st,18th,25th,121st,124th, or??????? You probably know all the possible units

).

One more thing I think I remember him saying was that they transitioned through Poland to get to the front. Unfortunately he hardly ever talked about his wartime experiences. He once said during winter they were resting and he was washing his hair when they were attacked he put his helmet on and when the attack was repulsed he took his helmet off as well as most of his hair that froze inside the helmet.

Thanks again for all the info!

Andras

Csaba Becze · Post by **Csaba Becze** » 05 Aug 2002 10:52

Perhaps it was the 102nd Light Division.

The 102nd, the 105th, the 108th and the 124th divisions were near Briansk forest (on the southern flank).
The 108th was just a little time here.

Have you heard this names: Seredina Buda, Navlia, Siniesherki, Lokot? They were villages in the Briansk forest. Near Seredina Buda was a very strong partisan group, they had very fierce battles with Hungarian troops.

The 102nd Light Division had the 14th separate hussar squadron (Cdr: capt. Pál Mándy).

Do you know any name of killed officers? I have all list of the perished hussar officers in this area (and most of the infantry officers too - I hope).

Csaba

FTC1048 · Post by **FTC1048** » 06 Aug 2002 00:39

Hi Csaba,

I asked mama again but she does not recall the names of villages or the name of the captain commanding the 14th hussars. Sorry like I said she is 89 and recollections fade but she is adamant about Bryansk and that he was there during winter time and Pacsmak area comes to her mind. Are we at a dead end now or?

Thanks Andras

PS No names of deceased officers.

Csaba Becze · Post by **Csaba Becze** » 06 Aug 2002 06:31

Hi,

I'll try to seek some info in the Hungarian Personal Military Archive, but I need more time. This Archives is in Budapest, and I live in Pécs (the distance is 200 km), and everybody need a special permission to research here.

Csaba

FTC1048 · Post by **FTC1048** » 06 Aug 2002 20:13

Hi,

Thanks for all your efforts Csaba!!! Let me know of any information you might need to help you.

Andras