Just a moment of education about the prongs on the back of HUPR badges. There were numerious and varied methods of attaching badges to the uniforms during the period of 1949-1990. Much of the traditions that were started well before WW1 in the Hungarian manner of attaching badges remained throughout WW2, the communist period and continued to this day. The nice part about the badges is that though they are difficult to put on a uniform, the badges will stay on the uniform. Secondly the nice factor about the badges is that the placement and the size of the prongs on many badges (not to get too off track here - but many badges also came with a pin and hook system for pinning on the uniform as well) changed with the times and there were many "standadrd" forms for certain badges. So you can find a uniform without any badges yet have the loops for the badges sewn on and figure out with not too much uncertaintly what was supposed to go where. For this example I have taken six badges and will show the varied forms. First off - the six badges (now to be fair I placed them in the wrong order for the full shot - just follow the numbers!)
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First up are #1 and #2 - these are military sports badges: #1 is a Rakosi era 1949-1956 form. Notice the size and placement of the prongs. The left one goes up the right one goes down and they are very thick. #2 is a Kadar era 1957-1990 this badge dates from the 1970's - notice the prong szie is different but also the left one goes down and the right one goes up. You cant put this badge on an early uniform without it being lop-sided... -
Next are a series of "Exelent Soldier" badge - these were awarded to Enlisted and NCOs for excelent performance in their duties - there were many many grades and forms - but we wont get into that right now... from left to right we have the 1957 model "skeleton" - it was a cut out badge - very rare as it was used for only one year. The black felt was for tank, engineering or river flotilla. Next is the next form 1958 to about the mid 1960's - note the enamel work and lastly is a latter form mid 1960's to 1970'sComment
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And the reverse of thes badges - note the model 1957 skeleton has very thick prongs, then we have the "paddle" type of prongs - and lastly widely spaced and thin prongs... Note on #5 and #6 - #5 the class rate (1,2,or3) is riveted in and the last model uses a bolt and nut...Last edited by eindecker2; 05-21-2010, 10:36 AM.Comment
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Lastly was #4 the Border Guard badge - though this one appeared in the late 1960's it used the older style thick prongsComment
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Great thread!!! Thanks for taking the time to provide some good information...Somebody, after all, had to make a start. What we wrote and said is also believed by many others. They just don't dare express themselves as we did. Quote - Sophie Scholl - White Rose resistance groupComment
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