Hungarian M49/82 Camo Zelt - Poncho

[Marksharky]

I just picked up a new and unissued M49/82 Hungarian Zelt - Poncho and I am looking for as much information as I can find on its use. I am hoping that some of the forum members out there have some photos of this zelt in use or can tell me more about it. I am guessing that it was intended as a garment first and a shelter second, as it does not have the "double overlap" flaps on the arm slits. I would guess that this thing would leak like a sieve in a good rain storm if used as a shelter!

How were these zelts fastened together to use as larger shelters...... were pole and stake sets issued with them......... etc. ?????

Here are the photos of this zelt - poncho:

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[Marksharky]

I took advantage of the good weather and set up the Hungarian Zelt in the yard today. I used a 1930's vintage Swiss zelt pole and stake set for the set up.
I spliced a couple of eyes in the end of a short piece of jute, 3-strand rope to make the pole rope.

I'm still unsure what the original pole and stake set would have looked like, but I think this worked out just fine. From what I have been able to learn from postings on the forum and on the web, the older WW2 vintage zelts had an oval "pole grommet" that was designed to accommodate the rifle bayonet. I am guessing that one would use the rifle with bayonet installed for the pole???? Any forum members with any insight into this speculation on my part?

Here's what the ponch-zelt looks like set up as a half shelter:

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[eindecker2]

If memory serves me correct there was a "collapsible" pole in the back-pack kit. The WW2 Zelt's did use the blade type bayonette for the hole and then a helmet to keep the rain out. Post WW2 used a round hole for the M91/31 Mosin "pig-poker" baoynette. Post mid 1960's they went with the AK variant which used the blade type bayonette again and so a pole was used.

Hope that helps.

[Marksharky]

Thanks!
I suspected that may have been the case, but there is very little documentation of Hungarian field equipment out there........... You have answered some questions that I had been wondering about, now I'll start digging a little deeper to see if i can find any photos, manuals, etc. that explain and show how these zelts were "officially" used!

If you know where I can find any photos of these zelts in use, or a direction to start looking, I would really appreciate the push in the right direction!

[Marksharky]

I am wondering if I understand this correctly............. When the bayonet was used, it was attached to the rifle? It would definitely make sense to do it this way.

Thanks!

[eindecker2]

yes it was, but not always as we will see.... I managed to find some images for you from my files....

these are the WWII zelts and possible some of the M49 models, its hard to say. As you can see in the second image some SS dot pattern Zelts were still around and pressed into service, and they fit nicely with the Hungarian models.

[eindecker2]

Here is the last image i have of these - as can be seen the soldier simply found a nice stick lying around...

[ateas]

Hi eindecker 2!
Thank you for posting these cool photos. Are they postwar or they were made during the WWII?

[Gergo B.]

Hi eindecker 2!
Thank you for posting these cool photos. Are they postwar or they were made during the WWII?

Post-war photos.

[Aiceman]

Hi Marksharky!
I see your "zelt", good item in very good condition.
I was a company leader in the Hungarian Army till 1994. When I see your "zelt" this is the later version (I think this from cca 1989). The different is the shape, the early 49M had curved shape, the later have the rectangular shape. In my engineer unit used the early version, the "new" arrived to the first stage units in "my time" .
Two soldier can make a tent from this, with button up these.
In my unit not used this to make tent,because we had big tents with aluminium frame.(The engineer company have more equipment and the soldiers in the communist blog compulsory military service every time cried)
This was the first equipment that the rookie got,the storekeeper drop every another equipment (canteen etc) on to this and "let's go man...
You have a good one congrats.

[Marksharky]

Thanks for the new information on the Zelt!
I recently found a company that is selling these in the USA. They are very rare over here.
Do you know anything about the sticks that held up the zelt when it was a tent? Did the soldier get a tent pole or did he use his rifle to hold it up?

Thanks!
Mark

[Aiceman]

Hi Mark!

If you want to know everything from the history and the evolution of the hungarian "zelt" please read:

http://militiahungarorum.extra.hu/1920_e_f_l_s_8.html

You can choose language on the middle of the top of this page.
I hope you enjoy!

[Marksharky]

Thank you for the link to the Hungarian website! I will be spending several hours reading and researching the information there. I have found it very difficult to locate information about the Hungarian equipment on the internet...... (probably because I do not speak or write Hungarian). This site is amazing and has everything I have been looking for.

Thanks!