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Hungary Uniforms and Rank Insignia
Unavailable
Figure 11. Military Ranks and Insignia, 1989
In 1989 the army had approximately the same number of
ranks
found in other typical military organizations, but these
ranks
were grouped into six classifications, the names of which
did not
always translate readily to those used by other military
organizations. Commissioned officer ranks, however, were
standard
and ranged from second lieutenant to general. They
included four
general officer ranks: brigadier general, lieutenant
general,
colonel general, and army general. Field grades were
major,
lieutenant colonel, and colonel. Junior officer ranks
began with
sublieutenant and advanced through second lieutenant and
first
lieutenant to captain.
Enlisted grade nomenclature differed from that used by
most
of the world's armies. The three lowest grades--private
first
class, corporal, and lance sergeant--were called
noncommissioned
officers. The next four grades--staff sergeant, sergeant
first
class, master sergeant, and command sergeant major--were
called
regimental sergeants major; in the armies of most
countries these
ranks would also be included among the NCO grades. Above
the
regimental sergeants major but below the lowest
commissioned
officer ranks were two grades that were translated as
ensigns,
which were the equivalent of warrant officers in other
armies.
Rank insignia consisted of shoulder boards for
officers,
ensigns, and higher-grade enlisted men
(see
fig. 11).
Lower
grades wore patches on shirt or blouse collars. Rank was
indicated by the amount of ornamentation and the number of
stars
on the shoulder board. Officers had gold piping around the
edges
of the boards; ensigns and enlisted men had silver.
Generals'
stars were placed upon a solid gold braid background.
Junior
officers' boards did not have braiding; officers of field
grades
had boards that were partly braided. Except for the outer
braiding, boards of the higher-grade enlisted men
resembled those
of junior officers. Background colors and bronze devices
identified service branches. Uniforms were brownish-olive
drab.
Enlisted men wore heavy wool in winter and a lighter
colored
cotton in the warmer seasons. Officers wore the same
colors, but
the materials were worsted wool for winter and either
cotton or
tropical-weight worsted wool for summer. The most
frequently seen
uniforms were the service, dress, and field uniforms. The
service
uniform was worn for most light-duty work, recreation, and
informal social occasions. It consisted of a comfortably
fitting
"blouse," long trousers, and low shoes. In summer a
lighterweight , light-colored shirt was worn instead of the
blouse. The
dress uniform consisted of the same blouse and trousers
but had
extra ornamentation, and the trousers were tucked into
high
boots. Officers wore a Sam Browne belt (a belt with a
strap over
the right shoulder) and, for the most formal occasions, a
sword.
Field uniforms included high boots into which the trousers
were
tucked. In summer the officers' field uniforms included a
short
jacket, Sam Browne belt, and sidearm; enlisted men's
uniforms had
a cotton shirt, which could be worn with the sleeves
rolled up. A
heavy overcoat was added in the winter.
Twelve decorations were still being awarded in the late
1980s
for extraordinary achievement, special merit, or
outstanding
performance. Another twenty-four were authorized to be
worn but
were no longer awarded. A few of those had been
discontinued, but
most of them were applicable to earlier service, such as
during
World War II or the communist takeover after the war.
The highest-ranking decoration was the Hero of
Socialist
Labor. It was followed in order by the Medal of the
Hungarian
People's Republic, the Red Banner Order of Merit, and the
Red
Star Order of Merit. Some of these decorations were
awarded in
two or more degrees, in which the first degree was the
highest
class. The Order of Merit for Outstanding Service was
frequently
awarded to higher-ranking military personnel. Although it
ranked
twenty-fourth in the list of thirty-six decorations, it
was one
of the few that was accompanied by a monetary award. A
substantial pension supplement accompanied three or four
of the
more important decorations.
Data as of September 1989
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