Dear Margarita,

 

Two of the people in the full regimental photo have epaulettes.  In the armies following the British army system this would indicate that they are officers, as would the peaked caps.  One of the many puzzles in the regimental photo is why do some people that appear to be officers have epaulettes and peaked hats, whereas some do not.

  

Military service for 18 year old was absolutely compulsory in Europe in those days. If the newly established Czech army was to call up people from newly acquired territories who did not speak Czech then I assume they did so by having Hungarian speaking regiments; German speaking regiments, etc.

If this is indeed a Czech army photo then the Hungarian Museum of Military History will probably not be able to assist.

Best wishes
Tom

Tom Beer
beer_tom@...

Thank you Frank and Tom for your replies and ideas. I hope this reply goes to all, including a copy to me (not sure how this works).

 

Tom, if I understand correctly, epaulettes are those ornamental decorations with fringes that are over the shoulder. I don’t see any in the picture I submitted.  

 

Many years ago I went to the Museum of Military History. I did not have this picture but I had one of his older brother, my grandfather in uniform (WW1), but they were not able to help me. Conversation was a bit difficult because my Hungarian is very basic. I will write to them, maybe now they have someone that knows English.

 

As far as I know, my great-uncle was still living in Dunaszerdahely. If it was the Czech army, why would the sign be in Hungarian?

Regards,
Margarita Lackó

Thinking about my earlier reply, I keep wondering whether in 1922 the newly formed Czech Army had any Hungarian speaking regiments.  If so, it would explain the curious aspects of the uniforms.

If your great-uncle still lived in Dunaszerdahely, which in 1922, was part of Czechoslovakia. (Dunajska Streda) then he would have been called up for the Czech army, presumably at 18.
If, however, he lived in Hungary, or was keen to make his career in the Hungarian military he may have joined the Hungarian army.

Tom Beer

Melbourne, Australia.

Hi Margarita,
My grandfather, his brother and his cousin where in the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1914 (I have his original papers!) and I have several pictures of them in uniform I can share with you if it will be of any help to compare. The paperwork would say what division but the pictures may provide a comparison.
Please email directly if you want me to send them to compare.
Michele Farkas
Boynton Beach, FL
Researching Farkas, Weiszhauz, Izsak, Tauszig, Jakab: Hungary, (Tasnad and Carei), Romania, Transylvania

Frank is correct that the writing is Hungarian so it would be the Hungarian army and it is most likely that the 19 year old is doing his compulsory military service.  

There are, however, unusual aspects about the uniforms of the officers.  In particular, my reading indicates that it was not usual for Hungarian officers to have peaked caps, or epaulettes.  Yet some of the officers have both.  My guess is that the group photo was taken to commemorate the visit of some senior officers from the army of another country.  This may be incorrect, as it is possible that this particular regiment had different uniform traditions to the rest of the army.

There is a Hungarian Museum of Military History.  They may (or may not) be able to provide further information. My recollection is that one needs to correspond with them in Hungarian.  




Tom Beer
Melbourne Australia

42ezred 42 regiment in Hungarian
Frank Szmulowicz

ViewMate VM96152 
Is a complete view of a group of soldiers that belong to the "I battalion - 1922, 42 regiment".
The arrow shows my great-uncle Vilmos LEICHT (b1902).

ViewMate VM96151 
Shows a partial view of the same group of soldiers that belong to the "I battalion - 1922, 42 regiment".

My great-uncle, Vilmos LEICHT, was born in 1902 in Dunaszerdahely, Hungary. But in 1922, this was part of Czechoslovakia. It is now Dunajska Streda, Slovakia.

What army would this be? Czech or Hungarian? Is this some kind of military service? Where would they have trained? Where can I find more information about this regiment? Maybe a list of recruits?

https://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/viewmateview.asp?key=VM96151 
https://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/viewmateview.asp?key=VM96152 

 

Thanks in advance for any information.

 
Margarita Lackó
mishpologia@...