Hi - Tech. Copies From Hungary
By Michael M. van Lauesen
© 2000 by author

Over a period of a few months, several collectors and dealers in the United States have contacted me regarding a disturbing number of well-made, ostensibly authentic, rare Hungarian W.W.II parachute badges that have appeared lately at shows and in auctions. I have found evidence that most of the badges in question are undoubtedly reproductions that have been made recently, in Hungary. The purpose of this article is to alert the collecting community to the existence of these bogus badges and to provide information that will assist is discerning them from original badges.

The reproductions in question are of three Hungarian parachute badges: the W.W.II basic parachute qualification badge (B&T 770); the W.W.II Master Parachutist badge (B&T771); the Master Parachutist badge from the immediate post-W.W.II period (B&T 947). (The B&T numbers are those of these badges in the reference "Parachute Badges and Insignia of the World," by R. J. Bragg and R. Turner.) Also David Littlejohn's, Bender publication, "Foreign Legions of the Third Reich," volume three. The listed paratrooper badges are described in the Hungarian section. Original examples of the three badges are rare.

To give you an idea of rarity, let's consider Hungary's airborne forces during this period. Hungary, a small and somewhat poor country, could not afford a large military force, neither could it expend great sums for training. The Hungarian paratroopers for most of the war trained in Hungary at the Papa Airport, the one battalion of paratroopers, consisted of only four hundred paratroopers. The Hungarian airborne forces made only one combat jump in Yugoslavia in April 1941.

In 1942 and 1943, the commander of the paratrooper battalion Colonel Szügyi and a small cadre of officers and NCOs of the airborne force were moved to the Russian front in an advisory role, for special operations of Hungarian infantry against the Russian army. In 1943 Szügyi help conduct and advise equipment, arms and medical supply drop operations in the Ukraine to relieve elements of the Hungarian Second Army that had retreated from the Don River front following the Axis disaster at Stalingrad. The Hungarian air lift brought relief to many trapped Hungarian military units, allowing the units to retreat and escape from the Red Army.

In August 1944, Romania, Germany's ally but Hungary's opponent in many past conflicts, defected from the Axis powers and joined forces with the Russian Red Army, thus endangering the southern flank of the Axis forces in the Balkans. With the German occupation of Hungary starting in March 1944, many German and Hungarian units rushed to shore up the southeastern flank of the collapsing Axis eastern front. The Hungarian paratrooper battalion was rushed to meet the threat to Hungary's southeast border posed by their new opponents, the Romanians.

Colonel Szügyi, set up a strong defensive perimeter in the Carpathian mountains, the last natural defensive position to the east, along with many German units of the Wehrmacht. Out numbered 10-to-1, Szügyi's paratroopers put up a valiant struggle before being overwhelmed by the combined forces of the Red and Romanian armies.

The end of the war found many of the surviving paratroopers serving in the Szent Lászlo Division, which surrendered in Austria to the allies on May 10, 1945. It is easy to imagine that the military of Hungary, which had fought on the losing side, was a mere shadow of its former self during the austerity of the immediate post-war years.

As stated, original examples of the three badges in question are rare. Consider, for example, the W.W.II Master Parachutist badge. Given the conditions in the Hungarian military and the fact that this badge was awarded for twenty-five first class jumps, one would expect that only a handful of these badges were awarded. This is confirmed by the Hungarian Military (Hónved) History Museum in Budapest, which puts the number awarded at twenty-three. How many were manufactured? There is no record of the number, but surely it must be small.

When an unusual number of these badges began to surface (one American collector informed me he knew of three that had sold in the US - two on eBay - in a ten month period) and I have seen at least five sell in a well known militaria auction house in the mid-west. With at least eight different master badges surfacing in less than a year, some collectors became suspicious and the suspicions of some were conveyed to me. Why to me? I had moved to Budapest several years ago and had begun dealing in original militaria of selected European countries, including, of course, Hungary. So it was natural that when the subject was Hungarian badges, collectors would seek someone on the scene.

This is a typical example of a Hungarian copy SS buckle with a strange gray paint, the buckle is marked "RODO."

In the course of searching for militaria - through my contacts at the Budapest Coin Club and at various shows - I was approached by two individuals, a Hungarian and an American, who told me they had a wide range of W.W.II badges and insignia for sale. What they showed me were well-made, die-struck German SS buckles, Soviet orders, and other items. While everything they had appeared to be well made, they appeared to me to be copies, and I told them so. They assured me that they had original items as well and that they could bring them to the next show. I asked about Hungarian paratrooper items, and they assured me that they had original examples of the W.W.II basic parachute qualification badge.

I was approached by the American at the next show. While he did not have the parachute badges, he did have a large quantity of SS buckles, many of which had the appearance of dug relics. Upon noting that all of the buckles bore the same number "155/40" and that the belt catch leg was punched and indented to fit into the wing of the eagle, something that I had never seen before, I suspected they had used battery acid to age the ones they had showed me the last time. When I passed on the whole lot of buckles, they said, "don't worry, we have more in better shape." I followed them to their car where they produced several large bags of mint SS buckles and proceeded to try to hustle me into buying them as original. Again, I declined.

Further, I have found no evidence of the firm "Ungár and Horváth," producing medals during W.W.II. Upon checking many sources, all with different answers, one Hungarian collector has stated that many Horthy period badges didn't have rivets but just employed wires that were inserted into the back of the badge. This same collector noted that he had seen an original master parachutist badge in an old collection in the USA and that it had a different maker than the ones listed in this article and had wire fasteners, inserted through holes for attachment of the chute and skull insignia to the badge.

The copy Hungarian First Class Paratrooper badge with gray paint over the chute and skull insignia, notice the copper showing through the paint in the worn areas of the skull. The basic and First Class Hungarian Paratrooper badges were made from brass. The 1940 Hungarian First Class Paratrooper badge is so rare that I do not have one to display for this article. But I have seen original examples in Budapest. The originals are unmarked, the prongs are made from thick brass, the original badge prongs for tunic attachment are 1/3 shorter then the copies. I have never seen any numbers applied to the prongs of the three original First Class Hungarian Paratrooper badges that I have personally handled. On the original First Class Paratrooper badge the small twigs to the bottom of the badge, demonstrate no spaces between the twigs and badge frame. The thick, brass wire fasteners fit snugly into the drilled holes for insignia attachment. The copy employs long thin wires that demonstrate a lot of space around the holes for insignia attachment.

A few weeks later, I was approached by the American and was informed that finally they had original examples of the basic parachute badges. I was stunned when the Hungarian produced three of the W.W.II master parachute badges. I examined them closely. They were of multi-piece, convex brass construction, depicting a wreath, which exhibited an excellent Kelly green enamel work, surrounding a parachute upon which was a detailed skull and downward-pointing daggers. They were all marked with the same maker "Morzsány" and a Budapest street address. They are now using a new maker which is Ungár and Horváth, Femmuvek KFT. Budapest, the wreath exhibited excellent (Kelly green) enamel work. I noted, that the skull and daggers pieces was attached by wire prongs. The wires bent back through holes on the badge gave it an unfinished appearance and I didn't like the item. I felt the badge might have used rivets and not metal fasteners or wires for insignia attachment, as many quality Axis badges I had seen used domed rivets in manufacturing their badges.

Another problem with the master badges that were shown to me was the brass appeared untarnished and new. The seller explained these aspects with the claim that the badges had been manufactured late in war. Sensing, I suspect, that I was unconvinced by their explanation, they assured me that the following week they would have a better, early-war example.

True to their word, they subsequently produced another high quality example of the badge, this time the skull, chute and daggers were painted with a dull gray (oxidized silver?) finish, tarnished metal visible through the paint in some places; flat head rivets that blended into the badge replaced the wire prongs, and the brass on the reverse of the badge was dark with tarnish. On its back, the badge bore the name "Erdzo-Morzsány, Budapest" along with the maker's address. They offered the badge to me for the equivalent of about $30. I jumped to accept. Three weeks later I was surprised to find, in three different militaria shops, at least five examples of the version of the master jump badge that featured wire, prong fasteners.

Several months later, I visited, by appointment, the military museum to conduct research for several articles that I was writing, and while there I was allowed to examine their holdings concerning the W.W.II Hungarian paratroopers. I was shown several variants of the W.W.II basic parachute badge both in metal and bullion. When I asked to see the W.W.II master parachutist badge, I was told the metal versions were so rare that they had none; that the only example of this badge they had was in bullion. The museum's example in bullion was completely different from the one presented to me at the coin club. The most prominent differences were the addition of the crown of St. Stephan at the top of the badge, only a partial wreath, and the skull and chute and daggers were encompassed by a gilt box, that tapered to the bottom. I was further informed that only twenty-three were awarded and that it was very rare as you had to make twenty-five, first class jumps.

Original 1942 Hungarian Paratrooper badge, obverse and reverse view, with spaces between the shroud lines.

The Hungarian military museums numismatic department curator claimed, "the Horthy era badges all used thick wire fasteners for device, insignia attachment. The Horthy era regime did not have the resources of the Monarchy period badges, he claims that most Horthy era badges are unmarked. The curator explained, the only official Horthy era badge manufacture was Beránn, he had seen some insignia and badges marked with that maker. The curator further stated, probably over one hundred Hungarian master paratrooper badges were made. He had not seen any original Hungarian First Class Paratrooper badges for sale, except for one that was offered to the museum for $650.00, from a Hungarian collector. If the master paratrooper badge was offered by sale, that it should be valued in the $1,000 range and not $250 to $500 range."

There were many twists and turns to this story and everyone seemed to say something different, to add or diminish, how or what the "real," master badge should look like and how it should be marked. I was further amazed that several auction houses were selling the master parachute badge and it was numbered on the upper prong, all the numbers were above the twenty-three that were awarded. I have personally seen the number "86, 163 and 265." The one master jump badge that I purchased and one of the selling points was it's low number of "57."

I thought as a concerned collector and dealer that the following information concerning the Hungarian master parachute badge should be considered before purchase of the badge on today's current market. All of the Hungarian paratrooper badges from W.W.II and the immediate post-war period are rare, but especially the master parachutist badges. In fact, they are so rare, I have never seen one that I know to be authentic.

Given the rarity of the authentic badges, and given the number of copies that U&H are turning out, any such badges that one encounters will invariably be a copy. One's best course of action is to pass them by unless one wishes to add a copy to his collection and can find one priced as such. It is my understanding that these current, well produced badges are being sold for $200.00 to $500.00. Hence, I thought I would advise the collecting community of these high quality copies and the tactics of the makers of these copy pieces as a courtesy to the public.

Below are two stunning examples of the copy Hungarian First Class Paratrooper badge. On the right is the obverse view of the 1940 Hungarian Master Paratrooper badge and to the left is the Tildy 1948 prototype badge. Notice the twigs to the bottom center of the 1940 variant badge and the space between the frame and the twigs. On the Tildy badge notice the lack of white enamel on the chute canopy and shroud lines.

Copy Hungarian First Class Paratrooper badge reverse views: see the large spaces between the drilled holes for insignia attachment and the wire fasteners on the 1940 Master Para badge to the right. Some badges because of the large amount of space between the wire fasteners, the insignia moves and does not demonstrate a tight fit to the frame. Notice the large amount of modern tin solder around the prongs, also notice the extra length of the prongs, in fact the prongs over lap on both badges. Notice also the many, holes and depressions on the badge frames reverse.

If you would like more information about copies from Central Europe please see:
http://belgiumcongo3.bizland.com/wwiaustrohungariancollectorsbooksandmore/
A web site devoted to the Axis minors of Central Europe from both World Wars.

here is the original article with pictures

http://www.internationalmilitaria.com/articles/hungarian/paratrooper.html

Does anyone have any experience with the company IMA, or International Military Antiques ???
Also, please be advised of a Polish collector/dealer named Pawel Novák--he's supposedly a fraud.......!!!!!