Hungarian Defence Forces

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Hungarian Defence Forces
Magyar Honvédség
ranked 41th)
Percent of GDP2.14% (2024)[11]
Industry
Foreign suppliers Czech Republic
 France
 Germany
 Italy
 Sweden
 Turkey
 United States
Former:
 Soviet Union
Related articles
HistoryMilitary history of Hungary
RanksMilitary ranks of Hungary

The Hungarian Defence Forces (

defence force of Hungary. Since 2007, the Hungarian Armed Forces is under a unified command structure. The Ministry of Defence maintains the political and civil control over the army. A subordinate Joint Forces Command is coordinating and commanding the HDF corps. In 2020, the armed forces had 22,700 personnel on active duty. In 2019, military spending was $1.904 billion, about 1.22% of the country's GDP, well below the NATO target of 2%.[12] In 2016, the government adopted a resolution in which it pledged to increase defence spending to 2.0% of GDP and the number of active personnel to 37,650 by 2026.[13][14]

JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft for about 800 million EUR. Hungary bought two used Airbus A319 and two Falcon 7X transport aircraft. Three C-17 III Globemaster transport aircraft are operating from Pápa Air Base under Hungarian nationality mark but are maintained by the NATO Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW). An intensive modernization program started in 2016 under the name "Zrínyi 2026". New helicopters, tanks, IFVs and artillery equipment were purchased beside others. Hungarian National Cyber Security Center was re-organized in 2016.[15]

In 2016, the Hungarian military has about 700 troops stationed in foreign countries as part of international peacekeeping forces, including 100 HDF troops in the

ISAF force in Afghanistan, 210 Hungarian soldiers in Kosovo under command of KFOR, and 160 troops in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hungary sent a 300-strong logistics unit to Iraq in order to help the US occupation with armed transport convoys, though public opinion opposed the country's participation in the war. One soldier was killed in action
by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

During the

Don River in December 1942 in the Battle of Stalingrad. During the Socialist and the Warsaw Pact era (1947–1989), the entire 200,000 strong Southern Group of Forces
was garrisoned in Hungary, complete with artillery, tank regiments, air force and missile troops with nuclear weapons.

Structure

Main article: Structure of the Hungarian Defence Forces
Structure of the Hungarian Defence Forces, 2018 (click image to enlarge)

Flag and emblem

The central element of the emblem of the Hungarian Defence Forces is the Turul bird with extended wings holding the sword of King Saint Stephen in its claws. The element is surrounded by a turkey oak branch on the right and an olive branch on the left. At the meeting point of the branches is the "Hungarian Defense Shield" in the national color. The inscription "A HAZÁÉRT" can be read at the top as "for the homeland", and "MAGYAR HONVÉDSÉG" can be read in a semicircle at the bottom as "Hungarian Defence Forces". The flag of the Hungarian Defence Forces is white, and the emblem is placed in the middle of the flag.[17]

History

Main articles: Military history of Hungary and List of wars involving Hungary

Ancient, medieval, and early modern military

Main articles:
Royal Hungary, and Principality of Transylvania (1570–1711)
Military vehicles on show

The Hungarian tribes of

reflex bows
. Not until the introduction of well-regulated, plate-armored knight heavy cavalry could German emperors stop the Hungarian armies.

During the Árpáds the light cavalry based army was transformed slowly into a western-style one. The light cavalry lost its privileged position, replaced by a feudal army formed mainly from heavy cavalry.

The Hungarian field armies were drawn up into an articulated formation (as it happened in Battle of Przemyśl (1099), Battle at Leitha (1146), Battle of Morvamező (1278), (1349), in three main battle (formation) (1146, 1278, 1349). According to the contemporary sources and later speculations, the first line was formed by light cavalry archers (Battle of Oslava (1116, 1146, 1260, 1278). Usually, they started the battle followed by a planned retreat (1116, 1146), Battle of Kressenbrunn (1260). The major decisive battles of the Hungarian army were placed in the second or third lines consisted mainly of the most valuable parts of the army – in general heavy cavalry (1146, 1278, 1349).

The commanders of the

Hungarian Kingdom's army used different tactics, based on a recognition of their own and the enemies' (Holy Roman Empire, Pechenegs, Uzes, Cumans, Mongols, Byzantine Empire
) abilities and deficiencies.

The Hungarian knight army had its golden age under King

Johannes Hunyadi, former Regent of Hungary
.

During the

Hungarian Hussars). The northern fortress of Eger was famously defended in the autumn of 1552 during the 39-day Siege of Eger against the combined force of two Ottoman armies numbering circa 120,000 men and 16 ultra-heavy siege guns. The victory was very important, because two much stronger forts of Szolnok and Temesvár had fallen quickly during the summer. Public opinion[citation needed] attributed Eger's success to the all-Hungarian garrison, as the above two forts have fallen due to treason by the foreign mercenaries manning them. In 1596, Eger fell to the Ottomans
for the same reason.

In the 1566

Habsburg
empire then annexed Hungary.

Habsburg Hungarian military

Main article:
Royal Hungarian Landwehr
See also: Hungarian Revolution of 1848 and Kingdom of Hungary (1526–1867)
Hungarian hussars in battle during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848

Under

Hungarian Hussars
rose to international fame and served as a model for light cavalry in many European countries. During the 18th and 19th centuries hundreds of thousands of forcibly enrolled Hungarian males served 12 years or more each as line infantry in the Austrian Imperial Army.

Two independence wars interrupted this era, that of Prince

Magyar language of command. It was to be formed around already extant imperial units, twenty battalions of infantry, ten hussar regiments, and two regiments of Székely from the Transylvanian Military Frontier. They were further joined by eight companies of two Italian regiments stationed in Hungary and parts of the Fifth Bohemian Artillery Regiment.[19]

In 1848–1849 the Honvédség (mostly made up of enthusiastic patriots with no prior military training) achieved incredible successes against better-trained and -equipped Austrian forces, despite the obvious advantage in numbers on the Austrian side. The Winter Campaign of

Austrian emperor Franz Joseph,[21] the Russians invaded with a force of 190,000 soldiers – against the Honvédség's 135,000 – and decisively defeated Bem's Second Army in Transylvania, opening the path into the heart of Hungary. This way the Austrian-Russian coalition outnumbered Hungarian forces 3:1, which led to Hungary's surrender at Világos on 13 August 1849. Sándor Petőfi, the great Hungarian poet, went missing in action in the Battle of Segesvár
, against invading Russian forces.

In April 1867, the

Royal Hungarian Landwehr
(Magyar Kiralyi Honvédség, or Defence Force) was established.

The Honvédség was usually treated generously by the

Ludovika Academy officially began training cadets (and later staff officers). Honvédség units engaged in manoeuvres and were organized into seven divisions in seven military districts. While artillery was not allowed, the force did form batteries of Gatling guns in the 1870s.[25]

In the midst of trouble between the imperial government and the parliament in 1906, the Honvédség was further expanded and finally received its own artillery units. In this form, the force approached the coming world war in most respects as a truly "national" Hungarian army.[26]

World War I

Main article:
Royal Hungarian Landwehr
See also: Hungary in World War I

Hungarian soldiers "fought with distinction" on every front contested by Austria-Hungary in the

Italian Front. Out of the eight million men mobilized by Austria-Hungary, over one million died. Hungarians as a national group were second only to German Austrians in their share of this burden, experiencing twenty-eight war deaths for every thousand persons.[28]

After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian empire in late 1918, the

Serbian, American, and French
troops, as after four years of extensive fighting, the country lacked both the necessary manpower and equipment to fend off foreign invaders.

In accordance with the

Trianon Treaty limited the Hungarian National Army
to 35,000 men and forbade conscription. The army was forbidden to possess tanks, heavy armor, or an air force.

Mid-twentieth century

Main article: Royal Hungarian Army
See also:
Hungary between the two world wars and Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946)

On 9 August 1919, Admiral Miklós Horthy united various anti-communist military units into an 80,000-strong National Army (Nemzeti Hadsereg). On 1 January 1922, the National Army was once again redesignated the Royal Hungarian Army.

During the 1930s and early 1940s,

Trianon peace treaty at Versailles in 1920. This required strong armed forces to defeat the neighbouring states and this was something Hungary could not afford. Instead, the Hungarian Regent, Admiral Miklós Horthy, made an alliance with Nazi Germany. In exchange for this alliance and via the First and Second Vienna Awards, Hungary received back parts of its lost territories from Yugoslavia, Romania, and Czechoslovakia. Hungary was to pay dearly during and after World War II for these temporary gains.[citation needed][clarification needed
]

On 5 March 1938, Prime Minister Kálmán Darányi announced a rearmament program (the so-called Győr Programme, named after the city where it was announced to the public). Starting 1 October, the armed forces established a five-year expansion plan with Huba I-III revised orders of battle. Conscription was introduced on a national basis in 1939. The peacetime strength of the Royal Hungarian Army grew to 80,000 men organized into seven corps commands.[16]

In March 1939, Hungary launched an invasion of the newly formed

Slovak-Hungarian War
. This invasion was launched to reclaim a part of the Slovakian territory lost after World War I.

On 1 March 1940, Hungary organized its

Hungarian Third Army. With the exception of the independent "Fast Moving Army Corps" (Gyorshadtest
), all three Hungarian field armies were initially relegated to defensive and occupation duties within the regained Hungarian territories.

World War II

Main article: Royal Hungarian Army
See also: Hungary in World War II

In November 1940, Hungary signed the Tripartite Pact and became a member of the Axis with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.

In April 1941, in order to regain territory and because of the German pressure, Hungary allowed the Wehrmacht to cross her territory in order to launch the invasion of Yugoslavia. The Hungarian foreign minister, Pál Teleki who wanted to maintain a pro-allied neutral stance for Hungary, could no longer keep the country out of the war, as the British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden had threatened to break diplomatic relations with Hungary if it did not actively resist the passage of German troops across its territory, and General Henrik Werth, chief of the Hungarian General Staff made a private arrangement - unsanctioned by the Hungarian government - with the German High Command for the transport of the German troops across Hungary. Pál Teleki, no longer being able to stop the unfolding events, committed suicide on April 3, 1941, and Hungary joined the war on April 11 after the proclamation of the Independent State of Croatia.

After the controversial

Battle for Stalingrad
.

During 1943, the

Hungarian Second Army
was disbanded towards the end of 1944.

To keep Hungary as an ally, the Germans launched

Operation Margarethe and occupied Hungary in March 1944. However, during the Warsaw Uprising, Hungarian troops refused to participate.[30]

Warsaw uprising
1944

On 15 October 1944, the Germans launched Operation Panzerfaust and forced Horthy to abdicate. Pro-Nazi Ferenc Szálasi was made prime minister by the Germans.

On 28 December 1944, a

Communist government formed by Miklós competed with the pro-Nazi government of Ferenc Szálasi. The Germans, Szálasi, and pro-German Hungarian forces loyal to Szálasi fought on. On 20 January 1945, representatives of the provisional government of Béla Miklós signed an armistice in Moscow
. But forces loyal to Szálasi still continued to fight on.

The

unarmed labor battalions.[30]
The siege of Budapest ended with the surrender of the city on 13 February. But, while the German forces in Hungary were generally in a state of defeat, the Germans had one more surprise for the Soviets.

In early March 1945, the Germans launched

the Lake Balaton Offensive with support from the Hungarians. This offensive was almost over before it began. By 19 March 1945, Soviet troops had recaptured all the territory lost during a 13-day German offensive.[31]

After the failed offensive, the Germans in Hungary were defeated. Most of what remained of the

Hungarian Third Army
was destroyed about 50 kilometres west of Budapest between 16 March and 25 March 1945. Officially, Soviet operations in Hungary ended on 4 April 1945 when the last German troops were expelled.

Some pro-fascist Hungarians like Szálasi retreated with the Germans into Austria and Czechoslovakia. During the very last phase of the war,

Oder River.[30]

Uniform of the Hungarian People's Army (Magyar Néphadsereg): Hungarian military police summer uniform (enlisted, private, 1965–2005)

On 7 May 1945,

Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel. On 11 June, the Allies agreed to make 9 May 1945 the official "Victory in Europe" day.[32]
Szálasi and many other pro-fascist Hungarians were captured and ultimately returned to Hungary's provisional government for trial.

Warsaw Pact

Main article: Hungarian People's Army
See also: Second Hungarian Republic and Hungarian People's Republic

During the Socialist and the Warsaw Pact era (1947–1989), the Soviet Southern Group of Forces, 200,000 strong, was garrisoned in Hungary, complete with artillery, tank regiments, air force and missile troops (with nuclear weapons). It was, by all means, a very capable force but which had little contact with the local population. Between 1949 and 1955 there was also a huge effort to build a big Hungarian army. All procedures, disciplines, and equipment were exact copies of the Soviet Armed Forces in methods and material, but the huge costs collapsed the economy by 1956.

During the autumn

ÁVH secret policemen, Hungarian troops sent to crush the demonstrators instead provided their arms to the latter or joined them outright. While most major military units in the capital were neutral during the fighting, thousands of rank-and-file soldiers went over to the Revolution or at least provided the revolutionaries with arms.[33] Many significant military units went over to the uprising in full, such as the armored unit commanded by Colonel Pál Maléter which joined forces with the insurgents at the Battle of the Corvin Passage. However, there were 71 recorded clashes between the people and the army between 24 and 29 October in fifty localities; these were typically either defending certain military targets from rebel attack or fighting the insurgents outright, depending on the commander.[33]
When the Soviets crushed the Revolution on 4 November, the Army put up sporadic and disorganized resistance; lacking orders, many of their divisions were simply overpowered by the invading Soviets.

After the Revolution was crushed in

Soviet Bloc
. Limited modernization though, would happen from the mid-1970s onward to replace older stocks of military equipment with newer ones. Thus enabling the HPA, in a small way, to honor its Warsaw Pact commitments coupled with a mid-1980s organization which abolished divisions and replaced them with ground force brigades and a singular air force command.

The HPA was divided into the Ground and Air Forces. Until 1985, the Ground Forces were organized into:

Air Forces Headquarters at Veszprém

Training for conscripts was poor and most of those drafted were actually used as a free labour force (esp. railway track construction and agricultural work) after just a few weeks of basic rifle training. Popular opinion grew very negative towards the Hungarian People's Army and most young men tried to avoid the draft with bogus medical excuses.

The 1990s and Twenty-first century

In 1997, Hungary spent about 123 billion HUF (US$560 million) on defence. Hungary became a member of

Gepárd anti-materiel rifle
, which is a heavy 12.7 mm portable gun. This equipment is also in use by the Turkish and Croatian armed forces, among other armies.

In a significant move for modernization, Hungary decided in 2001 to lease 14

JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft (the contract includes 2 dual-seater airplanes and 12 single-seaters as well as ground maintenance facilities, a simulator, and training for pilots and ground crews) for 210 billion HUF (about 800 million EUR). Five Gripens (3 single-seaters and 2 two-seaters) arrived in Kecskemét
on 21 March 2006, expected to be transferred to the Hungarian Air Force on March 30. 10 or 14 more aircraft of this type might follow up in the coming years.

In early 2015, Hungary and Sweden extended the lease-program for another 10 years with a total of 32,000 flight-hours (95% increase) for only a 45% increase in cost.[34]

Zrínyi 2026 Modernization Program

Hungarian soldiers on exercise

In 2016, PM

armored vehicles, radars
and surface-to-air missiles.

Hungary ordered 20 H145M and 16 H225M in 2018.[37][38] All H145M aircraft had been delivered by the end of 2021. H225M are expected to arrive between 2023 and 2024.

In early 2019 the first batch of

Carl Gustaf M4s has arrived, starting to replace the old RPG-7s.[39]

In late 2019, Hungary signed a contract for 44

PzH 2000 howitzers for €300 million to be delivered in 2021 to 2025. In 2020 Hungary and Rheinmetall Group have signed a contract to start manufacturing the Lynx infantry fighting vehicle family in Hungary. Estimated to start arriving around 2024–2025, the first batch of 200+ Lynx vehicles are expected to reach operational capability in the Hungarian Defence Forces by 2026-2027[40][41]

In 2020 the Hungarian airforce ordered two

Kongsberg and Raytheon were awarded a 410 million EUR contract by Hungary for NASAMS surface-to air missile systems.[43] 11 ELM-2084 radars were also ordered in late 2020.[44] The Mistral SAM system has been upgraded: new M3 missiles were purchased and both the launchers and the MCPs were modernized.[45]

Hungarian special forces

In 2021 Spike LR2 anti-tank missiles has been ordered, mainly for the Lynx IFVs.[46] In August 2021 contract has been signed with SAAB to upgrade the Hungarian Gripen fleet to the MS20 Block 2 standard. This upgrade greatly increases both Gripen's combat and communication capabilities, as well as access to a wide range of weapons that can be integrated on Hungarian Air Force Gripen fighters.[47] The cutting edge IRIS-T missile has been also ordered in 2021.[48] Meteor and GBU-49 is planned to be purchased for the Gripen's arsenal. There is a plan to also set up a second fighter squadron, but it has not been confirmed.[49]

  • CZ BREN 2 - standard issue rifle of the Hungarian Armed Forces
    CZ BREN 2 - standard issue rifle of the Hungarian Armed Forces
  • Gripen fighters of Hungary
    Gripen fighters of Hungary
  • Hungarian Lynx IFV
    Hungarian Lynx IFV
  • Hungarian Leopard 2A4
    Hungarian Leopard 2A4
  • Hungarian H145M on exercise
    Hungarian H145M on exercise
  • Hungarian H225M
    Hungarian H225M

Current international missions

The Hungarian Defence Forces currently takes part in the following international missions:[50]

Other missions include: United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, EUNAVFOR MED, MINURSO and EUMM

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hungarian Defence Force.

Citations

  1. ISBN 978-963-09-6494-4
    .
  2. ^ Tarján M., Tamás. "1848. május 16. | A Batthyány-kormány megalapítja a magyar honvédsereget". Rubicon. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  3. ^ HM Igazgatási és Jogi Főosztály, ed. (5 May 1990). "A honvédelmi miniszter 2/1990. (III. 31.) HM rendelete a honvédségi szervezetek elnevezéséről és bélyegzőhasználatáról". Honvédségi Közlöny. 46 (7). Zrínyi Katonai Könyv- és Lapkiadó: 137.
  4. ^ "1990. évi XVI. törvény a Magyar Köztársaság Alkotmányának módosításáról". 1000 év törvényei. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  5. ^ "Error" (PDF).
  6. ^ "2013. évi XCVII. törvény a honvédségi adatkezelésről, az egyes honvédelmi kötelezettségek teljesítésével kapcsolatos katonai igazgatási feladatokról.Zrínyi 2026 is a plan,to enlarge the number military personers to 40.000". CompLex Hatályos Jogszabályok Gyűjteménye. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  7. ISBN 978-963-327-490-3. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 2011-12-17. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  8. ^ "Parliament approved the number of professional military personnel of the Hungarian Defence Forces". honvedelem.hu. Archived from the original on 2021-11-06.
  9. ^ "About Hungary - Hungary to increase its military reserves to 20,000 by 2026". 2 October 2017.
  10. ^ IISS 2020, p. 116.
  11. ^ a b "Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky noted that together with the National Defence Fund, the 2024 defence budget passed by the National Assembly includes HUF 1823.1 billion. (1823.1 / 348.9 (USD/HUF exch. rate) = $5.23 billion". 18 Jan 2024.
  12. ^ Stockholm International Peace Research Institute: Military Expenditure Database, sipri.org, Accessed 18 July 2020 (Download data for all countries from 1949 to 2019 as an Excel spreadsheet.)
  13. ^ IISS 2020, p. 115.
  14. ^ "Hungary Focuses on Military Improvement to Meet NATO Requirements". hungarytoday.hu. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  15. ^ "Revised Hungarian IT Security Policy". National Cyber Security Center. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  16. ^
    ISBN 0-517-54478-4
  17. ^ "Honvédelmi közlöny" [National defense bulletin] (PDF). Honvédelmi közlöny (in Hungarian) (Ministry of Hungarian Defence Forces): 1050–1051. 7 September 2021.
  18. ISBN 978-1-4728-1026-7
    .
  19. ^ Rothenburg, G. The Army of Francis Joseph. West Lafayette: Purdue University Press, 1976. p 29.
  20. ^ Rothenburg 1976, p. 32-33.
  21. ^ Rothenburg 1976, p. 35.
  22. ^ Rothenburg 1976, p. 75-76.
  23. ^ Rothenburg 1976, p. 77.
  24. ^ Rothenburg 1976, p. 78.
  25. ^ Rothenburg 1976, p. 85.
  26. ^ a b Rothenburg 1976, p. 136.
  27. ^ Rothenburg 1976, p. 173.
  28. ^ Rothenburg 1976, p. 218.
  29. ^ "Magyar Tudomny 2000. janur". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  30. ^
    ISBN 0-517-54478-4
  31. ^ Page 182, The Decline and Fall of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, Hans Dollinger, Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 67-27047
  32. ^ Page 298, The Decline and Fall of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, Hans Dollinger, Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 67-27047
  33. ^ a b Lendvai, Paul (2008). One Day That Shook the Communist World: The 1956 Hungarian Uprising and Its Legacy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton UP.
  34. ^ "Sweden, Hungary Extend Gripen Lease – Defense Update". defense-update.com. February 2012.
  35. ^ "About Hungary - PM Orbán: Importance should be placed on integrating Balkan countries into NATO". abouthungary.hu. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  36. ^ "Defence Minister: security situation deteriorating, Hungary faces multiple threats". portfolio.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  37. ^ "Hungary orders 20 H145Ms". 28 October 2021.
  38. ^ "Hungary orders 16 H225M multi-role helicopters". 28 October 2021.
  39. ^ "Páncéltörő-rendszerváltás (article in Hungarian)". 12 September 2019.
  40. doi:10.32567/hm.2020.1.3
    .
  41. ^ "Rheinmetall to Manufacture Main Armament, Hulls for Hungary's Self-Propelled Howitzers & Battle Tanks". www.defenseworld.net. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  42. ^ "Hungary Signs for Two KC-390 Tanker/Transports".
  43. ^ "Hungary selects Kongsberg and Raytheon Missiles & Defense for Medium Range Air Defense". www.kongsberg.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  44. ^ "Rheinmetall and IAI/ELTA to supply Hungary with advanced radar systems".
  45. ^ "Földközeli célok ellen". 7 March 2017.
  46. ^ "Hungary buys Israeli rockets". 19 July 2021.
  47. ^ "JANES - Hungary to upgrade Gripens".
  48. ^ "Hungary to Acquire IRIS-T Air-to-Air Missiles". 21 December 2021.
  49. ^ "Új Gripeneket vásárolhat Magyarország, de még az is lehet, hogy annál valami sokkal jobb jön".
  50. ^ "2020/62. Current Foreign Military Missions of the Hungarian Defence Forces" (pdf) (in Hungarian). 2020-10-02. Retrieved 2021-02-18.

References

Further reading

  • Matei, Florina Cristiana. "The impact of NATO membership on military effectiveness: Hungary" In The Routledge handbook of civil-military relations, pp. 219–231. Routledge, 2013.
  • Martinusz, Zoltan. "Defense Reform in Hungary: A Decade of Strenuous Efforts and Missed Opportunities." in Gyarmati & Winkler, eds., Post-Cold War Defense Reform: Lessons Learned in Europe and the United States (2002).

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hungarian_Defence_Forces&oldid=1215541419"