Ancestor Photos

Machine gun instruction

J. Szabo

My father, Szabo Jozsef (1903-1989), sitting behind the machine gun, shown on this 1934 photo, as he instructs a group of honveds (Royal Hungarian soldiers) the use of the weapon. His rank (3 white stars on a plain collar patch) of buck sergeant (szakaszvezeto) is clearly visible. The soldier, third from the left is the next highest ranking (1 star), a private first class (orvezeto). All the others are honved (privates or recruits). - My father would reach the rank of master sergeant (fotorzsormester) till the end of the war. After that, he left the military for good. He was not asked nor had the desire to serve in the new (communist) regime...