Heading for the distant Don front in Russia, a Hungarian  military unit gathers for departure at the railroad station of the town of Tata located in western Hungary. The photo reveals an atmosphere of nervous tension as the soldiers, their relatives, and station personnel hurry about or stand around uncertainly prior to an imminent departure filled with dark forebodings.

Troop Train Departure, Tata, Hungary, 1942

Mixed emotions are revealed on the faces of a small group of Tata residents saying good-bye's  at the local railroad station. The soldier on our left seems stoic about the event, the young lady at the middle, perhaps a sweetheart or wife, is uncertain about her true feelings, while a typical country old lady on our right, most likely a mother, knowing clearly the full meaning of the moment, stands in the dejected melancholy shown by so many of the women left behind in those tragic years of WW2. 

Expressive Faces in Tata, Hungary, 1942

Karoly TAKACS (Taa-kaach) was born at Budapest and joined the Hungarian army during the 1930’s, rising to the rank of sergeant.  Soon an expert pistol shooter, he anticipated participation in the 1936 Olympics at Berlin, but current upper-crust inspired Hungarian regulations excluded non-commissioned officers from the team. During 1938, a malfunctioning grenade exploded in his right hand and he lost the use of his shooting right arm.

Determined and persistent, Sergeant Takacs went on to relearn handling a pistol with his left hand and arm, surprising everyone by soon winning additional national pistol shooting championships. In fact, at the 1948 London Olympics, he won a gold medal in the 25 meter rapid fire pistol competition, repeating the same accomplishment at Helsinki in 1952.

Serving as a national inspiration during the gloomy postwar years, Takacs died in 1976 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
