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History

The True History of the Order Of Vitéz - Continuation

1. Introduction – The Beginnings  

Decades have passed since the aftermath of the First World War, which ended in defeat for Hungary, followed by the disgraceful Commune. In its wake, Trianon-era Hungary re-established itself as an independent and sovereign state, forming its national institutions. The circumstances are well-known: the economy of a nation drained to its limits during the war lay in ruins, further exacerbated by the bourgeois revolution, the Soviet Republic, and the Treaty of Trianon, which placed two-thirds of the country under foreign control, pushing Hungary to the brink of collapse. The political parties in the new parliament recognised that the dire situation could only be addressed through strong leadership, though opinions varied on which level of governance should hold the power. Some advocated for a strong government, others preferred parliamentary control, while a significant group of politicians supported the leadership of then-Minister of War, Rear Admiral vitez Miklós Horthy, concentrating authority in his hands. The result was a compromise: Miklós Horthy became Regent, albeit without actual governing power, as neither the government nor the parliament could govern or legislate without consultation with the Regent. There was consensus among the three branches of state power—the Regent, the parliament, and the government—that soldiers who had distinguished themselves through acts of heroism during the war and under the communist dictatorship, as well as the widows and orphans of fallen heroes, should receive material and moral recognition as compensation for their immense suffering and losses. The Commune revealed the vast hunger for land among the destitute peasantry, and it was clear that the era of medieval-style large estates had ended. Land reform was inevitable if the new government intended to establish a governance structure based on societal agreement. Rewarding war heroes with land had deep roots in Hungarian history. During the First World War, two decrees were issued mandating land grants to the relatives of fallen soldiers and those honoured for their bravery, provided they were of peasant origin and sufficient state land was available. During the bourgeois revolution of 1918, land reform was already announced, initially involving voluntary land offers and later the expropriation of land above a specified size, with compensation. The civilian government established in 1919/1920 regarded it as a priority to enact a land reform law that would appease the dissatisfied peasant masses, reward those recognised for their wartime heroism, align these groups with the government’s interests, and, at the same time, avoid excessively harming the landowners whose support underpinned the government’s power. To achieve this, it was crucial to secure the support of the officer corps and the armed forces. As vitez Miklós Horthy, then Minister of War, was a keen supporter of a reasonable land reform, Prime Minister Count Pál Teleki invited Horthy to chair the committee tasked with drafting the reform. Horthy accepted the position with enthusiasm. Under his chairmanship, the committee, composed of experts from various ministries, formulated the framework of the new legislation, which was finalised by Andor Börcsök, Chief Counsellor of the Ministry of Justice. Meanwhile, in March 1920, Horthy was elected Regent by parliament but continued to fulfil his role as chairman of the committee. The Regent, the Prime Minister, and the experts involved in drafting the legislation agreed that, given the circumstances, it would be more expedient to implement the new measures via a prime ministerial decree. Drafting a law would take longer and might require accepting parliamentary amendments contrary to the original objectives. The government was authorised to regulate by decree under Act VI of 1920, which extended the period of exceptional powers for one year from the signing of the peace treaty. In this context, the prime ministerial decree 6650/1920 M.E., “On the Granting and Establishment of Vitez Land,” was issued on 10 August 1920. The drafters of the decree were aware that it was only a temporary measure, valid for the duration of the exceptional powers. Consequently, the legislature maintained the decree in its entirety without amendment under Section 77 of Act XXXVI of 1920. The relevant section states: “The provisions concerning military deeds and war leases (Decree 1820/1917 M.E.), as well as those supplementing private law rules on immovable property (Decree 4420/1918 M.E.), and finally the provisions on vitez land (Decree 6650/1920 M.E.), shall remain in force. However, the provisions of this Act concerning indivisible family estates shall also apply to military deeds.” These legal regulations provided the Order of Vitez with a lawful foundation for its operation.

2. The Foundation and Development of the Order

From 1920 to 15 October 1944 The Prime Ministerial Decree on the granting of "vitez" plots was published in Issue 198 of the Budapest Gazette on 11 August 1920. Following this, the Vitez Seat was able to commence its official operations. The government supported its Decree No. 6650/1920, specifically Paragraph 12, with several ministerial decrees. Upon careful examination of the relevant decrees, it becomes evident that none of them mention the establishment of an "Order of Vitez" by the government. For historical accuracy, it must be stated that no decree or law was enacted to establish the Order of Vitez. Any documents or statements claiming that the Regent or the Hungarian legislature founded the Order of Vitez are simply untrue. The truth is that Miklós Horthy, the Regent of Hungary, and the then government, led by Count Pál Teleki, entrusted the Vitez Seat—established in accordance with the provisions of the decree regulating the granting of "vitez" plots—with the implementation of the legal framework. This new organisation was vested with official authority. At its third meeting in November 1920, the Vitez Seat decided to refer to the community of inducted "vitez" members and the members of the Vitez Seat as the "Order of Vitez." For the sake of precision, the relevant section of the decree establishing the Vitez Seat is quoted below: "Acting Bodies. Paragraph 10. Supervision over "vitez" plots and their owners, the direction and monitoring of public service obligations, and the cultivation of discipline, patriotic sentiment, and solidarity shall be ensured through the establishment of appropriate bodies. At the head of the organisation stands the President of the Vitez Seat. The President of the Vitez Seat shall be elected by its members. The term of office of the elected President is for life. Until the President is elected, the duties of the presidency shall be performed by a delegate of the Head of State. The same applies in cases where the elected President is permanently unable to perform their duties. Members of the Vitez Seat: Representatives of the Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Defence, and Minister of Justice; The Executive Director of the National Association of Hungarian Land Credit Institutions; Eight members appointed by the Head of State. These appointed members are also entitled to the rights associated with "vitez" plots. If an appointed member ceases to be a member of the Vitez Seat due to death or other reasons, the President of the Vitez Seat shall appoint a replacement from among three candidates proposed by the remaining members of the Vitez Seat by majority vote. The details of the organisation, the rules of procedure of the Vitez Seat, and the extent to which its tasks may be delegated to subordinate bodies shall be determined by regulations prepared with the consent of the Vitez Seat." The referenced decree and the law affirming it only provided for the establishment of the Vitez Seat to this extent, and as can be seen, there is no mention of the Order of Vitez. The organisational regulations approved at the third meeting of the Vitez Seat in November 1920 stated that the Vitez Organisation consisted of "vitez" members and the governing "vitez" bodies. These governing bodies included: the Chief Captain of "vitez" members, their deputy, the Vitez Seat, the Main Authority, the Executive Chief Captain, the County Vitez Seats, eight Vitez District Seats, and their leaders. The organisational regulations defined the authority of the National Vitez Seat as follows: "The National Vitez Seat, as a special-purpose official body of the Hungarian state, is the supreme governing, supervisory, and decision-making authority of the Order of Vitez." At its first meeting, the Vitez Seat elected Miklós Horthy, the Regent of Hungary, as its President. Subsequently, under the organisational regulations adopted at the third meeting, he was given the title "Chief Captain of the Order of Vitez." The Deputy Chief Captain was vitez Antal Hellebronth, a retired general, while the Executive Chief Captain was vitez Géza Hegyesy of Igmánd, then a lieutenant colonel and commander of the royal bodyguard. The actual leadership of the Order of Vitez was concentrated in his hands, while the Regent received a five-minute weekly audience to discuss matters of the Order. Under the National Vitez Seat, seven departments were established: Theoretical, organisational, personnel, and administrative affairs; Theoretical issues related to "vitez" plots and the "vitez" agricultural training school; Settlement matters; Legal and land registry affairs; Applications and personal matters of officers and enlisted personnel; War medal application processing; National defence and propaganda; Asset management and financial affairs; Operations of the Order of Vitez. The Main Authority of the Order of Vitez oversaw two departments: Agricultural administrative and budgetary affairs; "Vitez" member and plot records, auxiliary office. In each county, a County Vitez Seat was established, officially named, for example, "Baranya County Vitez County Seat." The head of each county seat was the County Vitez Seat Captain. In districts, the Order was represented by a "vitez" lieutenant, and in municipalities by a "vitez" sergeant. Under the foundational decree, the Head of State could delegate eight members to the Vitez Seat, who became the District Captains. Consequently, the country was divided into eight Vitez District Seats, each headed by a District Captain. Each District Captaincy covered 3-4 counties. Within the District Seats, departments similar to the central organisation were established to carry out substantive work. The District Captain was assisted by a subordinate District Seat Holder. There are no records regarding the number of staff employed by the "vitez" bodies, i.e., the number of employees. However, it is certain that all were reserve or active-duty officers/non-commissioned officers. This removed them from the jurisdiction of the Allied Powers' observers, but in case of emergency or an enemy attack, they were available to the army. In 1938, the National Vitez Seat employed 13 active officers and 27 non-commissioned officers. Those eligible to join the Order of Vitez had to possess the decorations specified in the organisational regulations (for enlisted personnel, at least the Large Silver Medal of Bravery), be of impeccable character, morally upright, physically and mentally healthy, and thoroughly Hungarian in sentiment. Applications for membership had to be submitted, and approval was granted by the Vitez Seat. Specific rules governed when members of the armed forces and state employees could apply for admission. During the organisational work, it was decided to design the emblem of the Order of Vitez, symbolising heroic steadfastness and the highest level of sacrifice, to be displayed to society. On 11 December 1920, the Vitez Seat announced a competition for the design of the "vitez" emblem. The competition stipulated: "Only those submissions that express the motif of valour and incorporate a certain Hungarian unity in the emblem will be considered for evaluation." The submissions were judged on 6 February 1921 by a three-member jury, with the personal participation of the Regent. The jury members were Dezső Csánky, Director General of the National Archives; Dr. László Fejérpataki, Director General of the National Museum; and Róbert Nádler, university professor and President of the Association of Artists. The first prize was awarded to József Szilasi, an industrial artist, whose design was implemented by decision of the Vitez Seat. **What symbols are represented in the Vitézi Badge?** The Vitézi Badge takes the form of a shield, symbolising protection and the defence of the homeland. At its centre, the sword represents uncompromising struggle and serves as a tool for achieving victory. The small coat of arms placed on the shield symbolises Hungarian unity. Above it rests the Holy Crown, which signifies the Order's legal foundation and its connection to the Doctrine of the Holy Crown, as well as the Order of Vitez. In the background, the sun's disk radiates its rays over the Holy Crown, symbolising prosperity for the Hungarian plains, represented by the wheat sheaf depicted on the shield. Oak leaves on the shield further symbolise the reward for those who heroically defend the homeland. It is no exaggeration to state that the badge is one of the most beautiful and expressive emblems. Based on the Vitézi Badge, the "Certificate of Honour" and the "Vitézi Land Grant Charter" were also designed. The appointed candidates were knighted by the Order of Vitez’s Captain-General in a ceremonial event. During the ceremony, a ceremonial sword was placed on their shoulder as the Captain-General proclaimed, "In the name of the Lord of Hosts, I knight you!" (The term "Lord of Hosts" originates from medieval times and refers to God, the supreme deity.) The first knighting ceremony took place on Sunday, 22 May 1921, in the chapel of the Royal Palace dedicated to the Holy Right. On this occasion, eight district captains and 23 other individuals, mostly land-owning vitez, were knighted. The second ceremony followed three months later and was a public event. On 21 August, 61 officers and 143 enlisted personnel were knighted. Subsequent ceremonies were held annually until 1929, and later according to demand. By 1938, the Order of Vitez had 17,000 members, and by 1943, this number grew to 23,000, including independent members and heirs-in-waiting, the latter numbering 7,326. As described, the Vitézi Council served as the organisational body for implementing a minor land reform. The granted lands were known as "Vitézi Land Grants" and ranged in size from 7 to 200 cadastral holds (1 cadastral hold = 5,765 square metres), with the typical size being 15 cadastral holds. The Vitézi Land Grants were established from five sources: voluntary donations, reclassification of private property, land reforms under Act XXXVI of 1920, provisions under Act XXVII of 1936, subsequent land acquisition measures (such as the nationalisation of Jewish properties for creating Vitézi Land Grants), and purchases made from the Order’s funds. Lands obtained through land reform were classified as either redemption-based or compensatory, depending on whether the state acquired them via a one-time property levy or through payment to the owners for the market value of the confiscated lands. The latter were typically granted as long-term leases, while the former required payment obligations. To expedite the establishment of Vitézi Land Grants, on 20 August 1920, the Regent issued a call to the nation’s landowners to donate lands for this purpose. In the first year, landowners transferred 6,520 cadastral holds to the Order of Vitez, from which 500 grants were created for vitez. By 1938, the total area of Vitézi Land Grants amounted to 71,269 cadastral holds, of which 45,000 were acquired through land reform, while the remainder consisted of voluntary donations or newly established grants. The Vitézi Council also managed the affairs of landowners. In 1921, the "Agricultural Cooperative of Vitez" was established to supply vitez with agricultural tools and equipment. Five years later, a farming school was opened in Örkény, operating until the end of World War II and producing many well-trained farmers. The weekly publication *Vitézek és Gazdák* ("Vitez and Farmers") provided agricultural advice and guidance to the land-owning vitez. The "Zrínyi" group of the Order of Vitez, composed mainly of relatives and heirs-in-waiting, catered to the cultural needs of members by organising lectures, choirs, and other activities, as well as publishing materials. Over the years, the Order developed into a functional organisation, greatly aided by the social support it received from political authorities. By 1944, ten Vitézi District Councils operated across the country. Six were headquartered in Buda within the Royal Palace, while the seventh was located in the Governor’s Palace in Ungvár. The eighth was in Kolozsvár, the ninth in Sepsiszentgyörgy, and the tenth in Marosvásárhely, housed in the County Hall.

3. The Second World War

In the years preceding the Second World War, the political and military landscape of Europe underwent fundamental changes with the consolidation of power by Germany and Italy under the fascist and Nazi regimes. The democratic nations of Europe, led by the British Empire, sought to avoid war by granting free rein to the Axis powers, Germany and Italy. Seizing this opportunity, these powers occupied and subjugated numerous countries under various pretexts, thereby redrawing the map of Europe. The Hungarian government also took advantage of the situation, asserting its claims to Hungarian-inhabited territories that had been detached under the Treaty of Trianon. Thus, on 2 November 1938, the so-called "First Vienna Award" was concluded, under which the Hungarian army entered the Felvidék region (currently the southern, Hungarian-inhabited strip of Slovakia). In March 1939, a territorial dispute arose between Hungary and Czechoslovakia, culminating in the Hungarian army occupying Carpathian Ruthenia (now the Transcarpathian region of Ukraine) between 14 and 18 March. The Second Vienna Award granted Northern Transylvania and Székely Land to Hungary, and Hungarian troops entered Transylvania in August 1940. In March 1940, the German government decided to occupy Yugoslavia to secure the safe transportation of crude oil from Romanian oil fields. In preparation for these operations, Germany involved the Hungarian government and offered the annexation of parts of the southern regions (Délvidék) to Hungary. Despite a friendship and non-aggression treaty with Yugoslavia, Hungary, yielding to external pressure, declared war on Yugoslavia and occupied Bácska and the Baranya Triangle. The breach of treaty was considered such a disgrace by Hungarian Prime Minister Count Pál Teleki that he took his own life in the early hours of 11 April. On the same morning, Hungarian troops crossed the Yugoslav border. During the recapture of the southern regions, regrettably, military abuses occurred. In Újvidék, hundreds of mostly innocent people were executed on the frozen Danube, without the knowledge or consent of the Hungarian government. The organisers of these atrocities were members of the Order of Vitéz, specifically Colonels Feketehalmi and Grassy, who fled to the Germans to evade legal accountability. They later played a significant role in the Szálasi coup and subsequent takeover on 15 October 1944. According to current knowledge, the Vitézi Szék (Council of the Order) did not initiate disciplinary proceedings against them nor expelled them from the Order. Our country continued to drift further into the war alongside Germany, declaring war on the Soviet Union on 27 June 1941, and later on Britain and the United States in 1943. Hungarian troops participated in the war until 4 April 1945, when the Soviet army occupied the entire country, bringing immense destruction, suffering, and misery, followed by 45 years of occupation. In this war, brought upon the nation by a series of misguided political decisions, Hungarian soldiers, regardless of their political views or convictions, fought honourably and heroically, true to their oaths. Many of them earned high honours, which justly entitled them to apply for membership in the Order. Although no formal investiture ceremonies had taken place since 1938, new members were still admitted. Initially, this included those decorated during the First World War who lived in the re-annexed territories, and later, the military heroes of the Second World War. However, it was not possible for all eligible decorated individuals to apply for admission, as the Order’s activities effectively ceased with the German occupation, the Arrow Cross regime, and the subsequent Soviet occupation. During the bombings, the Order’s central headquarters on Üllői Road was struck and virtually destroyed. The entire archive, artefacts, and all previously safeguarded documents were lost in the fire.

4. The End of the War, the German and Arrow Cross Occupation

This chapter of the Order’s history requires special attention, as even 60 years after the events, recalling these memories still stirs controversy depending on where individuals endured the war’s end and where their fate led them. However, facts remain facts, and these events must be presented to posterity in their true light, even if it proves uncomfortable for some. First among these is the Vitéz Oath, which every member of the Order had to swear, as follows: *"I swear by the living God that I shall remain loyal unto death to His Excellency vitéz Miklós Horthy of Nagybánya, Regent of Hungary and Captain General of the Vitéz Order."* Unfortunately, many inducted members of the Order violated this solemn oath. Some entered the service of the Germans, evaded accountability by fleeing, or succumbed to the allure of national socialist or Arrow Cross ideologies, joining the ranks of this rabble. Others were deceived by German propaganda promising an imminent "Final Victory" and turned away from the Captain General, breaking their oath and becoming traitors. Following the Arrow Cross coup, on 17 October, a notice signed by the "Supreme Council of the Order of Vitéz" was published in newspapers, calling on members to swear allegiance to Szálasi and faithfully serve his regime. Several members of the Order participated in overthrowing the Regent’s authority and played roles in the German and Arrow Cross leadership. Compiling their data and detailing their crimes requires further research and exceeds the scope of this writing. For the sake of education, albeit without claiming completeness, a few names must be mentioned, as these individuals later played significant roles in the Order’s life. For instance, the conduct of Archduke Joseph of Habsburg was objectionable. He remained a rival and adversary of Horthy, resenting that he had not been appointed Regent. In 1919, he greeted the communist leader Béla Kun with as much enthusiasm as he later welcomed Szálasi following his seizure of power. In exile, he became the first Captain General of the Order. vitéz Ferenc Farkas of Kisbarna, Lieutenant General, outwardly appeared to be a fervent supporter of the Regent but accepted the position of President of the People’s Tribunal (the Arrow Cross court) under Szálasi’s government. Reliable records indicate that in this role, he judged several high-ranking officers who had been privy to the Regent’s plans for Hungary’s withdrawal from the war. v. Farkas Ferenc later became the second Captain General of the Order in exile. The third Captain General was v. Archduke Joseph Árpád of Habsburg (until 1993), who was appointed Grand Master to allow his deputy to advance. The fourth Captain General, v. Antal Radnóczy (Riedl), a General Staff Captain (and later, under the Horn government, a rehabilitated Brigadier General), was also a fervent Arrow Cross collaborator. Serving in the General Staff’s personnel department, he became its head under Szálasi. It is well-documented and corroborated by witnesses that, following the coup, he provided sensitive and confidential materials to the Germans. Until the war’s end, he remained in the General Staff, serving Beregffy, the Arrow Cross Minister of Defence, with utmost loyalty. In exile, he aligned with Western intelligence services and became a key figure in organisations that sent "spies" to Hungary, many of whom ended up in prison or on the gallows. Among other notable leaders of the Order, Dr. v. Czanik, a former advisor to Eichmann, served as Chief Captain and Prosecutor of the Order until his death in 1992. Additionally, v. Gyula Detre (former commander of Szálasi’s bodyguard) and v. Domonkos Ladányi, both prominent Arrow Cross figures, remain Chief Captains of the Order to this day. These are but a few examples of individuals who violated their oath to Horthy, only to later rejoin the Order he founded, securing high positions for themselves. This, too, is part of the Order’s history. The majority of the Order ceased significant activities following the German occupation. Many members resigned their positions in protest and withdrew into quiet resistance. Some took up armed resistance and paid with their lives, while others faced imprisonment or deportation to concentration camps. It falls to the next generation to gather, organise, and document the fates of those members who suffered injustice for upholding their oath. A still-debated issue, if one may call it a fact, is determining who acted correctly: those who continued fighting after Horthy’s proclamation or those who surrendered or even sided with the enemy (the Soviets). Both camps present numerous arguments to justify their positions, and we believe the question cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. History will likely not draw the line of right and wrong here, as we are convinced that both sides included many well-intentioned, honourable individuals. We accept, and encourage others to accept, Horthy’s view on this matter: absolving the officer corps of the charge of oath-breaking while condemning those who initiated, prepared, and executed Szálasi’s coup, as well as those who held leadership positions under the Arrow Cross regime, as oath-breakers and treacherous murderers until their dying day. To maintain the internal peace and unity of the Order of Vitéz, this principle must be accepted. Indeed, it seems prudent for the Supreme Council of the Order to eventually issue a resolution to this effect, thereby bringing an end to decades of debate.

5. The Post-War Period up to 1989

5.a. The Order of Vitez in Hungary During the lean years following the war, people were preoccupied with securing their daily bread, and it was only after 1946, prior to the first elections, that a few individuals considered the idea of reorganizing the Order. Many hoped that the Soviet occupation would not last forever, and some even trusted in the intervention of the Western powers. The results of the 1947 election, which brought a landslide victory for the Smallholders' Party, fueled these hopes. However, the Communist Party, relying on the occupying forces, steadily consolidated its power through both legal and illegal means and maintained control over the armed forces and other instruments of power. After 1948, it became evident that Hungary was implementing a Soviet-style dictatorship, and the withdrawal of Soviet troops seemed increasingly unlikely. Rumor had it that the occupation would be long-term, similar to the Turkish occupation. During this period, the vitez became the hated targets of state power. Most were imprisoned, interned, deported, or moved to forced residences on fabricated charges. While most vitez kept track of their fellow Order members living nearby, there was no organizing due to fears of betrayal. Nevertheless, when possible, many helped each other with job placements, medical care, hospital treatments, obtaining identity documents, and so on. The 1956 revolution and freedom fight carried the hope of national independence for many, but after 2-3 weeks, it became clear that other forces were at work behind the scenes, and our fight for freedom was doomed to fail. Those living and working near our eastern border at the time could observe that the influx of Soviet troops began as early as October 27. There was an opportunity to monitor the roads being used for troop movements, and fairly accurately estimate the number of incoming soldiers and their probable operational objectives. As a result, many members of the Order could be protected from getting involved in major conflicts. During the years of retribution following the revolution, no one dared to start organizing due to the high number of fatalities. It was only after the economic reform in 1968 that the grip of power slightly loosened. By this time, workplaces had been established where those branded by the regime, including the vitez, could be employed without harassment. Concurrently, a network of like-minded individuals willing to assist those in distress developed. Travel opportunities abroad increased, and for instance, the introduction of private passports with service exit permits allowed those who would otherwise not have received passports to travel to Western countries. Despite the prohibitions and surveillance, connections with the Hungarian diaspora in the West were established, and the fact that the Order of Vitez had reorganized there became known. Some clandestinely contacted the reestablished Order in the West, and by the end of the period, several requested to join or be reintegrated into the membership. However, no legally operating organizational form was established. 5.b. The Emigration of the Order of Vitez Many sought refuge in the West from the occupying Soviet forces, and the number of those who did not return home but chose to settle in another country amounts to hundreds of thousands. Thus, the vitez who fled to the West were also scattered across the world and can be found on all five continents. A significant number of vitez ended up in the West, some as prisoners of the Arrow Cross or the Germans, others as refugees. This group includes individuals who retreated with military units or were relocated to the West. The head of the Order, the country's former governor, lived under house arrest with his family in Germany as a prisoner of the Germans; his son was interned in a German concentration camp along with many vitez who were involved in the attempted coup, but this could not be proven against them. Those who were involved were executed by the Germans or the Arrow Cross. Most Hungarian refugees gathered in the American and British occupation zones, and those who did not wish to return home waited there for entry permits to their chosen country. Many intended to settle in Germany. After 1948, it became clear to everyone that the Western powers could not coexist peacefully with the Soviet state striving for world domination, marking the beginning of the historical period known as the Cold War. This opposition reinforced in former professional officers the belief that the great powers might need them. The extremely harsh living conditions prompted many to offer their military expertise, experience, or information to Western military organisations. Consequently, many became direct or indirect collaborators with Western intelligence and security agencies. The Western intelligence agencies had relatively little information about what was happening in the Soviet-occupied territories, so after 1948, they sent scouts directly and indirectly through or embedded in the Hungarians who joined them, into the occupied countries. Taking advantage of the political situation and relying on the intelligence agencies of the Western occupying forces, in many cases at their initiative, Hungarian military resistance organisations were formed with the declared aim of fighting by all means for Hungary's liberation. In reality, these were merely branches of the intelligence agencies at that time. This context explains why, by the end of 1950, the opinion emerged among former Hungarian officers living in Bavaria that the Order of Vitez should be reorganised. It is known that Horthy was already living at his permanent residence in Portugal during this period (since December 1948), yet he remained in continuous contact with his former followers. An example of this is a letter he wrote on 30 September 1952 to v. kisbarnaki Farkas Ferenc, with a copy to Zákó András Major General, the last head of VKF.II. (counter-espionage), and future leader of the organising M.H.B.K. (Association of Hungarian Warriors Comrades). This letter, conveyed by v. Halmai Jenő, a former staff captain, is known to us through his signed letter kept with us. According to this, "The Governor hears from General Hennyei that v. Farkas Lt. General is organising the emigrant vitez. Without the examination bodies for vitez eligibility, this is impossible, and therefore the Governor prohibits the organisation in emigration. At most, there can only be vitez comradeship circles!" In response to the Governor's letter, the organisation of the Order of Vitez ceased. Only later, in 1956, did Horthy consider appointing his successor in the event of his death. In his letter to General Hennyey on 7 May, he stated: "I wish to inform you that I accept your proposal, thus appointing General v. Sónyi as Deputy Chief Captain. He should be assisted by General v. Benkő Béla, with whom I have been in contact and who knows the affairs of the Order best. He should report directly to me henceforth." However, General v. Sónyi was unable to fulfil the high appointment as he fell ill, returned the commission to Horthy via his son, and soon passed away. Let us recall just one sentence from this famous letter of commission, which precisely reflected Horthy's last will: "The Order of Vitez has a mission in building the new Hungarian future." And elsewhere: "The Order of Vitez is not just a beautiful historical memory but, with the unified strength of patriotic virtues, it is destined to show direction, an enduring reality." It is hard to imagine anyone expressing the essence and future task of the Order more beautifully and succinctly. The commission letter by General v. Sónyi does not contain any authorisation or hint that Horthy, having changed his previous intention and will, gave permission for the organisation of the Order in emigration or generally in territories outside the Hungarian borders. Seven months after the cited letter exchange, on 9 February 1957, the flame of his life was extinguished forever. vitez nagybányai Horthy Miklós, former governor and Chief Captain of the Order of Vitez, passed away. Based on the available documents, it is clear that from that point onwards, Horthy's legacy, the Order of Vitez, fundamentally changed. The previously submissive, small-minded but ambitious individuals suddenly emerged from hiding and, despite all prohibitions, began rebuilding the Order of Vitez to practically achieve their selfish goals. Under the leadership of General Farkas Ferenc (whom Horthy prohibited from organising in 1952) and with the clerical assistance of Captain v. Radnóczy Antal, they began registering the vitez living in the West already in 1957. During this process, they managed to gather 248 addresses, which does not mean that this many people applied, but rather that the organisers collected this many addresses based on applications or reports by others, assuming or knowing that these individuals were vitez. On 23 October 1958, a circular letter signed by v. kisbarnaki Farkas Ferenc and v. Justhy Emil was issued to the former members of the Order's Council, i.e., to the received addresses, inviting every vitez to a consultation in Vienna in the spring of 1959 for the revival of the Order and the election of officers. At the meeting, it was recorded in writing that the three remaining Chief Captains of the Order, namely General v. Magyarossy Sándor, Colonel v. Oszlányi Kornél, and General v. Benkő Béla, did not attend the conference and stated that they did not wish to participate in this organisation. It is particularly noteworthy that General v. Benkő Béla, who was Horthy's confidant in the Order's affairs and an active leader of the Order, refused to join, considering it illegal and contrary to orders. Many were deterred from attending the Vienna meeting by the fact that many of the organisers were known Arrow Cross members or sympathisers. The exact number of members who gathered in Vienna is not known, but it is known that General v. Farkas Ferenc received the most votes in the officer election, precisely 93. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that the number of attendees was below 120. The attendees elected the 15-member Council of the Order, whose Chief Captain was vitez Habsburg-Lorraine Joseph, Archduke [2], with Deputy Chief Captain vitez kisbarnaki Farkas Ferenc [3] (head of the Arrow Cross Court of Accountability), prosecutor v. Czanik, advisor to Eichmann, and members v. Radnóczy, v. Detre, v. Ladányi, etc., who were Arrow Cross or Arrow Cross sympathisers. The newly elected members of the Council of the Order held their first meeting on 10 September 1960 in Regensburg, chaired by the elected Chief Captain v. Joseph, Archduke. At this meeting, several important decisions were made that had an impact on the future of the Order. We briefly interrupt the description of the history of the Order here with a note. Examining the events from a distance of forty-five years, it must be stated that the reorganisation of the Order of Vitez in Germany was illegal and irregular, but despite this, it was useful for the survival of the Order, for the unity of its members, and thus indirectly for the cohesion of the Hungarians living in emigration. It was illegal because the organisation took place despite the Chief Captain's prohibition and because the laws concerning the establishment and operation of the Order, as well as the instructions contained in the regulations, were not observed either during the organisation, the admission (enlistment) of members, or the election of leaders. A few people gathered in Vienna, claimed to be vitez, and elected a leadership as if they were members of a social club. They did not even examine who was a traitor, communist, or Arrow Cross member; they simply accepted the applicants. There is also the thought that perhaps, according to Horthy's advice, they only wanted to establish a circle of friends, which is supported by the fact that the newly established organisation was registered in Germany under the name "Order of Vitez Comradeship Circle" and is still listed under this name today. Whether we consider the reorganisation of the Order between 1958-1960 lawful or unlawful, it is not advisable to disturb this matter for the sake of public peace. However, if a dispute arises between the Order's organs and members in Hungary and those living in emigration, continuity and lawful succession must be raised in the spirit of the above. But let us return to the history of our Order. Among the more important decisions made at the meeting held in Regensburg, the one stipulating that the final form of the Order will be decided by the liberated country must be highlighted. This fundamental decision, like many others, was not adhered to in the future, which became the starting point for a chain of conflicts. At this meeting, v. kisbarnaki Farkas Ferenc was confirmed in his position as Deputy Chief Captain. It must be noted here that there are differences regarding v. Farkas Ferenc's rank. Horthy and the officers loyal to him consistently referred to him as "Lieutenant General", while the officers of Szálasi's staff referred to him as "General of the Army". The difference arises from the fact that v. Farkas was appointed General of the Army by Szálasi as a reward for his defection, which the other camp never recognised. Another decision stipulates that from now on, not only the first son but all sons will be recognised as heirs by the Order if they meet the other requirements imposed on members. Finally, a decision was made to expand the Order's ranks with those who participated in the national resistance against foreign rule, risking their lives, meaning those who demonstrated heroic behaviour during the 1956 revolution or proved their loyalty to the nation at the risk of their lives. The amended regulations can be found in two publications, namely the "Appendix to the Vitez Primer" published in 1962 and the "Organisational Regulations of the Order of Vitez in Exile" published in 1965. At the meeting, the presiding v. Joseph, Archduke, promised to have the Order of Vitez registered in the register of chivalric orders through his connections. The attendees agreed with this idea, as they believed that the relatively unknown "Order of Vitez" would gain greater recognition if it appeared before international public opinion as a chivalric order. The International Genealogical and Heraldic Congress held in Edinburgh in 1962 accepted the application of the Order of Vitez and entrusted a committee formed from its members with the right to admit it. Thus, the International Commission of Chivalric Orders, which was formed, decided on the admission, and published it in its official publication in 1964. For the sake of historical accuracy and for posterity, it must be pointed out that the bodies mentioned in the previous paragraph are not official institutions but voluntary organisations established and maintained by former royal and archducal families. Several similar organisations exist, each created by communities of different families, and some families are members of more than one organisation. The Habsburg family members are members of this Genealogical Society, and therefore v. Joseph, Archduke, relatively easily achieved the admission of the Order of Vitez, which he supported and led, into this society. The falsity lies in the registration, as the Order was registered not by its real name but as the "Chivalric Order of Vitez" with its establishment dated to 1920. According to the registration, the "Chivalric Order" was created by royal decree or law, which is again not true, because as we saw in the historical retrospective, the Order of Vitez was created not by legislation but by a committee decision (see the third Council meeting decision, November 1920). Finally, the Habsburg family, specifically v. Joseph Árpád, Royal Prince, was registered as the "Grand Master", although this title was only established at the Council Meeting held in Munich in 1993. All things considered, it is a great honour for the Order that such significant families have commemorated it with recognition, but by considering us knights, the Order of Vitez itself did not become a chivalric order, as its material conditions do not exist. This circumstance is confirmed by later events as well. vitez Habsburg-Lorraine Joseph, Archduke [2], did not live to see the knightly recognition, passing away in 1962 at the age of 90. His successor, elected at the convened Council meeting, was vitez kisbarnaki Farkas Ferenc [3] Lt. General, who became the new Chief Captain of the Order. The new Chief Captain led the Order for 15 years, during which it further strengthened in numbers and spirit. The dedication of the members made it possible for the newspaper "Vitez Bulletin", founded in 1972, to be published twice a year, later supplemented by the "Vitez Journal". The Order of Vitez published the "Pictorial Chronicle of the Royal Hungarian Armed Forces" in 1977, which further united former soldiers in emigration. At its 1976 meeting, the Council of the Order adopted and enacted the "Order's Codex", which regulated organisational life more strictly than before. According to the justification at the time, the term "Codex" was used because chivalric orders also call their operating regulations by this name. Chief Captain v. kisbarnaki Farkas Ferenc resigned from his position in 1977 at the age of 85. His successor was vitez Habsburg Joseph Árpád, Royal Prince, born in 1933, [4] with v. Radnóczy Antal as his deputy. In 1981, to commemorate the first ceremonial vitez induction, the "60th Anniversary and Memorial Cross" was established, an honour that could be awarded not only to vitez but also to individuals who performed outstanding national service. A year later, in 1982, the idea of establishing the National Defence Section arose, intended to significantly increase the number of the Order's members. Many objections were raised against the proposal, pointing out the danger of diluting the Order and fearing a loss of prestige. Due to the manifested resistance, the proposal was taken off the agenda, and the Council meeting decided that a detailed draft should be prepared on the topic. When this draft was completed, the members of the Council were not convened for a decision, but the matter was decided by a six-member committee. In the meantime, Deputy Chief Captain v. Radnóczy suggested forming a six-member committee of individuals living in the Munich area for "faster administration" because they could be easily mobilised. This "Six" committee would decide on important matters, and the Council members would later sanction these decisions. Thus, the matter of the National Defence Section was pushed through, which the Council of Elders would never have unanimously approved in an open meeting. The justification at the time was: "With the new section, the main principle is not compromised, as the reward for outstanding armed service remains induction as vitez, and the reward for outstanding national service (performed with intellectual weapons) is admission to the section. Both services serve national defence interests, thus complementing each other." In practice, however, the noble goals were realised differently. Admission to the NDS (National Defence Section) often served individual interests, opening doors to people who later became a burden to the Order. Admission to the NDS was not hindered even if someone was a member of some extremist (Arrow Cross, communist) party; indeed, active communist party members were also admitted to the Order in this way. After 1989, to secure rehabilitation and promotions, v. Radnóczy's suggestion and pressure led to the admission of several high-ranking communist, Moscow-oriented officers to the NDS, in gratitude. Later, tension also arose from the fact that membership in the NDS (National Defence Section) was not inheritable, and many did not want to accept this, leading to conflicts with the Order's leadership. Others used the prefix "vitez" before their names, which was not appropriate for NDS members. Eventually, many became completely indifferent, did not engage in the Order's affairs, did not pay membership fees, and did not perform any work. In summary, with 15 years of experience behind us, we must say that the creation of the NDS was unnecessary and forced at the time.

6. The History of the Order of Vitez after the Regime Change

In 1989, the hope of freedom dawned upon the oppressed peoples of the countries occupied by the Soviets. The economic efforts caused by the Cold War broke the strength and military power of the Soviets. Recognising the situation, Soviet President Gorbachev agreed with American President Reagan on the island of Malta in 1986 that the Soviets would withdraw their troops from the occupied countries of Eastern Europe. The winds of change swept across our country as well, a new state form, a new constitution was born, and parliamentary democracy was established. In this spirit, the II Act of 1989 was born, which once again allowed the formation of social organisations. On 19 August 1991, the President of the Republic of Hungary, Árpád Göncz, received the delegation of the Order of Vitez living abroad, including vitez Habsburg Joseph Árpád [4], vitez Radnóczy Antal [5], Dr. vitez Zsigmond András, vitez Szakály Sándor, and from the I.C.O.C., Lieutenant Colonel Patrick O' Kelly de Conejera, Secretary General. The President of the Republic stated that the Order of Vitez could operate again in Hungary, but only as a social organisation, and it was desirable that the Chief Captain be a person elected under Hungarian laws and living permanently in Hungary. The delegation acknowledged this at the time. Based on this, the Council of the Order, at its meeting in Munich in September 1991, agreed that the Order's organisation in Hungary should be established. This was made possible by the fact that 37 previously inducted vitez had already contacted Munich and were ready to authenticate the reorganisation of the Order with the court. On 3 February 1992, the Metropolitan Court, by its resolution number 6.Pk.68.060/01, registered the social organisation named "Hungarian Chapter of the Order of Vitez" under serial number 4227, represented by László Hingyi and designating his residence as the headquarters. This made it possible for the Order of Vitez to operate legally again in Hungary after 47 years of enforced silence and dispersal, fulfilling the legacy of Governor vitez nagybányai Horthy Miklós, the perpetual Chief Captain of the Order, as well as the resolution of the Regensburg meeting. News of the reorganisation spread quickly, and by June 1992, 45 inducted vitez applied for service alongside the 39 previously inducted vitez who participated in the founding general assembly. In the initial period, those working in the interests of the Order had no title or rank; they were called "Organisers". The Chief Captain entrusted v. László Hingyi with the coordination of the organisers' work, who held this position until 1993. Financial matters were handled by v. Béla Tóth, administration and management by Dr. v. László Szakonyi, to whom Dr. v. Miklós Bercsényi joined in April. Their combined efforts resulted in 106 applications being submitted at the Council Meeting held in Vienna in the summer of 1992, of which 33 requested admission on their own merit. Organising the induction posed a particular challenge. Everyone hoped for a grand, ceremonial induction, but a series of rejections soon led to disappointment. For example, Archbishop László Paskai of Esztergom did not consent to the induction being held in a church in his diocese, and then-Minister of Defence Lajos Für cited the political situation to avoid the request for the ceremony to take place in a military institution. Thus, in a tight spot, everyone enthusiastically accepted the offer of retired General, Canon, and parish priest of Bicske, István Tabódy, to hold the induction in his church in Bicske. Tabódy was on the list of those to be inducted on their own merit, having served as a hussar officer during the war, being wounded twelve times, and spending 18 years in Rákosi's prisons. He was a well-known figure in the country and was a contender for the position of field bishop being established. The first post-war ceremonial induction in Hungary took place on 26 October 1992 in Bicske, in an unforgettable and grand ceremony. The Chief Captain of the Order, vitez Joseph Árpád, Royal Prince [4], conducted the induction, and the solemn mass and sermon were delivered by v. István Tabódy. The induction sword touched the shoulders of those who, during the 47 years of communist dictatorship following 1945, could only consider themselves vitez in their hearts and souls. At this ceremony, v. István Tabódy [6] consecrated the central flag of the Order of Vitez. Many guests attended the ceremony, with representatives from political life, the military, and fraternal orders and organisations. The induction also received significant press coverage, predominantly negative in tone at the time. National television reported on the induction among the news broadcasts. Following the induction, organisational work and the establishment of the organisational life conditions resumed with renewed vigour, leading to the designation and election of the Order's territorial delegates in accordance with the association law's requirements. The truth is that there was no shortage of promises, but the Order received no actual assistance from anyone. After a long period of negotiation, a room was provided at the Institute of Military History, which had previously served as a prison cell, lacking windows or heating, making it unsuitable for work. Thus, everyone worked from home in the interests of the Order. As a result of the intensive work, by the spring of 1993, 250 applications for admission were received, which, after careful verification and assessment, had to be sent to Munich for evaluation. Until 1996, the Hungarian leaders of the Order were not authorised to evaluate the applications; they were judged and archived in Munich. One of the significant events of the year was the unveiling of a memorial plaque in Székesfehérvár on August 19th, in memory of the fallen heroes of the former Royal Hungarian "Saint Stephen" 3rd Infantry Regiment. The solemn event's speaker, vitez Otto Koós, Royal Hungarian captain and rehabilitated major, remembered his former comrades with these words: "Today, we gathered here to remember, pay tribute, and symbolically bury. To remember the regiment that bore the name of our first king and existed for 25 years, whose excellent spirit still lives in this old barracks courtyard. Its motto, to which we still adhere and perhaps the city identifies with, is 'With Saint Stephen, we always stand guard.'... Our regiment unfortunately took a significant part in the war. From October 27, 1941, when the first mobilised unit left its station, until the end of the war, we formed three full and one reduced-strength regiment. It is difficult to determine the exact losses of the regiment, but based on the available incomplete data, the number of our fallen heroes exceeds three thousand. Today, we salute these comrades at their heroic memorial plaque and bow the national and black flag of remembrance, for they sacrificed the most, their lives, in defence of the homeland. Their tragedy continued even after their deaths, as instead of honour, which they deserved through their heroic deaths, they were called a 'fascist horde.'... Hatred, inhumanity, and fanaticism went so far as to remove and destroy the memorial plaques placed on August 15, 1942, listing the names of fallen comrades in the barracks of the battalions... Our old dream is now fulfilled with the establishment of this heroic memorial plaque... Fallen comrades! Let this plaque be your symbolic tombstone, for I know that many heroic cemeteries have been levelled." The 1993 Council Meeting was also organised in Munich, where it was decided to change the admission regulations, deciding that in the future, new members would take an "Oath" instead of a "Pledge." As a result, those to be inducted now swear their commitment on the Holy Crown. The Council Meeting also decided that the first person of the Order would henceforth hold the title of Grand Master, and thus vitez Antal Radnóczy was elevated to Chief Captain [5]. The change was not welcomed by everyone, as many associated the title of Grand Master with Freemasons, not to mention that the Order of Vitez never had a Grand Master. However, most hoped that the chivalric title and the Grand Master title would disarm the left-wing opposition and end the constant press attacks and accusations that the Order was an extreme right-wing organisation. At this meeting, General v. István Tabódy was appointed Deputy Chief Captain, and v. László Hingyi received the title of Senior Captain, allowing the Hungarian organisation to participate in decision-making (2 out of 20 members). At the same meeting, decisions were made regarding Hungarian applications, of which 220 were eventually accepted. The second induction ceremony in Hungary took place in Visegrád on September 12, 1993. A notable aspect of this induction was that for the first time, vitez from abroad were also inducted; previously, non-Hungarian nationals were usually inducted at the same time and place as the Council Meeting. The induction was conducted by Chief Captain v. Antal Radnóczy, attended by over a thousand guests and spectators. Prior to the induction, on September 4, in Kenderes, there was the reburial of the first Chief Captain of the Order, vitez nagybányai Horthy Miklós, former Governor of Hungary. The ceremony mobilised more than a hundred thousand people from all over the country, and many came from abroad. Government members, led by then Prime Minister József Antall, representatives of most political parties and social organisations were present. It should be noted that the Alliance of Former Naval Officers played a significant role financially and organisationally in bringing Horthy's remains home, led by vitez long-distance sea captain András Dávidházy. The Hungarian Chapter of the Order of Vitez was represented at the funeral by an honour guard. Another event in Kenderes linked to the reburial was the unveiling of the Horthy statue, erected with donations from members of the Hungarian Chapter of the Order of Vitez, placed in the garden of the former Horthy mansion. The life-size bronze bust remains the only Horthy statue in Hungary. The monument, which cost nearly half a million forints, was realised because all participants accounted only for material costs and contributed their work free of charge. Erecting the statue required great courage at the time, as there was a risk of attacks, atrocities, and counter-demonstrations. Posthumous thanks go to the sculptor Béla Domonkos, the builder of the foundation Károly Kondor, the mayor Ferenc Baranyai, and László Fehérvári, the director of the agricultural vocational school overseeing the former Horthy mansion, for their courage and multifaceted assistance. The induction, reburial, and statue unveiling ceremonies demonstrated that the Hungarian vitez community, which had grown to over 400 members, could independently and efficiently perform its duties without external help. The large number of applicants suggested that the membership would soon approach three thousand. Therefore, there was an increasing desire among members for the leadership of the Order to relocate entirely to Hungary in the foreseeable future and for the Hungarian members to receive proportional representation in the leadership. By the end of 1993, the number of Hungarian members had already exceeded those living abroad. The year 1994 began with the delegate general meeting held on January 4, where President v. László Hingyi reported on the activities and results of the past two years and announced the leadership's resignation. Following this, the delegates elected vitez István Tabódy [6] as president and adopted the amended bylaws. The new president was officially registered by the Metropolitan Court on February 17, 1994. In January, the country's first "Don Memorial" was unveiled in the courtyard of the Institute of Military History, commemorating the more than one hundred thousand Hungarian soldiers who fell and died in the battles along the Don River. This memorial was also established with funds from the Order of Vitez. Two-thirds of the more than 650 thousand forint cost of the memorial was contributed by vitez living abroad, with no external financial assistance received. We are proud that since its unveiling, an annual military ceremony is held on January 12 at this memorial, where state, military, municipal, and civil organisations, former soldiers and their relatives, and thousands of Hungarians who sympathise with them gather to remember the victims. The number of applicants for admission continued to grow significantly, with more than 500 individuals submitting their applications in the spring of 1994. Processing these applications required enormous effort from all the leaders of the Order, as the available technical and financial resources did not increase. Only the enthusiasm and substantial financial contributions of the leaders enabled continuous and timely work. However, by May, it was possible to send the applications, with recommendations, for evaluation, with the final decisions made at the Council Meeting held in July. On September 10, 1994, the induction ceremony took place in the Votive Church of Szeged, organised with great military and ecclesiastical pomp, where 411 new applicants were inducted as vitez. The religious service was conducted by Endre Gyulay, Bishop of Szeged, who delivered the festive sermon during the mass. The Word was also preached by Dr. István Bartha, Reformed Bishop. Alongside the replica of the Holy Crown, the Crown Guards stood watch in their original ceremonial attire. The 11 Senior Captains were led by Grand Master v. Joseph Árpád, who conducted the induction, and Deputy Chief Captain v. István Tabódy, who administered the oath to the inductees. The presence of nearly 3,200 family members and guests filling the cathedral, along with the presence of the Hungarian Television crew, clearly demonstrated the growing interest in the domestic life and activities of the vitez. Among those present at the induction were Countess Ilona Edelsheim-Gyulai, widow of István Horthy, the President of the Republic, representatives of the Hungarian chivalric orders, the Minister of Defence, the representative of the Minister of the Interior, military attachés, numerous generals and officers. A smaller portion of the domestic press reported the events accurately, but most publications cynically or perplexedly covered the activities of the vitez.

At the Council Meeting held in Kenderes in early September, hired individuals launched a crude, provocative attack against the national Senior Captain. However, all the Senior Captains firmly opposed it and rejected their proposals, also requesting disciplinary action and exclusion. The individuals involved then left the scene. This incident, however, cast a shadow over the meeting, where many previously disputed issues were discussed. The meeting ultimately made unanimous decisions, which were later falsified in the minutes. Most of the decisions made were not implemented by the Grand Captain. It also became clear during the meeting that everyone agreed to accept applicants from beyond the borders, but rejected open organisation due to its danger. At the meeting, the Grand Captain also reported that he had visited Madeira and laid a wreath on the grave of Charles IV on behalf of the Order. As it later emerged, this was done because v. Joseph Árpád made his participation in the Kenderes meeting and the subsequent induction in Debrecen conditional on this act. This announcement caused serious discontent among both the Hungarian and foreign Senior Captains, yet they acknowledged it. Due to the attack on his person, the national Senior Captain requested his dismissal, which the Grand Captain did not accept. Contrary to his previous opinion, the Grand Captain unexpectedly announced at the meeting that he deemed it necessary for the Order to have a Deputy Grand Captain and recommended v. Gusztáv Hellebronth for the position, who was accepted by the participants with four abstentions. Finally, the Council Meeting agreed to appoint three new Senior Captains, giving the Hungarian group of the Order eight Senior Captains, while the foreign group had twelve remaining. During the two-day meeting, the admission of the submitted 650 applicants was approved, and it was decided that in the future, only the applications of heirs needed to be presented for approval to the chairperson of the foreign admission committee, while the Hungarian organisation's admission committee could independently submit the rest of the applications for approval to the Council Meeting. After the two-day meeting, the participants travelled to Debrecen to attend the ceremonial induction. The induction took place on 12 September 1996, in the Great Church of Debrecen, with unprecedented pomp and splendour, attended by more than five thousand spectators. The sermon was delivered by the Reformed bishop, the homily by the Catholic bishop, and welcome speeches were given by the Grand Master and the national Senior Captain. Zita Szeleczky, an actress who had returned from the United States and was admitted to the National Defence Section of the Order of Vitez, recited the poem "Hungarian Creed" with unforgettable emotion. Many came from abroad for the induction, and for the first time, a group of vitez from Transylvania was also inducted. The military band enhanced the ceremonial nature of the event with its music before the ceremony and during the event in the Great Church, with the sound of trumpets filling the ancient walls and making the windows tremble as five thousand people, with tear-filled eyes, sang the Székely Anthem in unison: "Do not let Transylvania perish, our God." The unforgettable and beautiful ceremony was broadcast by all television channels, and the press coverage was very favourable. In addition to the induction, one of the year's outstanding events was the renovation of the memorial to vitez General Károly Csörgey and his comrades in Várpalota, unveiled on 29 September with military honours, attended by the Ministry of Defence and numerous social organisations. The tension between the Hungarian leaders of the Order and Grand Captain v. Radnóczy did not ease after the Council Meeting and the induction but worsened. It began with the newly appointed Deputy Grand Captain's authority being restricted only to Hungary and not being involved in matters affecting the entire Order. Efforts were made to obscure the investigation and disciplinary action decided upon against the troublemakers at the Council Meeting, and the production and distribution of publications previously appearing in Munich and funded by the central treasury were shifted to the Hungarian organisation without resolving the financial implications. Complaints were made about the mass admission of new members in Hungary, later falsely claiming that most were former communists. Citing this, an attempt was made to unilaterally change the admission regulations and restrict the number of heirs. Ignoring the Council Meeting's decision, an attempt was made to ban the admission of Hungarians living beyond the borders into the Order of Vitez. Disciplinary action was initiated against several inducted Hungarian vitez and leaders based on fabricated issues, and when it was seen that the proceedings had no basis, the relevant documents were archived. In the meantime, the year 1997 arrived. Early in the year, it became known that 14 inducted vitez had initiated the registration of a new organisation under the name "Chivalric Order of Vitez" with the Metropolitan Court. However, the new registration did not proceed due to repeated prosecutorial remarks. When these facts were brought to v. Radnóczy's attention, no countermeasures were taken. It later emerged that he was the one who encouraged the organisers to take this step. Seeing the intolerable situation, the national Senior Captain resigned on 1 March 1996, hoping that this would ease the tension. Unfortunately, this did not happen, and the situation further deteriorated. The Hungarian leaders of the Order, both those centrally appointed and those elected within the social organisation framework, finally concluded that they would no longer accept v. Radnóczy's tyrannical rule, as it would lead to the Order being banned in Hungary. On 16 April, a joint meeting was held, chaired by Deputy Grand Captain v. Gusztáv Hellebronth, with President v. István Tabódy also present. The 15 leaders present declared that they would temporarily withdraw from v. Radnóczy's leadership and, until a new Grand Captain was elected, place themselves under the authority of President v. István Tabódy. They also decided to convene an extraordinary delegate general meeting to determine the final position. This decision was signed by 14 of the 15 leaders present, with only v. Hellebronth requesting a day to consider it. However, the next day he took a train and pledged his allegiance to v. Radnóczy. The delegate general meeting convened on 30 April accepted and confirmed the leaders' proposals, despite the presence and speeches of v. Radnóczy and v. Hellebronth. The delegates affirmed their commitment to the unity of the Order but did not consider v. Radnóczy suitable or worthy to continue serving as Grand Captain.

This marked the beginning of the division in the leadership of the Order of Vitéz. Both groups sought to rally the members of the organisation around themselves, which at that time numbered 2,600 members. The situation was further complicated by a smaller group (17 members) which, without convening the delegation assembly and irregularly, elected v. Gusztáv Hellebronth as president-chief captain, who was registered as the representative of the Order of Vitéz by the Capital Court on 25 September 1997. This created an unusual situation. The registered president-chief captain did not operate at the lawful headquarters; instead, v. István Tabódy's group, as well as the archives of the Order of Vitéz, remained there. Both groups interpreted this as indicating that they were the legitimate organisation. The group led by v. Tabódy was significantly larger in terms of numbers than the other group; nevertheless, both groups continued to operate independently thereafter. On 7 September 1997, v. Tabódy's group inaugurated 260 new vitéz on the Park Stage in Budapest, and on 22 August 1998, they inaugurated 210 individuals at the Bolyai János Military Technical College—in the presence of the Minister of Defence, leaders of state, municipal, and civil organisations, and 210 applicants again on 11 September 1999 at the Heroes' Temple in Budapest. "It is important to mention that on 1 December 1997, the leadership of the Order of Vitéz decided to establish the 'Second World War Memorial Medal' in order to commemorate and honour those who participated in the Second World War. With the establishment of this medal, the Order of Vitéz remains the only organisation to provide a visible mark of recognition by the nation for heroic wartime conduct and endured sacrifices, something no responsible government has done so far. The Second World War Memorial Medal can be claimed by anyone who was a soldier, labour serviceman, or employed in a field hospital (doctor, nurse, caregiver) between 1938 and 1945. The first ceremonial presentation took place in May 1998 on 'Heroes' Day,' the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Hungarian Defence Forces, where the medals were presented by the Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Hungarian Defence Forces to the emotional heroes and their relatives. The continuous number of applications confirmed the decision's correctness, as the establishment of the Second World War Memorial Medal met a long-awaited societal need and projected that thousands of medals would need to be prepared for distribution over the years." Meanwhile, the conditions for the lawful operation of the Order also developed in Transylvania, resulting in the inauguration of a total of 260 new vitéz in Gheorgheni in 1997, in Târgu Mureș and Cluj-Napoca in 1998, and in Oradea in 1999. It was an uplifting and grand celebration for everyone that these ceremonies could take place and that they could witness the political changes in Romania, of which these events were visible signs. It is worth remembering the significant role played by v. Árpád Bereczky in the legalisation of the Order in Romania, who became the head of the Transylvanian district in 1998. We also received great assistance during the reorganisation from the leaders and members of the historical churches, without whom the ceremonial inauguration ceremonies could not have been held. Meanwhile, the v. Radnóczy - v. Hellebronth group inaugurated approximately 500 new vitéz at the Cistercian church in Budapest in 1997, in Kenderes in 1998, and again at the Cistercian church in Budapest in 1999. In truth, especially in the early days, there were many who had themselves inaugurated in both places. They threatened reprisals against anyone who initiated negotiations for reconciliation or reunification. This led to many transferring from abroad, tired of v. Radnóczy's dictatorial leadership. In 1999, however, we can also report a joyful event. The vitéz of Nógrád County, with the cooperation of the county and city councils, renovated the former Nógrád County Order of Vitéz Headquarters, and on 13 November, they ceremoniously inaugurated the commemorative plaque placed on the Headquarters' wall. A hopeful change occurred in the life of the divided Order of Vitéz in January 2000 when v. Gusztáv Hellebronth called Dr. v. Miklós Bercsényi to propose reunification and initiate related negotiations. These negotiations began the very next day, involving Dr. v. József Keserű and v. Ferenc Hernády. Agreement was reached on fundamental issues: A unified leadership must be established, where all previously appointed and elected officials of the Order resign from their positions and hand over their roles to the new leadership to be elected at the joint delegation assembly. The membership of vitéz inaugurated on both sides must be recognised. Those who have reached the age of 75 cannot be re-elected. They do not recognise v. Radnóczy's right to act and do not regard him as the chief captain of the Order of Vitéz. The joint delegation assembly must be convened within three months, and until then, the leaders of both groups will continue to manage affairs in a coordinated manner. On 17 January, a statement with the above content was signed at the Ministry of Defence to declare the sincerity of their intentions. As a result of the ongoing negotiations, the individuals recommended for election, the proposals to be submitted to the delegation assembly, and the new leadership structure were outlined. Based on all this, the leaders of the two groups, v. Tabódy and v. Hellebronth, signed a joint invitation, inviting the delegates previously elected by both groups to a joint assembly at the Cultural House of the Hungarian Defence Forces on 18 March. 81% of the invitees attended, making the assembly quorate. The delegation assembly, by a large majority, elected the order leaders proposed by the nomination committee, including, as the first new president-chief captain, Dr. vitéz András Várhelyi. The delegation assembly declared that the mandate of all elected officers would be for four years, after which they could be re-elected, and approved the statute of the Order of Vitéz, supplementing the "KISKÁTÉ", i.e., the "Organisational and Operational Regulations", with the following transitional provisions: "Vitéz inaugurated in Hungary in 1997, 1998, and 1999—regardless of the group around which leader they were inaugurated—are members of our Order. It cannot be objected against them where they were inaugurated or what position they took on. Every vitéz must register with the local official or the central office of the Order of Vitéz. If this is not done, their vitéz rights will cease after 30 September 2001. From 2000 onwards, for those to be inaugurated, since the leadership of the Order of Vitéz is now unified, only admission applications approved by the newly elected governing body will be accepted." That same year, the much-debated National Defence Section was abolished, and the introduction of honorary membership was decided. All honest and true members of the Order were greatly relieved when they learned of the unification and the election of the new leadership. However, v. Radnóczy did not rest; on spurious grounds, without negotiation, he "excluded" all those who initiated or participated in the unification. The leaders of the Order living in the West also took steps to have v. Radnóczy removed, even calling for it, which resulted in him excluding and dismissing, among others, the European district captain. The leadership of the reunified Order of Vitéz considered it a fundamental task to further strengthen the unification and to appropriately celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Order of Vitéz. To this end, they placed the use of the name "Order of Vitéz" under patent protection with registration number 160 272 and the Vitézi Badge under registration number 161 696. Moreover, they registered the periodical publication Vitézek Lapja with the Ministry of National Cultural Heritage under international identifier ISSN 1419-1792. On the anniversary, they established the Miklós Horthy Memorial Medal, which was first awarded at the vitéz inauguration. The vitéz inauguration took place on 9 September 2000 at the Fasor Reformed Church in Budapest, where a military band greeted arriving guests at the entrance. On the 80th anniversary, the sword touched the shoulders of 218 individuals, and numerous prominent figures in Hungarian culture and science received awards in recognition of their dedicated activities for the Hungarian Nation and the Order of Vitéz. Unfortunately, a misled group of vitéz rallied behind v. Radnóczy and followed the unlawful path. Furthermore, one of them, v. Béla Krasznay, as a private individual, legally challenged the duly convened delegation assembly and its resolutions. The lawsuit dragged on for years and ended with the final judgment of the Budapest Court of Appeal, case number 4. Pf. 20.984/2006/7, which confirmed the lawful operation of the Order of Vitéz. v. Béla Krasznay further aggravated this deeply condemnable conduct by attempting to have himself registered as the representative (chief captain) of the Order of Vitéz, which the Budapest Court denied. In 2000, our Order suffered a significant loss. Vitéz István Tabódy, a general of the Hungarian Defence Forces, a Roman Catholic canon, and a former chief captain of the Order of Vitéz, passed away. His earthly remains were laid to rest with military honours according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church on 15 October in the cemetery of his native village Révfülöp. His grave was covered with numerous wreaths. In 2001, the organisational work continued. The Ethical and Disciplinary Committee and the Admissions Committee were established, along with the Canadian district of the Order of Vitéz, under the leadership of vitéz László Kristóf, retired colonel, district captain. On 20 August in Pákozd, at the Don Memorial Site, the Order of Vitéz erected a wooden memorial column on the anniversary of the tragic death of vitéz István Horthy, deputy governor. The candidates for vitéz of the Fejér-Veszprém county district swore their vitéz oath at the solemn commemoration. The success of the organisational work was splendidly demonstrated at the vitéz inauguration held at the St. Imre Parish Church in Buda on 8 September 2001, where 208 individuals were inaugurated as vitéz. The year 2002 marked the 10th anniversary of the reorganisation of the Order of Vitéz. The past decade was not free from pitfalls and human frailties and shortsightedness that crossed the path of development, but the Order's honourable, historically grounded, and humane objectives found support in broad sections of society, and our active engagement and openness validated our democratic operation. That year, district captains residing in the West also took the first steps towards actual unification. The negotiations were entrusted to vitéz Ervin Mezey, Deputy Chief Captain living in Switzerland, who established contact with vitéz Ferenc Hernády, Executive District Captain. They aimed for the Western district captaincies to join the lawful Order of Vitéz within two years. The members are kept informed of the status of the negotiations through the Vitézek Lapja. The vitéz inauguration took place on 28 September at the St. Imre Parish Church in Buda, where 114 individuals were inaugurated as vitéz, and for the first time, the "Chief Captain's Ceremonial Sword", established on the occasion of the 10th anniversary, was awarded, which is the highest honour of the Order of Vitéz. The international significance of the inauguration ceremony was enhanced by the high-level delegation from our sister organisation, the Bavarian Military Association. It is noteworthy that in the same year, a memorial to the Second World War Heroes was erected at the Bolyai János Military Technical College, to which the Order of Vitéz also contributed. In 2003, the four-year mandate of the Order of Vitéz's delegates and elected leaders expired, necessitating elections. The delegates were elected in general assemblies. The delegation assembly took place on 31 May in the theatre of the Bolyai János Military Technical College, attended by members living abroad and representatives of the separated group. The delegation assembly elected Dr. vitéz Miklós Bercsényi as the chief captain, who thanked the members for their trust but accepted the position only for one year due to his age. He considered the primary task to be the definitive establishment and strengthening of the unity of the Order. This was also served by the closed meeting held in the summer, attended by Dr. v. Miklós Bercsényi, v. József Árpád Habsburg, v. Tibor Waldner, Dr. v. Péter Turmezei, and v. Éva Zalatnay-Balogh. The meeting clarified the fundamental principles for the final restoration of unity and agreed that they would march together in the St. Stephen's Day procession on 20 August and that no vitéz inauguration would be held that year, with the ceremony postponed to 2004 in the spirit of unity. Unfortunately, after promising beginnings, human frailty again became dominant. After the death of vitéz Antal Radnóczy, another "self-appointed chief captain", vitéz László Hunyadi, thwarted the actual unification, and the agreement reached with the leaders residing in the West on 2 October did not last long either, as vitéz József Árpád Habsburg's personal actions led to the birth of a "third" group. Absurdly, this group first registered an organisation named "Council of Vitéz" in Switzerland and then an "Order of Vitéz" in Sweden. Let us recall the admonition of the Governor and the statement of the President regarding legality! Thus, the vitéz inauguration moratorium valid for 2003 was adhered to only by the lawfully operating Order of Vitéz. However, the efforts also yielded significant results. With the cooperation of vitéz Ervin Mezey, Deputy Chief Captain for the overseas territories, and vitéz Ferenc Hernády, Executive District Captain, unity was established with the vitéz living in the USA, under the leadership of vitéz Tibor Waldner, national district captain, and with the vitéz in the United Kingdom, led by Dr. vitéz András Zsigmond, European district captain. The cooperation established for unity can also serve as an example for vitéz living in other countries around the world. At the 2004 delegation assembly, following Dr. v. Miklós Bercsényi's comprehensive report, he resigned from the position he had undertaken for one year. Subsequently, the delegates re-elected Dr. v. András Várhelyi as the chief captain of the Order of Vitéz. The vitéz inauguration, after a one-year hiatus, took place on 11 September at the St. Imre Parish Church in Buda, where Father Placid Olofsson celebrated a mass, and the uplifting event included the consecration and inauguration of the Order of Vitéz's new ceremonial sword, national defence shield, and the vitéz flags of Fejér and Somogy counties. Our thanks go to v. József Váry, v. Árpád Gúth, v. Péter Holvay, and István Varzsik for the creation of the ceremonial sword and national defence shield. A highlight of the year was the permanent military history exhibition opened in the village of Nagykörű with the cooperation of the Order of Vitéz and the local council, based on the collected legacy of vitéz Géza Csörghe. In one room of the exhibition, a hall of fame was established, where a marble plaque under the image of the vitéz badge commemorates the vitéz soldiers of Kőtelek and Nagykörű. The exhibition's realisation is the result of the dedicated work of vitéz Ferenc Szőllősi and Dr. András Kosik. The year 2005 welcomed the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Order of Vitéz with a rich programme. On 29 January, in Balassagyarmat, during the "Civitas Fortissima" celebration, the rebuilt Ipolymenti national flag was inaugurated before a crowd of thousands. The memorial was created through the initiative of the vitéz Honti and vitéz Szakács families, with generous donations from the family of Dr. vitéz Miltényi, and the combined efforts and dedicated work of the vitéz of Nógrád county, private individuals, companies, schoolchildren, and the local council. Their determined, dedicated work should serve as a model for the country's population. This was followed in March by the opening of a temporary exhibition on the First World War in Kunszentmárton, organised with the cooperation of vitéz László Vigh, vitéz János Molnár, and local historian Dr. János Szabó. In April, we commemorated Colonel László Bercsényi and the soldiers of the Royal Hungarian Armoured Training Regiment he led. In April 1945, the regiment was caught in the German-British buffer zone in the Bergen military camp area. Through a ceasefire agreement initiated by Colonel László Bercsényi, more than 5,000 soldiers were saved from a senseless deployment, and approximately 70,000 concentration camp inmates were saved from prepared liquidation. The British command officially thanked the Hungarian soldiers for their cooperation. (The detailed description of the event can be read in the Vitézek Lapja XI. year, issue 1). On 25 June, the first National Vitéz Meeting was held in Szilvásvárad. During the preparatory work, all vitéz were invited to the grand gathering through the press and worldwide circulars. The significance of the meeting was clearly demonstrated by the presence of Péter Harrach, Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament, and numerous leading figures from social, cultural, and economic life, military attachés, as well as several overseas and European delegations. Under the sparkling sunshine, the vitéz ceremonial units, hussars, and honour carriages lined up in the equestrian stadium to welcome Dr. vitéz András Várhelyi, the chief captain, who greeted the attendees after the report was given. In his festive speech, he provided a historical overview of the life and societal significance of the Order of Vitéz, then emphasised the importance of creating widespread national unity and preserving historical heritage. Following the speech, the over one and a half thousand members and invited guests enjoyed the parade and displays of the vitéz ceremonial units, hussars, and honour carriages. Guests were treated to bean goulash and Badacsony wine for lunch, and the "Wine of the Vitéz" was introduced. This wine, made from the ancient Hungarian Kéknyelű grape variety, was offered and bottled by the Badacsony Wine Cooperative for the 85th anniversary of the Order of Vitéz. In the afternoon, awards were presented in front of the reassembled ceremonial units. The chief captain of the Order of Vitéz awarded the Chief Captain's Ceremonial Sword to: Vitéz Imre Pákh, national seat captain of the USA national district captaincy, Mr. Rainer Schmitt, chief official of the Bavarian Military Association, and Vitéz József Bősze, retired lieutenant colonel, central district captain. The Order of Vitéz Cross of Knighthood was awarded to: Prof. Dr. Lajos Papp, university professor, heart surgeon, and clinic director, Mr. Ferenc Demjén, composer, songwriter, and performing artist, and Father Csaba Böjte, Franciscan friar. The Order of Vitéz Gold Medal of Merit was awarded to: Mr. Péter Harrach, Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament, and Vitéz Ervin Mezey, deputy chief captain for overseas territories. The Order of Vitéz Jubilee Gold Medal of Merit was awarded to: Mr. Tibor Gyurkovics, Kossuth Prize-winning poet and writer, Mr. György Wossala, president of the European Sailing Federation, Mr. Béla Horváth, founder of the Pharma Fidei Foundation - Shield of Faith, Reverend Dr. Tibor Garancsi, Chief physician Dr. András Margittay-Becht, Mr. Dénes Várhelyi, actor, The teaching and management community of the Egri Vitézlő Oskola, and Posthumously to Mr. István Bubik, actor. The Order of Vitéz Silver Medal of Merit was awarded to: Colonel Tony Burnside, military attaché accredited to Hungary from the United Kingdom. The Horthy Miklós Memorial Medal Gold Grade was awarded to: Vitéz Lajos Kocsis, district captain of Budapest, and Vitéz István Simon, retired district captain of the USA national district captaincy. The Horthy Miklós Memorial Medal Silver Grade was awarded to: Dr. Vitéz András Zsigmond, European district captain of the Order of Vitéz, Mr. Zoltán Egri, executive president of the Lipizzan Association, and Mr. Andor Dallos, director of the Szilvásvárad Stud Farm. In the closing speech of the meeting, Mr. Péter Harrach, Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament, spoke about the increasingly advancing globalisation, a world process that does not consider the values of local national cultures. He mentioned the "other man" who feels comfortable in a world populated and equipped with local and national values and defends it against uniformity, contrasting this with the masses reduced to uniform consumers by globalisation. He considered the Order of Vitéz to be such a national value. The first National Vitéz Meeting was a rare, dignified celebration in Szilvásvárad, providing a memorable experience for the participants, and it was reported on by the media through multiple channels. On 6 September in Nyíregyháza, the Order of Vitéz, the Hungarian Veterans' Air Force Association, and the county Recruitment Command unveiled a memorial to the pilots who died heroically in the Second World War. The beautiful memorial with a turul bird was the result of several years of hard work by Vitéz András Magera and Vitéz Károly Szmolnik, and its military pomp inauguration saw the local pilot school's flight formation performing honour circuits. The vitéz inauguration took place on 1 October at the St. Imre Parish Church in Buda, where Dr. Károly Kerekes, abbot of Zirc, celebrated a mass. In his festive speech, Dr. Vitéz András Várhelyi, the chief captain, remembered the anti-Hungarian referendum on 5 December 2004, and called for donations to help the flood-stricken Szekler villages. He addressed the newly inaugurated vitéz with the following words: "If you celebrate the joyous fact of your vitéz inauguration in the family circle, look up at the sky! And if you see the multitude of stars sparkling above, imagine that Prince Csaba has lit bonfires at the head of his armies! Let every sparkling star in your soul be a vitéz - someone's star - a Hungarian! The Hungarian vitéz who, for three thousand years, has given his life for his country, his God, his loyalty, and his honour! Let today be a celebration! Celebrate! Hungarians with Hungarians! God bless Hungary! God bless you!" On the same day, a bust of vitéz István Tabódy, former parish priest of the city, general of the Hungarian Defence Forces, and former chief captain of the Order of Vitéz, created by sculptor Béla Domonkos, was inaugurated in the garden of the Catholic church in Bicske. The Order of Vitéz participated in the inauguration with a large delegation led by Vitéz Miklós Kiss, high seat keeper, and laid wreaths of remembrance. The year's closing event was the Advent Officer's Meeting, held with the aim of creating tradition, where the chief captain of the Order of Vitéz thanked the Order's officials for their dedicated work throughout the year by the light of the Advent candles and wished every vitéz family a grace-filled Christmas and a blessed and prosperous New Year. In the week of Christmas, a delegation from the Order of Vitéz handed over the monetary donations collected at the vitéz inauguration to the communities of three flood-stricken Szekler villages during a mass. Our Szekler brothers expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the donation, and after the reconstruction, they warmly welcome all vitéz. In 2006, the ceremonial unit of the Order of Vitéz was established. The ceremonial unit, embodying the traditions of the ornate Hungarian military attire, first appeared at the St. Stephen's Day procession and marched through the line of onlookers to great acclaim, with millions watching on television. In September, a delegation from our sister organisation, the Bavarian Military Association, led by Mr. Rainer Schmitt, visited Hungary. As part of the jointly organised commemorative programme, they laid a wreath at the Don Memorial Plaque placed in the courtyard of the Ministry of Defence Institute and Museum, followed by informative lectures on the siege of Buda during the Second World War and the history of the two organisations. During the ceremony, the Bavarian Military Association donated a ribbon to the Order of Vitéz in the spirit of fraternal relations, which Mr. Rainer Schmitt tied to the central flag of the Order of Vitéz. Afterwards, the participants travelled to Szendehely, where they laid flowers of remembrance at the German military cemetery. On 23 September, the vitéz inauguration took place at the Matthias Church in Buda Castle. In the crowded church, whose foundation was laid by King Béla IV in 1245 and where the Holy Crown was placed on the heads of four Hungarian kings, 70 individuals were inaugurated as vitéz. The solemn ceremony was honoured by the presence of Brigadier General József Borzák, commander of the Budapest garrison, numerous public figures, and many compatriots from abroad who returned home for this significant event. During the ceremony, the vitéz flag of Pest county was consecrated, and the ribbon donated by the Bavarian Military Association for the flag of the Order of Vitéz was presented. The canonical address by Dr. Imre Varjú, the festive speech by the chief captain, and the response speech by the newly inaugurated vitéz all praised the heroic stance and valour of the Hungarian soldier, highlighting that it is the fundamental task of every member of the Order of Vitéz to teach the true history of Hungary spanning more than a thousand years, and to promote the moral and intellectual renewal of our country. After the ceremony, conversations and photography continued for a long time in the Holy Trinity Square, with many foreign tourist groups marvelling at and showing interest in our compatriots dressed in festive attire. At the commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution and War of Independence, our vitéz participated worldwide, and we are proud that among our members, v. József Apró, v. Károly Bazsó, v. Győző Hencz, v. Lajos Kocsis, v. György Mihály Máriási, v. Pál Mentes, v. Gyula Mészáros, v. Péter Nádasdy, Dr. v. Vilmos Oláh, v. István Prém, v. Lajos Szmolnik, and v. József Wittner received high state honours. On 10 February 2007, at the Hungarian Advent Church of the Kelenföld Reformed Church, with a sermon by Brigadier General Károly Takaró, retired field bishop, and on 24 February at the Gödöllő Reformed Church with a sermon by Reverend Tamás Balogh, the Order of Vitéz commemorated the 50th anniversary of the death of its founder, vitéz Miklós Horthy, Governor of Hungary. At both locations, in the packed, flag-adorned church, v. Ottó Koós, high seat keeper, gave a commemorative speech, in which he praised the Governor's life journey, his efforts to revive the country paralyzed after Trianon, and his human and state leadership greatness. He expressed hope that God would once again provide a person who would lead our country out of turmoil, so that at least our grandchildren would experience a brighter future for Hungary. From 27 to 29 April, a delegation from the Order of Vitéz participated in the Bavarian Military Association's International Meeting in Würzburg. The three-member delegation—vitéz Gusztáv Hellebronth, retired chief captain, vitéz László Kiss, seat captain, and vitéz Mrs. László Kiss—reciprocated the Association's visit last year and actively participated in the meeting's rich programme, during which the Vitéz Order's ribbon was attached to the Bavarian Military Association's flag. On 27 April, the Capital Court, with its final decision No. 10. P. 20.005/2004/27, concluded the lawsuit filed by the Order of Vitéz as the plaintiff against László Hunyadi as the first defendant and the "Historical Order of Vitéz Association" as the second defendant, for the prohibition of name use. The judgment states: "The court prohibits the first and second defendants from using the name of the plaintiff - the term 'Order of Vitéz'. The reasoning of the judgment includes: "The data from the investigation and infringement proceedings, as well as the documents attached in this case, leave no doubt that the first defendant unlawfully uses the name of the plaintiff. The right to use a name also means that the bearer of the name has the right to have their name respected and prevents anyone from using a name that they are not legally entitled to. The first defendant's statements did not prove that they were entitled to use the plaintiff's name, and the so-called 'Greater Order of Vitéz' does not establish such entitlement. It is a crucial requirement that the legal person's name must differ from the name of the already registered legal person, thus the second defendant violated the plaintiff's right to use the name by issuing various invitations. In addition to establishing the violation of the name-use right, the court also found it justified to prohibit the defendants from further infringements, as the available data indicates recurring actions." Sadly, we observe that despite the court's final judgment, László Hunyadi as the first defendant and the "Historical Order of Vitéz Association" as the second defendant continue their unlawful and misleading activities. As part of the commemorative series for the 300th anniversary of the Ónod National Assembly, on 26 May, during the Hungarian Heroes' Memorial Day, the Order of Vitéz inaugurated the Vitéz Memorial of Ónod village. The memorial, erected in the Garden of Heroes, was the result of the dedicated and persistent work of vitéz István Drahos, central seat captain—a native of Ónod—and was inaugurated in a solemn ceremony attended by the local population, the municipal government led by Mayor János Bacsó, representatives of historical churches, and numerous traditionalist organisations by Dr. vitéz András Várhelyi, chief captain. On 25 August, in the park of the Royal Palace of Gödöllő, at the statue of the former deputy governor, the vitéz of Gödöllő and its region commemorated the 65th anniversary of the death of vitéz István Horthy. Young vitéz Dezső Szentgyörgyi, who is still an active pilot—the first officer of MALÉV—recalled the life journey of the deputy governor, highlighting his role in aviation and the development of Hungarian railways. On 2 June, perhaps the country's most beautiful Trianon memorial was inaugurated in Csátalja, Bács-Kiskun County, designed by Mayor Antal Kovács and his friend. The ceremony, which began with the tolling of bells, saw Archbishop Balázs Bábel of Kalocsa celebrate a mass for the "Hungarian Nation," followed by a welcome speech from Mayor Antal Kovács. The honour guard at the memorial was provided by members of the vitéz Kálmán Mikecz Honvéd and Hussar Tradition Preservation Association under the command of vitéz László Kiss, seat captain, and the wreath of the Order of Vitéz was placed by v. Ottó Koós, high seat keeper. The vitéz inauguration was held on 6 October at the Matthias Church in Buda Castle, where Father Imre Kozma, papal protonotary, celebrated a mass, and 104 individuals were inaugurated as vitéz. The solemn ceremony was honoured by the presence of Mr. Péter Harrach, Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament, the delegation of the Bavarian Military Association led by vitéz Rainer Schmitt, and the delegation of the United Kingdom led by Deputy Chief Captain Dr. vitéz András Zsigmond. In his festive speech, Dr. vitéz András Várhelyi, chief captain, highlighted that "We might consider it unusual and indeed strange that we, the Order of Vitéz, have chosen one of the 'days of mourning' of our nation, 6 October, for the ceremonial induction of our new recruits. But it is not! Indeed, 6 October is the DAY OF HUNGARIAN LOYALTY, HONOUR, AND NATIONAL CONSCIENCE. Let us mourn our martyrs of Arad and be proud of their heroic sacrifice! Let us preserve our burning loyalty, diamond-hard honour, and the national conscience that still guards our sacred mother tongue and motherland! Only for these three can someone be a VITÉZ in Hungary today!" At the end of his speech, he quoted from Sándor Sajó's poem "To Be Hungarian." The final lines of the poem should be a message to all who understand and to all whom it concerns! It goes: ...but I leave this soul behind as a legacy, It will screech on the snowy peaks of the Carpathians, And cry out into every ancient clod: Out with the robbers! This is my homeland!" During the inauguration ceremony, the flag of the Budapest District was consecrated, with Mrs. Péter Harrach, the flag mother, tying a ribbon with the inscription: "Duty is more important than life!" The year 2008 was marked by significant events. On 18 April, vitéz Imre Pákh, USA district captain and native of Munkács, fulfilled the dream of his 102-year-old father, vitéz Sándor Pákh, by financially supporting the restoration of the Turul monument in Munkács Castle. The monument was blessed by Dr. Antal Spányi, Bishop of Székesfehérvár, Antal Majnek, Roman Catholic Bishop of Munkács, and Lajos Gulácsy, retired Bishop of the Reformed Church in Subcarpathia. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Dr. Zsolt Semjén, President of the KDNP and member of the Order of Vitéz. The honour guard at the ceremony was provided by members of the ceremonial unit of the Order of Vitéz. The Order of Vitéz held its central commemoration of the Hungarian Heroes' Memorial Day in Ónod, in the Garden of Heroes. The festive speaker, vitéz István Drahos, addressed the hundreds of participants with the following words: "The last Sunday of May, the Hungarian Heroes' Memorial Day, has become one of the most sacred, intimate days for mothers who lost their children, wives mourning their husbands, orphans recalling their fathers, and soldiers remembering their comrades. ... In terms of continuing the respect for our heroes, great responsibility falls on teachers and parents. They must instill in the hearts and souls of the growing children the respect for their ancestors, their memory, and the remembrance of heroes. Bring them out to the Garden of Heroes, show them the monuments and explain to them why these names are on the memorial plaques. They will surely find familiar names among them, or even the names of their own ancestors who sacrificed their lives for the homeland, the nation. For us and for them!" On this day, our vitéz across the country placed flowers of remembrance on the graves and memorials of our war heroes. On 15 June, at the Hungarian Advent Church, the Order of Vitéz held a solemn service to commemorate the 140th birthday of vitéz Miklós Horthy, Governor of Hungary and eternal chief captain of the Order of Vitéz. The commemorative speech was given by vitéz Ottó Koós, high seat keeper, and the sermon by Brigadier General Károly Takaró, retired Reformed field bishop. At the end of the service, the wreath of remembrance was placed on the memorial plaque at the church entrance by retired Lieutenant Colonel vitéz József Bősze, deputy chief captain, vitéz Ottó Koós, high seat keeper, and Brigadier General Károly Takaró. On the same day, a delegation from the Order of Vitéz - vitéz András Mikecz, seat captain, vitéz László Kiss, district captain, vitéz István Halász, seat keeper, and vitéz László Zachár, vitéz lieutenant - laid a wreath at the statue of the Governor in Kenderes. On 29 June, our order held its elective delegation assembly, during which it elected the members of the Vitézi Szék (Executive Board) for the next four years. In his report, President-Chief Captain Dr. vitéz András Várhelyi evaluated the four-year activity of the Order of Vitéz. He expressed regret that in eight years, the unity could not be achieved due to the stubborn attitude of the "self-appointed" leaders of the separated groups and the non-compliance with final court judgments concerning the unlawful use of the patent-protected term "Order of Vitéz" and the Vitézi Badge. He considered international relations fruitful, especially with the Bavarian Military Association and the Vatican. He identified maintaining contact with elderly members and addressing the need for rejuvenation as key tasks. He declared that we must bear in mind that our appearance conveys a message - the highest quality of pure morality and patriotic steadfastness. The delegation assembly elected Dr. vitéz András Várhelyi as president-chief captain, vitéz Ottó Koós as high seat keeper, vitéz Count János Gazsó [10] as executive district captain and deputy chief captain, Dr. vitéz András Zsigmond as deputy chief captain for overseas territories, and decided on the positions of district captains and various committee chairmen. (The full list of elections was published in Vitézek Lapja, volume XIV, issue 2.) The delegation assembly accepted the retirement request of Executive District Captain and Deputy Chief Captain vitéz József Bősze, and awarded him the title of retired deputy chief captain in recognition of his more than a decade of dedicated work for the Order of Vitéz. Since 25 July, the Turul once again guards the memorial of vitéz Károly Csörgei in Várpalota. In his inaugural speech, vitéz József Bősze, deputy chief captain, the initiator of the Turul restoration, highlighted: A miracle has happened! A miracle that after more than half a century, the symbol of our nation, the Turul, has been placed back on top of the memorial! ...He thanked retired Lieutenant Colonel József Dobszai, Mayor Árpád Németh, artist Sándor Nesó, Fire Lieutenant Colonel László Somogyi, László Budai, president of the Turul Society, retired Police Captain Péter Tóth, National Guard Major Zsolt Dobszai, and all those who sincerely supported the creation of this commemoration. ...He recalled the circumstances of the tragic artillery accident 80 years ago and reminded that these memorials warn that the military training ground is not a life insurance! Accidents that claim victims can happen, such as the mortar accident in 1994. ...We must not forget the victims! We honour and remember those comrades who lose their lives preparing for the defence of the Homeland just as we do those who died heroically on the battlefield. For they too are victims, soldiers' sacrifices in peace! After the wreath-laying, he announced the initiative to build an access road from Tési Street, as the memorial is currently difficult to reach for visitors. He requested the effective support of the attendees and the broadening of the initiative. As per tradition, the ceremonial unit of the Order of Vitéz, led by the chief captain, participated in the St. Stephen's Day procession on 20 August. The ceremonial unit was followed by a large group of vitéz in festive attire. On 7 September, on the 15th anniversary of the reburial of vitéz Miklós Horthy, Governor of Hungary, the delegation of the Order of Vitéz paid their respects in period uniforms at the commemoration in Kenderes. On 21 September, on the International Day of Peace, the peace march in the capital began at the memorial plaque of Colonel vitéz Lajos Gidófalvy, where General Ferenc Végh, former Chief of General Staff, and retired Lieutenant Colonel vitéz József Bősze, deputy chief captain, gave commemorative speeches. On 27 September, the 88-year-old Order of Vitéz held its vitéz inauguration ceremony again at the Matthias Church in Buda Castle, where the ceremonial sword touched the shoulders of 62 new vitéz. The festive mass was celebrated by Dr. Antal Spányi, Bishop of Székesfehérvár, followed by a festive speech from Chief Captain Dr. vitéz András Várhelyi. In his speech, he noted that our country is in agony, with more and more of our fellow citizens losing their footing, desperate, clinging, and unfortunate. He urged every member of the Order of Vitéz, vitéz families, relatives, candidates, and awardees to STAND FIRM! For our Hungarian homeland, our sacred motherland, our holy mother tongue, and all that is Hungarian and ours. The most touching event of the ceremony was the inauguration of the bomb disposal experts who died heroically in Afghanistan. In the packed church, there was not a dry eye when retired Lieutenant Colonel vitéz József Bősze, deputy chief captain, called the minor children of Major vitéz Krisztián Nemes: "Come forward, children, and receive your father's honour, for you will be the prospective vitéz after your heroic father," who ran to receive the Vitézi Badge and the Certificate of Honour, jointly presented to them by Chief Captain Dr. vitéz András Várhelyi and Colonel Gábor Hajdú, commander of the MH 1st Homeland Bomb Disposal and Warship Battalion. Two weeks earlier, on 14 September, a vitéz inauguration took place in the USA, where vitéz Imre Pákh, central district captain, gathered the vitéz living in the USA at his estate in Oyster Bay for the significant event of inaugurating three new members of our order. On 11 October, in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the return of Felvidék, a memorial event was held at the cultural centre in Kunszentmárton.

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