Hungarian Youth Group Uniforms


Figure 1.--This is a Hungarian Boy Scout, probably about 1930.

We do not yet have much information about Hungarian youth movements. Wandervogel may have existed before Workd war I, but that was a largely German youth movemnent. The Scouting movement was founded in Hungary before World War I. We believe that before World war II that it was the country's principal youth movement, but did not have a large membership. We are ubnsure about Fascist youth groups before and during World war II. After World War II we believe the Communist Government banned Scouting, although we do not have details at this time. The Communist founded the Young Pioneeer movement which was similar to the movement in other Soviet Eastern European satellites. The movement disappeared with the fall of the Communist Government.

Wandervogel

Wandervogel may have existed before Workd War I, but that was a largely German youth movemnent.

Scouting

The Scouting movement was founded in Hungary before World War I while Hungary was still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Scouting movement grew considerably after independence. We believe that before World War II, Scouting was the country's principal youth movement. The membership, however, was still fauirly limited as it was basically a middle-class movement. After World War II we believe the Communist Government banned Scouting, although we do not have details at this time. Scouting has been revived in the 1990s with the return to democratic government.

Hashomer Hatzair

Hashomer Hatzair (Youth Guard) was a Jewish youth movement created by the union of the merger of two groups, Hashomer ('The Guard') a Zionist scouting group, and Ze'irei Zion ("The Youth of Zion") which was a smaller politically oriented group focused on Zionism and left wing socialism. It was founded in Galicia, then a part of the Austro Hungarian Empire, just before World War I (1913). Hashomer Hatzair is the oldest Zionist youth movement which still functions. The group was initially oriented toward Marxist-Zionist. A strong component of the European Zionist movement cane from left-wing Jews. Ber Borochov and Gustav Wyneken strongly influenced the movement. Hashomer Hatzair was commited to aliya (emigration to Palestine). The movement strongly supported kibbutzim. After World War I, the movement spread to Jewish communities throughout Europe as part of the Scouting movement.

Nationalist Groups

The only important Hungarian boys youth group we know is the Scouts. There was a right-wing, highly nationalist youth organization, the Hungarista Örszem (Hungaruan Sentinals). The group was, however, very small. Hungary like other European countries had a right-wing Fascist organization--the Arrow Cross (Nyilaskeresztes Párt – Hungarista Mozgalom. It was led by Ferenc Szálasi. We are not sure to what extebt the Hungarista Örszem was related to the pro-NAZI Arrow Cross, if any. The Hungarista Örszem was so small that virtually no information is available on the group. The 1942 photograph here, however, suggests that they were to sime degree active in the schools. The country under German pressure joined the AXIS in World War II (October 1940) and Hitler rewaeded the Italians with territorial awards, doubling the size of the country. Pál Teleki became Prime Minister again and Chief Scout of Hungary. Disdraught that he could not keep Hungary out of World War II, he committed suicide (April 3, 1941). He was succeeded as Chief Scout by General Kisbarnaki Ferenc Farkas, Commander of Royal Ludvokia Akademia. German diplomats pushed for Hungary to ban Scouting which had an ethos ennemical to the NAZI war effort. The NAZIs wanted to see a nationalist youth group, like the Hungarista Örszem. Similar groups along the lines of the Hitler Youth were promioted in many of the occupied countries and German allies. Scouting promoted an international brotherhood wheras the NAZIs wanted not only a radical reordeing of European borders, but the murder of millions if unwanhted ethnic groups. Farkas resisted this and as Scouting was so popular in Hungary, the Government supported Farkas. Hungarian officials having obtained desired territories, hoped to remain out of the actual fighting. This changed dramatically when Hitker ordered the invasion of the Soviet Union (June 1941). Hungary which was not consulted declared war, but did not participate in Barbarossa. After the Wehrmacht was stopped before Moscow and pushed back with heavy losses (December 1941), Hitler demanded Hungarian troops for the 1942 campaiign. Hungarian Scouts during the War conducted manyb imortant activities. Three boys served as messengers and engaged in other helpful activities to support the vWar effort. The extreme right as the Germans exerted more pressure ion Hungary gained influence. The Hungarian Scouting movement was affected and became increasingly militaristic and nationalistic during the War. The Germans allowed Hungary as an indeoendent nation some lattitude during the War. The Hungarian Scout movement was thus allowed to continue to function. They were able to maintain contact with the Boy Scouts International Bureau, the Polish Scout Headquarters in exile, and with Prince Gustav Adolf of Sweden, Chief Scout of Sweden and member of the World Scout Committee. This changed at the ebd of the War. Because of military disasters in the East, Hungary attempted to withdraw fom the War. To stop this, Hitler seized control of Hungary (March 1944). The Hungarian Government irdered the Scouts to merge with the right-wing Hungarista Örszem. This was an attempt to give right-wing Örszem who had never been able to receuit many members, controlm of the substanhtial Scouting movenent. As the Red Army drove west, Hungary became a battle ground of the War. The merger never really occurred to any degree in the chaos of war. After World War II when the thec country's Stalinis leaders banned Scouting, General Farkas remained Chief Scout of the Hungarian Scouts in Exile.

Young Pioneers

The Communist founded the Young Pioneeer movement which was similar to the movement in other Soviet Eastern European satellites. The movement disappeared with the fall of the Communist Government.

Xenia-Laz

Xenia-Laz is a new youth movement or club in modern Hungary. It was founded in 1996. The group grew out of an interest in a popular 160-episode sci-fi television series titles "Urgamma". It is a sensation in Hungary. One report indicates, "There's probably not a school child in Hungary who doesn't know the name Xenia-Laz or Xenia Fever -- a new club for teenagers which brings together fast food, pop music and the teaching of science in schools. Only two years old, its membership has already eclipsed that of the Boy Scouts and of Young Pioneers, the childrens' organisation of the former Communist Party." Xenia-Laz promotes its teenage members to persue science and math courses. It does not have facilities of its own so meetings are held in fast-food restaurants. National meetings are being held in sports stadia. Some politicins are promoting the movement. Some observers charge that criminal elements are becoming involved. [Thorpe]

Sources

Thorpe, Nick. "Despatches: Budapest" BBC News (January 21, 1998).







HBU





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Created: 5:34 AM 9/14/20074
Last updated: 5:34 AM 9/14/2007