A thousand years of the Hungarian art of war

Epilogue
by

Professor Komjathy's impressive and heroic "1000 Years of Hungarian Art of War" conveys the age-old truth that "Only the dead have seen the end of War". This well-written and significant book is published by the Rakoczi Foundation to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Hungarian Uprising of 1956.

Historically, Komjathy recalls the Magyars' conquest of the Carpathian Basin one thousand years ago (1100 by now), Janos Hunyadi's victory over the invading Ottoman armies at Nandorfejervar (Belgrade) in 1456, and the freedom-fight of Francis Rakoczi II, which still lives in the "Rakoczi Marches" of Hector Berlioz and Ferenc Liszt.

The Hungarian armies are epitomized by the traditional gallantry of the Hungarian 'huszar' under the walls of Berlin led by General Hadik, the bravery of the hussars in the 'Battle of Flanders' under Laszlo Bercsenyi, Marechal de France, and in the death-charge of Colonel Michael Kovats during the American Civil War at Charleston, South Carolina. These selected deeds were all military acts of historical consequences. The spirit of the hussars was infectious of 'elan' and 'esprit de corps' which is still alive and well in the British Regiments of Hussars and represented today in the Canadian Regular Armed Forces with the VIII Hussars (Princess Louise's) and in the Canadian Militia, The Royal Canadian Hussars of Montreal and the Ist Hussars of London, Ontario.

Hungarian determination and national pride were memorably exercised in Louis Kossuth's assault for freedom in 1848 and in the first try against the Soviets in the sacrificial fight for freedom in 1956.

Hungary's participation in World War II is especially interesting to Allied soldiers of the Second World War because the author clearly explains the great difficulties, trials and tribulations of a small but vital nation, struggling for national self-esteem, independence and survival between the unremitting hostilities of Nazi and Soviet enemies. In their pursuit of a quick military victory, the Western Allies

169

overlooked the most important political considerations of Hungarian nationalists and the much trumpeted right of self-determination. Because of this blindness, East Central Europe, Poland and Hungary, despite their sacrifices and against their will, were once again left alone and passively handed-over to a ruthless oppressor. I commend Professor Komjathy, for his scholarly narrative which flows with the convictions of learning without being a merely technical military history. To any reader interested in the rights and wrongs of history, this is a stimulating treatise on military affairs. No words could ever truly call to remembrance the anniversary of an uprising which was a surge of faith in the Hungarian people and their only hope for freedom. The spirit of valour which confronts suffocating tyranny must fill Hungarian hearts, and the hearts of the friends of Hungary, with sorrow and pride, respect and admiration for Hungarians who fought so valiantly and for so long. Professor Komjathy's great work has caught both the detail and the grand expanse of one thousand years of warfare in which Hungarians paid with their blood to allow them to be Hungarians.

l70

A thousand years of the Hungarian art of war