Afghanistan Has Changed the Hungarian Defence Forces
Szöveg: Szabolcs Nyulas | 2015. május 26. 9:24“These Hungarian Defence Forces are no longer the same as they were before the Afghanistan mission”, Csaba Hende said on Thursday, May 21 at a book launch held in the MoD Institute and Museum of Military History.
The Minister noted that, acting on some soldiers’ proposal, he himself founded the award in 2013, and the reason behind the choice of that year was that the Hungarian Defence Forces had been “a peace army" up to the Afghanistan mission. “Until that year, it was out of the question that any soldier of the Hungarian Defence Forces could distinguish himself or stand his ground in a firefight", he added.
Gen. Dr. Tibor Benkő, Chief of Defence gave an appreciation speech, in which he emphasized that the Hungarian Defence Forces are often criticized for not being open enough to society. This book, however, is a huge step forward because it informs the public about the soldiers’ everyday service. “Today, when we are speaking about the celebration and heroes of the Hungarian Defence Forces (…) we must emphasize that those serving in Afghanistan were heroes too", he added. “This book is an appreciation to those servicemen who reveal in their recollections what happened in the area of operations", he said, adding that the soldiers of today are worthy of their predecessors because they are just as brave and heroic as the troops of bygone ages.
Journalist Ildikó Virágh, the author of the book said it was not easy for her to get to know the Hungarian Defence Forces and their characteristic world wrought with rules. As she told us, soldiers are reluctant to speak about their vocation and courage, and do not even like to use the word itself. “In my experience, they are highly committed people and all of them are heroes", she added.
Photo: Veronika Dévényi
