The Tragedy Of The First Hungarian Paratroopers

The ceremony began at the memorial of military aviators in the Vámosi Street military cemetery of Veszprém. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Dezsõ Gödri greeted the guests who came from many parts of the country.

The formal speech was delivered by retired Lieutenant Colonel László Gráczki, who underlined that it is not a coincidence that they have chosen this site to commemorate those who died in the Second World War, for the soldiers resting in this graveyard were the victims of power politics. "Without regard to their nationality, these soliders are victims because they were dragged into the war against their will and lost the dearest thing, their life. Therefore during our commemorative service we should think of each soldier who died in the world wars," said László Gráczki, who continued his speech by recalling the most important events in the history of Hungary between the two world wars.

He said in the years preceding the Second World War the economic and political situation had consolidated in Hungary, even though the injustices of the peace treaty ending the First World War weighed heavily on the nation. New alliances were formed among the losers and in the late 20s militaries began arming themselves. The revisionist politics gaining ground in our homeland gradually swept the country along, towards German orientation. At the beginning of 1941, German war politics was aimed at the Yugoslav state, and in early April Germans openly intervened in the south (’Délvidék‘, part of Croatia). The 1st Royal Hungarian Paratrooper Battalion would have been deployed as part of this operation, and the pilots and parachutists who lost their lives in the airfield at Veszprém were the victims of this decision – László Gráczki emphasised in his speech.

Following his speech, the leaders of organisations that were present laid wreaths on the military memorial, then the guests were taken to the other site by bus. In Jutaspuszta, the former airfield of Veszprém there is a monument in memory of the events that happened 69 years ago.

"We are standing a few hundred meters away from the place where on April 12, 1941, pilots and paratroopers were waiting for the activation order," László Gráczki said at the memorial. He emphasised that the task these paratroopers had been prepared for was a novelty, for no Hungarian corps had carried out such a task before. It was the first time the 1st Royal Hungarian Paratrooper Battalion could help the advance of ground troops, they were eager to show themselves and what they were capable of. Their task was to seize and secure two bridges over Franz Joseph Canal, near Szenttamás in the south, and ensure that the advancing Hungarian units can cross. After receiving the activation order, at five o’clock the first L-101 aircraft rolled out and began to take off. There were difficulties during takeoff and at an altitude of 60-100 m the aircraft heeled over. It was uncontrollable and crashed into the ground in this tilt position. Here it drifted and fuel ran out of the damaged tank. In a few seconds it caught fire and soon the whole aircraft was burning in a huge ball of fire. By that time takeoffs were cancelled and other planes were deployed only later. 16 paratroopers were killed in the accident, among them Major Árpád Bertalan, commander of the battalion, and four pilots. Fortunately, a pilot and eight paratroopers survived.

László Gráczki read out the names of the soldiers who died tragically and the attendees paid tribute to the world war victims. In the second part of the ceremony the leaders of present organisations laid wreaths on the Jutaspuszta memorial, and the event ended with saying goodbye to the soldiers who died in the air crash with the tunes of Il Silenzio.