The Ludovika

“Always act in the spirit of comradeship, be humane, respect your soldiers, your future subordinates, and treat them decently… Do not incite hatred against any of the neighbouring nations, because we have been living here, in the Carpathian Basin for a thousand years, and our descendants will still live here for many thousands of years… Adopt our ideas, be our followers, and we promise that we will always support you in your work, if the homeland and your commanders so require!” Col. (Ret.) László Szende, one-time Ludovika AcademicIn the course of time, the expression “ludovikás” has been associated in the Hungarian common knowledge with the notions of manly bearing, patriotism and self-sacrificing bravery. Who were these brave, disciplined, learned and cultured, highly qualified soldiers, and who are their late followers? The book is about them, the one-time and the present-day Ludovika students.