OUR ROOTS

     The terrible devastation of the First World War left countless widows and orphans in its wake. While Hungary reeled from the loss of almost an entire generation of young men, the cruel Treaty of Trianon ensured that her recovery would be impossible. The thousands of surviving soldiers who returned from the fronts eventually organized themselves into a group known as the National Front-Line Fighters’ Association (Országos Frontharcos Szövetség) on December 24th, 1931. Their mission was to help their disabled comrades, the widows and orphans; and to educate Europeans about the catastrophic war. 
     Unlike many such organizations, the members acted as ambassadors of peace; closely working with veterans’ groups from England and France - their former enemies. Female nursing personnel and veterans from all religions were welcome in this association, and all members, from generals to the lowest ranks, were considered equals. These veterans, with their distinctive green felt helmets marched proudly and peacefully to protest the unjust Treaty of Trianon throughout the 1930s, and were some of the first Hungarians to enter the reclaimed territories before the Second World War. In September of 1939 the name was given a slightly more Hungarian flavour Magyar Tüzharcos Szövetség and continued serving the interests of the veterans and their families until the end of WWII.